Day 31: October 31, 2011

Now that the tracheotomy is out, Daniel's swallowing continues to improve.  His diet has been changed to thin liquids-mechanical soft.  Daniel has been asking for a drink of water since Thursday, now that his diet has changed he can have water.  Cool!  Another great thing we are watching develop, now that Daniel's tracheotomy is out, is his voice is getting stronger.  Daniel's stability continues to improve.  He is allowed to walk to the bathroom and a short distance to the dinning room for meals without assistance.
Over the last couple of days Daniel has been staring at his banner that is hanging on his wall and the nurses board which is in his room and on his walks he stops to look at things that are on bulletin boards.  Today he asked for a book and he read one chapter.  After reading his chapter his eyes were burning and he felt that was enough for today.  Daniel is an avid reader and this was so exciting to see.  During one of Daniel's walks,  Daniel took a trip down to ICU to see the doctors and nurses that took care of him for the last month.  Wow!!!!! Were they excited to see him.  One of the doctors said, "Can I shake your hand young man.  I've been waiting to do this."  One of the nurses stated, "This is why we do what we do."  There were tears of joy!  Daniel had a visit today from one of the nurses who was with him when he was airlifted to the hospital.   He had heard Daniel was out of ICU and wanted to see this young man.  He was grateful to see Daniel out of ICU and in the condition he is in now because he didn't think Daniel would make it.