Grateful, grateful, grateful

HI everyone - we are on top of the world here!. We had a smooth flight and got to the Tampa VA around 1:30. Within 20 minutes, they had "popped" Dustin's lungs (they have their own terminology and way to do everything) and he went from 50% oxygen to 21% which is considered "room air". His oxygen saturation has remained normal as well as his heart rate. A few minutes later, they popped in the valve to his trach and he is verbally answering questions!!

He is however in intense pain and they are checking him for s type of bone thing where your bone breaks down and then builds up in undesired places and is extrememly painful. The good news is it is treatable. Right now, he is pretty medicated

The staff here is like something out of a "Everything you always wanted" in a medical professional book. Dustin's Doctor is an high energy, aaggressive, brilliant female and her whole staff is just like that. They all love their jobs, they are so positive and are excellent in their care and ideas to move Dustin forward. I have met several patients here who are young and very encouraging.

The physical therapist comes to your room if you can't get out because of the vent and brings bicycles and stand up jogging machines and all kinds of things to get things moving. It also comes with this young team who are cutting up and having a great time, got music in the background, etc. Dustin's next door neighbor is a whole extended family originally from Venzuela. The husband was shot in the neck in Afganistan and is so positive etc. His wife and whole family have already adopted us.

The speech therapist has already come for his swallowing consult,and the PhD respiratory therapist who is an active teacher at the bedside, bulletin board and all, has already taught Dustin a ton of stuff. He through a lot of research has developed a separate discipline called a neuro - respiratory therapist and many are coming here to be trained by his research and expertise. They have certainly created a whole specialty and discipline of spinal cord injury. Patients with spinal cord injuries have totally different physiological responses than someone who hasn't had one and typical medicla care will not cut it.

Each profession is more than willing to talk to you for as long as it takes. It is like it is one big happy family, everyone sharing, giving their opinion and helping each other. We are very excited and hopeful in this new chapter.

On another note, I have a beautiful room, 5 star quality, right here on the VA campus. IT is called a "Fisher House". If you are bored I encourage you to look at this awesome foundation that sets up these houses for the families of Vets that is free. Not only free but beautiful quality and decoration. This place actually outdoes my "old pad" in Albuquerque.

All for now. Thanks for all of your prayers that got us here and will catapult us to awesome achievements.

love
mary pat