MARCH 7 & 8, 2010 - Waiting

Sunday the 7th was another quiet day. No word yet on a bed being available at Select Specialty Hospital.

• Vital signs continue to be stable. Dad has been off the ventilator far more these past few days, which is an encouraging sign.
• As with the past few days, Dad spent most of the day with his speaking valve on, but didn't have a lot to say (Dad, I mean, not the valve).
  
• I've mentioned the speaking valve in a number of posts. The technical name is a Passy-Muir Tracheostomy & Ventilator Swallowing and Speaking Valve, or PMV for short. If you are inclined, here's a link to the Passy-Muir Speaking Valve and Donut Emporium website (inside joke), which has a number of videos that demonstrate how they work. Sort of interesting if you like that sort of thing.
  
• Dad enjoyed a call from friend Sherry in the afternoon, putting said PMV to work.
  
• He perked up when friends Bob and Ann visited from Elkins late in the day. They talked for a good while.

Monday was a rough day. We're still waiting on a bed at Select. No worry though, as I've said before, the TICU at Presby is a good place to wait it out. The care and attention Dad receives is exceptional.

• Dad failed a swallow test early in the day. That set the tone for a generally down day.
• Passing the swallow test is the gateway to being allowed food and drink by mouth. He will try again in a day or two.
  
• As is the pattern these past few days, he spent most of the day with the speaking valve on, but didn't say much. Even though he hasn't had much to say, Dad says he likes having the PMV on, so he knows that he can say something if he needs to. Always the pragmatist.
  
• A positive is that what he does have to say shows his sense of humor to be fully intact, even though he's down in the dumps.
• Vital signs and other indicators continue to be positive and the major systems are working fine.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers, warm wishes and support. You are a source of comfort beyond what I could ever explain. Please continue to pray for Dad's recovery, specifically that his left foot remains free of infection. Also, please pray for strength and peace for Dad and Mom during this process.