Day 36: November 5, 2011

Wow, we don't have to wait until Monday.  Daniel is on his way home as we are updating this blog.  Thirty-six days ago the accident occurred, three days later they told us he was brain dead and there was nothing else that could be done, twenty days later reference was made that we should probably plan for a nursing home due to the fact that he was just not waking up from his comas.  In less than a short two weeks after being in rehab Daniel is on his way back home to be with his family and friends.  Although the journey is not over it has been a remarkable and miraculous one.  Daniel will continue to progress in the next days, weeks and months as he continues therapy from home.  We look forward to updating you as Daniel continues to progress.

Day 35: November 4, 2011

Daniel continues therapy.  He is now able to put his shoes on!   Big news Daniel may be coming home Saturday or Monday!  Yes, we said Daniel is coming home!  He is doing well enough to continue therapy in the Flathead valley!

Day 34: November 3, 2011

Daniel had another low last night with his glucose levels.  At 8:30am we had a consultation with the therapist and it was agreed that Daniel could be put back on his diabetic pump.  Now Daniel gets to regulate his insulin to maintain his glucose levels.  They will watch over the next two days to see how he does with it.  For Daniel's progression for therapy today Daniel had to pass some tests.  His room is on the sixth floor and today for lunch they gave him a pass to go to the cafeteria on the first floor.  He got to go down by himself following the signs which directed him where to go, wait in line, pick out what he wanted to eat and pay at the cashier (who asked him what his name was so he wouldn't have to pay).  Then he got to find mom in the dining room and they had lunch together.  He did really good.  The rest of the day was therapy and progression.

Day 33: November 2, 2011

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.  And his disciples asked him, saying Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." John 9: 1-3  We find comfort in knowing Daniel is a miracle because he is able to help manifest the works of God.
Late yesterday afternoon Daniel had a follow up cat scan.  The results came back good.  There is still swelling on the brain which is normal, it will just take time to go down.  The bleeds and clots are disappearing.  Daniel had two more lows yesterday with his glucose levels and one more at 4:00am today.  He is getting six times the amount of normal insulin intake because of the stress in his body from coming out of the coma.  Also he has been eating meals and being feed through the feeding tube.  So maintaining good glucose levels has been a challenge.   However, Daniel was feed from his feeding tube for the last time at 2:00am.  He will still have the tube connected to him for a few more weeks but won't be feed from it.  Daniel has been on a blood thinner to prevent clots in his legs and will be until he leaves the hospital.  He is also still on heart medicine from when they had to stop and restart his heart.  He is now down to two does a day, so he has been coming off of this slowly.  Some exciting news:  Daniel dressed himself for the first time today.  It took some time but he even got his socks on.  Maybe next time he will be able to get his shoes on.
Daniel is still having trouble with his short term memory.  He is forgetting things and mixing people up from day to day.   We are truly grateful for our miracle.  We are truly humbled by all of the support, love and prayers from family and friends.

Day 32: November 1, 2011

Not much sleep for Daniel last night.  Now that he is eating three meals a day and eating all of it, we are trying to recalculate Daniel's glucose levels in order to give him the right amount of insulin.  Unfortunately at 4:00am Daniel's glucose bottomed out at 49.  Not so good.  On a great note, After morning physical therapy Daniel was cleared to "roam the halls".  He has been cleared to walk the floor he is on without supervision.  In a short five days Daniel's stability has increased so he can be on his own.  Today Daniel ate what he called "man food" a turkey sandwich.  Today is also the first real day he is eating on his own without being feed, another great step!   Thank you all for your continuing prayers.

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.

Day 30: October 30, 2011

It has been one long month for everyone, especially for Daniel.  When they say today is a day of rest Daniel is literally taking it as a day of rest.  He is completely exhausted from the last three days of rehab.  He took a nice two hour nap after breakfast this morning.  We are counting his calories starting today on all of Daniel's food intake.  It will be a three day process so we can get him off of his feeding tube.  Watching Daniel for the last three days in rehab, his long term memory seems to be intact.  However his short term memory is out the window but we think it's starting to get better.