Thursday - a day of beauty

Dustin is improving today. They removed his nasogastric tube from his nose and put one in his intestines (called a j-peg) so his face is free of ALL apparatuses!!! He looks like his usual handsome self. He was sedated for the little surgery and had a few hours of sleepiness.

After his surgery, we gave him his shampoo and set. They have the coolest heated shampoo caps that you put on their heads, massage it in and then take it off and comb!! Rick really wanted one but we didn't want to wake him up from his afternoon nap he was taking in the chair. He will have to take his own shower.

His breathing settings have been pushed back up so vent weaning has taken a hold. Has a lot of secretions and gunk which are blocking the best breathing. They did start nebulizing treatments along with his upside down bed shaking activity to get this stuff up. It is not fun to watch them stick this suction down his throat and make him gag and cough up. I just stand in the gap and rebuke fear of choking the whole time from getting any foothold.

We had a most awesome consult with the psychiatrist who happened to be named "Nari" which is what Nerina's father calls her mother. She is a 4 yr medical student and she as well as the attending psychiatrist are in total agreement to keep him off antidepressants. Turns out all of them are very hard on the respiratory system as well as cause much more delirium when coming off the vent.(which apparently is normal and I am glad she clued me in on what to expect). It then makes is difficult to assess what is going on because you have the brain chemistry all changed.

Earlier in the day, they said the team decided to put him on nortryptyline since I was against Prozac. I think they were trying to pacify me and sneak it in in the back door. They are expecting him to be depressed when he begins rehab and since it takes the 2 weeks to get therapeutic levels they want to automatically put him on something. We are believing that because we will be with him each day assessing, praying and believing in God's perfect plans that anything besides a "normal" realization that this is lifechanging event will be abated. Please join with us in believing this.

Dustin is trying to speak with his mouth and is getting more expressive as time goes on. Please continue to pray that he will not withdraw from life but he will take this on as a big challenge. His grandmother (my mom) reminded me that when he was in the Air Force in a special forces training that he realized he could do anything he put his mind to. Pray that his mind focuses on everything that he desires to do and more.

We continue to speak the verse in Ephesians which says that "God does exceedingly, abundantly more than we ask or think. We are askkng for big stuff so we are excited to see how much God outdoes our prayers.

Pray for him to have sweet , restful, restorative sleep. Rick will be learning a new bus schedule tomorrow to go to the Social Security office. It tends to be a very long, boring , tedious wait, so pray for God's favor to get him in and out. All of Dustin's info go faxed to Craig (Denver) and Shepherd (Atlanta) hospitals. We are praying for favor for this to be covered by the VA as they want to keep him here in Albuquerque at the VA. No way- we want the best and the east coast!!

We love and appreciate your continued prayers and support. God hears every single one and I promise they are being answered..."if we believe". I know God has given us His strength and grace to handle all of this.

love
Rick and Mary Pat