Bill, Monday July 22, mid-day

Today's plan: Bill will move out of ICU and to a rehab facility this afternoon. So if I don't post again this evening, that doesn't mean anything is wrong. It just means we're busy settling in.

Bill did not go on the ventilator last night, so at the time of this post he has been off and breathing on his own about 30 hours.  Respiratory therapy places a regular oxygen mask at the trach. The oxygen mask does not do any of the "push" or "pull" that the ventilator did, the mask just provides extra O2. This morning the mask is turned down to just 40% and he's doing great at that level -- and could probably be taken off completely, but it doesn't hurt, right?

His right hand is busy, wanting to touch pillows and belts and stuff, reaching up and scratching his nose or his beard (growing back rapidly, by the way).  We have a small stuffed bear to occupy that hand, mostly to protect the feeding port.

So what is the rehab facility, what happens there? Well, they will be fairly aggressive in working on trach care (and weaning of the trach), eventually swallowing and other occupational therapy; physical therapy (muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion); and other assorted activities. Looking forward to it. And yes, Ayn is still staying with him all the way!