Update #85

I'm sure I'll have more updates later today, but I just wanted to let you all know that Dave is officially extubated and trach free! One of the attendings (supervising doctors) came in this morning to see if he would have more luck than the resident did yesterday in getting the tube out of Dave's throat in order to insert another tube that could be capped. The tube came out without much effort today (it did have some buildup on the edges that probably made it stick), and as the doctor was getting ready to insert the new tube, he decided that it wasn't necessary and put a small piece of gauze and some tape over the hole in Dave's throat instead! Dave is breathing comfortably out of his nose and mouth and is TALKING (yeah!) without too much effort (although he told me this morning that he actually has to remind himself to force the air over his vocal chords in order to make noise since he has been only moving his lips for so long). The hole in his neck/throat should heal in a couple of days, and his voice will get stronger and stronger (and sound more and more like his own) as he continues to use it. We're trying to convince him that it is his turn to read the Chronicles of Narnia to us, but so far, no luck. :-)

We'll keep you posted as we hear anything about Dave's next move... Keep praying!