News from the battle front

So, now I'm here in Grand Junction with Shelyce and Alisha (2 of my 5 sisters) to help keep Spencer company. I got here at about noon today (Monday) and Spencer was pretty agitated needing the pain medication to kick in a bit. They'd just given him half a dose because the Speech Therapist was about to come in to do a bedside swallow exam, to see if it's safe to feed Spencer orally. When Spencer's medication wears off a bit, he gets really agitated. He'll feel around his face, examine the tubes and cords, scratch at his arm in the cast. He's more alert than before, but that doesn't mean he's very alert!

He's vocalizing and verbalizing a bunch more today than yesterday. Up to this point, he's only really answered yes/no questions and said very little. But today, he's been speaking much more. When Shelyce asked him if he knew where he was, he thought about it for a second and finally said, "I don't know." About 30 minutes later, she asked him again and he answered, "camping." So, it's important right now that we're explaining over and over what happened to him, why he's here, what all the cords and tubes are for, and why he needs to leave them alone. This morning, with the mitt and arm restraints on his good hand, he managed to pull out his feeding tube... TWICE. Shelyce was talking to Spencer and telling him she'll take off the mitt as long as he promised not to pull anything out. When she asked, "do you promise?" he replied, "I promise." He's also more verbally responsive, by answering "okay" and "yeah, alright" when we boss him around.

I was glad to be here during the feeding study. She started with ice chips, and he managed the second attempt a bit better by even chewing on it right away. He was also able to take a sip of nectar thick apple juice from a cup and a good size bite of pudding. He didn't want a second sip or bite of either. I could go into more detail about his oral transition time and sufficient laryngeal elevation, but I'll spare you! He's being fed plenty through the feeding tube in his nose so he's not hungry. His only limitation for oral feeding right now is his limited level of alertness... basically, he's zonked out. But once he's more alert, he'll be able to start receiving his nutrition by eating the deliciousness that is pureed hospital food! Lucky guy!

Dr. Gebhard came by while we were here and based on the info we were giving him, he was able to give us some perspective on the progress he's making daily. He was saying that the next step is for him to transfer into sitting up on the side of the bed and in a chair. It's hard to imagine that at this point because he's been so out of it so far today, but the occupational therapist will be trying it in the morning. He encouraged us to keep talking to him and asking him more questions. It's tempting to just let him stay more sedated and peaceful, but in order for him to progress faster, we'll have to keep on bugging him a bunch.

Since the therapists are gone for the day at this point, there likely won't be much more to report until tomorrow. It's good to be here with him and to witness the progress he's made since last week when he first got here. Stay tuned for more later!