Update #87

I just got off the phone with Dave (how cool is that?!), and it sounds like today has been a better day. Although he is still pretty tired, he said he stayed awake for most of the day today, in spite of the fact that he didn't sleep very well last night. His heart rate is down in the 90s again, and according to his dad, his color seems to be better. The nurses are still waiting on the culture results, but it sounds like overall, things are okay.

Since he started breathing out of his nose and mouth, Dave has been getting a small amount of oxygen through his nose for a small added boost (if you've ever watched a medical show or visited someone in the hospital, I'm sure you've seen the small tube that hooks over each ear with two prongs that sit on the inside of the nose). This morning, they decided to get rid of that tube, and Dave continues to breathe well (his oxygen level was at 98% when I talked to him). Also, yesterday's chest x-ray showed continued improvement in the clarity of his lungs.

On the topic of talking to Dave, at the risk of sounding really hypocritcal (and incredibly selfish), although he is talking and for as much as I know many of you would love to hear his voice, it is probably not a good idea to flood his cell phone with calls yet. In an effort to soften that statement, however, he did use his laptop on Thursday, navigating the touchpad mouse and the keyboard well, and he checked his email for the first time in almost three months. I know that often, it is easier to drop a quick email than it is to send snail mail, so if you want to send him some words of encouragement directly, feel free (I haven't checked with him about posting his email address for the world to see, so if you don't have it and would like it, drop me an email at klund7atyahoo.com, and I'll hook you up).

Finally, I spoke to an air ambulance company today in order to get some information about moving Dave to Cincinnati (simply for our information - Sherri, the Case Manager, is doing the real legwork on the move). According to the company rep, the trip from Knoxville to Cincinnati, including ground transportation on both ends, a nurse, and transport for an additional passenger to keep Dave company, will cost approximately $8,500 (a regular ambulance would be well under half of that). Because of the holiday weekend, we probably won't be hearing anything else about the transfer until Tuesday, but please be praying that the insurance company will decide that the money would be well spent.

More tomorrow...