Update #93

Note to self: never give dad the password to the blog. :-)

Sorry for the lack of updates. Dave did arrive safely in Cincinnati just after noon on Friday. He had about 45 minutes to get settled, then the fun began.

In the past two days, we have seen/met:

His attending physician, Dr. Weitz;
Five nurses;
Six nursing aides;
Two respiratory therapists;
Seven people from the Wound Care Team;
One speech therapist;
One occupational therapist; and
One physical therapist.

He has endured meetings with Dr. Weitz, his nurses and the Wound Care Team, evaluations by speech, occupational and physical therapy, two breathing treatments and three different kinds of dressing changes (they're having some difficulty figuring out the best way to control the drainage). We have discovered that he may not need a skin graft (his wound is healing itself well) but will likely need surgery to close the hole in his colon. On Friday, his room was not empty of Drake Center staff until almost 7:00 p.m., and yesterday, we saw doctors, nurses and therapists from 9:30 a.m. until after 2:00 p.m. without a break. Just after the craziness ended, Jen and Chris (Dave's sister and brother-in-law) arrived in Cincinnati for the weekend, and Dave got to see his two nieces and nephew for the first time since the accident.

All of that to say thank you all for being patient about the unreturned phone calls, lack of posts, and most importantly the request that you not visit for a few days. We have been very impressed with Drake so far, and it is clear that we made the right decision, but it has been an exhausting weekend.

Now that Dave is settled, he is very excited at being close to so many of his friends again, and as of tomorrow afternoon (Jen and her family are leaving after lunch), he will be ready for visitors. The next few days will still be a little bit crazy as he gets worked into a therapy schedule, so for anyone who wants to visit:

1. Please come during normal visiting hours (11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.,, preferably more toward the evening);

2. Please call me, or call Dave's cell (which his parent are using), to let us know when you are planning to come (if you don't have the numbers, drop me an email at klund7atyahoo.com and I'll pass them along).

As things start to settle into a routine, the coordination will be less necessary, but at least for the first few weeks, Dave wants to make sure that he will actually be in his room when you come and that he won't have 50 people visiting all at the same time.

For anyone who wants to send mail, Dave's new address is:

Dave Heckel
c/o Drake Center
Room #420
151 W. Galbraith Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45216-1096

We are so excited about this next step in Dave's recovery and can't wait to see the progress that God brings in his life next. Thanks again for all of your prayers and support, and for continuing to walk with us through this process! Hope to see many of you soon!