Update #82

It registered again this morning how frustrating it must be to rely on blog posts for updates on Dave's progress and to go more than a day without one of those updates. As a result, I am doing my best to remember to post, even when there are no huge changes.

That statement comes because today is a day of no huge changes. According to Den, Dave is comfortable and doing well. He did make it through his first full night alone on the trach collar (I fell asleep praying hard for just that last night) and is still breathing great. Otherwise, this Sunday is truly a Sabbath, a day of rest before another week of hopefully amazing progress. Be praying that that week will include:

1. A transfer to a new room in SCC3;

2. A drastic reduction in the level of drainage from Dave's colon;

3. Increased strength and mobility in his arms and legs;

4. A meeting with the plastic surgeon to discuss at what point he will be able to perform a skin graft (hopefully Dave's final surgery) - the benchmark seems to be that the drainage must stop completely, but I don't think we've heard those actual words from anyone yet;

5. Some idea from the doctors on how long Dave will need to be in the ICU after the skin graft and at what point he will be able to be moved out of UT;

6. No more pain in Dave's hip;

7. Complete healing of his right eye (trying hard to balance the "faith that moves mountains" of Matthew 17:20 with the thorn in Paul's flesh from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

More news tomorrow...