December 8, 2011 - LOTS OF GOOD NEWS

1. Thanks to all of you for your prayers, comforting messages, and FOR NOT CALLING. You have no idea how much it means for you not to call and not to ask questions. Last night and today were really, really good days. Ted got off the ventilator and life support early yesterday evening.

2. Ted started to respond well to commands early this morning. When I arrived at the hospital, it was obvious that he knew who I was, he responded to my comments, and made a lot of gestures to respond to my comments and questions. He  kept trying to take off the oxygen mask. Finally I asked if they could take it off. He was breathing so well ( above 93 whatever that means) that they removed all oxygen for him.
    Surprisingly, he pulled himself over to the side of the bed a couple of times to grab at me...... It's been a long time since he has done that! He wanted to be held and kept wanting to hold my hand.....He would squeeze and/or pat my hand to show approval of what I was saying. Sometimes he would even raise his left hand in a fist to show " right on". He is even nodding affirmatively and negatively at times to express his opinion.
    Ted still can't talk or swallow. His left eye is still shut, but he was trying to open it with his fingers. The left eye is shut due to the swelling in his brain.  I told him that he had a lobotomy to see his reaction. His right eye got very big...... then I told him that no one did anything to his brain. He gestured positively. I did tell him that I would be beating him at Boggle and Words With Friends for quite some time. He sighed forlornly.
    While I was visiting him, a team of four doctors came in for their daily assessment. Their comments were "WOW - Ted you are really progressing." " I can't believe how much progress he has made since the weekend." "Considering that he has had two surgeries, this is amazing". That was when they took him off the oxygen. They may move him out of  the intensive care unit in a couple of days. They still want to monitor him closely.
    YOUR PRAYERS ARE EFFECTIVE. KEEP THEM GOING!
     I have been told that there is a long road ahead, but I am so grateful for the progress that I have seen so far. There were times over the past week that I thought that we were losing him. Knowing that God and each of you were right there with us was of much comfort.
    No visitors yet --- for those of you who want to visit, let me know and I will let you know when "he is open for business." Some of you with political agendas may want to visit him sooner than later before he can talk!

   THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPRESSED YOUR CONCERN ABOUT TED OR OUR FAMILY. IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
  
    Any and all updates will be posted to this blog site. Thanks to David for setting it up.  And, don't call!

    It will be a merry Christmas!  Anne