Mondays update

Being on the trach (tracheotomy) collar means that Donald is off the ventilation machine- which means breathing on his own!  They took the vent away for good this morning, so that is GOOD NEWS!  They also took the huge lift machine out of the room because he's been able to help turn himself better.  So now we're not tripping over it and it isn't creeping Donald out having that thing hanging over his head.  All the IV drips are gone so the only line going into him is the central line (for quick medicin applications), the food tube to the stomach and the trach.

Here's what has to happen before they move him out of the ICU and into a regular room:

1. Regulate his blood sugar.

See that- only one thing is keeping him in the ICU!!  The doc's and nurses are continually amazed at how well Donald is doing so quickly.  He wants out of here!

Once he's out of the ICU they'll start stepping down the sizes on the trach tube to eventually wean him off it.  The hole in his throat will close up on it's own once the tube is gone.  When he goes down to the next size he MAY be able to speak, but not much because he can damage his vocal chords with the balloon that holds the trach in his throat.  We want to be able to hear him sing eventually so we'll have to encourage him to stay quiet.

Donald is gaining strength in his hands and arms little by little.  He can press the button to call the nurses and change the TV channel on his own now.  He's getting better at the communication board, but those buttons aren't as sensitive to touch (duh, who though of that?) so he points at the letters he wants and we push them for him.

Emily is probably going home Wednesday (she's flying stanby so it depends on how full the flight is).  The docs say they wouldn't be surprised if Donald moved to a regular floor in a couple days, so she may miss the move.  We were asked in an email who exactly Emily is: she's Donald and Sara's niece on Donalds' side of the family.  Donalds' sister Debra is her mom.