Just a short update tonight.

Today was a blessedly quiet day for Dad.  He was calm and sleepy all day (which he needs for his healing!). 

The facial surgeon's partner did stop in to do another post-surgery check-up and proclaimed that Dad was healing excellently.  In fact, Dad has barely any swelling or bruising from the surgery.  He really looks like himself again!

They have decided that Dad does not have pneumonia, just bronchitis. His chest x-rays looked good.   Because he does have quite a bit of congestion, they will be leaving the trach in for a few more days for more convenient suctioning.  Dad is now easily coughing on his own, which is great.  They are still treating him with antibiotics to prevent any further infection in his lungs.

Dad had a visit from the speech therapist today.   She once again hooked up the voice device to his trach to allow him to speak normally.   He did not want to wake up for her and was not very communicative at that time.   When I asked him who I am, he did say my name, which was awesome to hear.  He had a hard time coming up with names of those who weren't present, however.  Even when we showed him photographs of some family members, he was not able to tell us their names.  He did come out with 2 sentences on his own.  When the therapist asked him if there is anything he would like to say, he told her, "I want my head back down"(meaning he wanted his bed to be reclined again so that he could go back to sleep).    Also, when my mom was speaking, he said to her, "I can't hear you."  Those were the first sentences he has spoken aloud on his own since the accident.

The best moment of the day came when my mom was leaving for the night.  As she told my dad that she was leaving, he beckoned her over to him.  When she reached his side, he lifted both arms and reached around her to hug her.  He then mouthed the words, "I love you" to her. 

Dad is scheduled to be transferred to the rehab floor on Monday, if he is cleared medically at that time.  Once there, he will have a heavy therapy schedule, with physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and recreational therapy each day.  Once he is in rehab he should really start making some progress.

Please take a minute to read my mom's note of thanks below.