Wed. June 22

I predict dad's trach will be removed by Friday. He's doing very well with eating and drinking I believe they'll do the swallow test today which will show excellent results and have it out by Friday. This is what we're praying for because once the trach is out, things for him really speed up. He'll most likely be moved to an in-patient therapy rehabilitation facility for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, then maybe he comes home. Although he's been cleared to stay that Kindred for 25 days, his progress may allow him to leave early. We shall wait and see.
He ate oatmeal and drank water yesterday without any problems. He began to move his right arm and the therapist felt his muscles in his right leg trying to move it. These are all good signs that he's processing correctly and progressing slowly. As we all know, his right side will need the most therapy.
We're still not quite ready for outside visitors. I seem to forget he's still trying to figure things out. We take for granted what the mind automatically does for us. He's still trying to figure out where the sounds are coming from, who's talking in the room and it may be a little too much for him to decipher what's what. I can tell when he get's frustrated because he'll give you the intense Valdez stare and the rolling of the eyes. He does this when we can't understand what he's trying to say or when the nurses come in and disturb his naps. He was extremely exhausted by the end of the day.
My uncle Lionel spent the night with him. Until he's able to push the nurse's call button on his own, will we leave him alone. He holds the control but doesn't quite know what it is yet. We also spend the night to make sure staff comes in every two hours to turn him from side to side. We've all heard horror stories about acute hospital facilities. We don't want dad to be another statistic. The staff have been extremely professional and wonderful at Kindred. We're very happy with the care he's receiving. Keep your fingers crossed that his trach get's removed soon. Once it's removed, they'll move him to an in-patient rehabilitation facility; hopefully St. Mary's.