Spring is coming - new growth!

I arrived in Tampa on Monday evening after a really nice ride with good music, teaching CD's and phone calls to friends. I arrived and found a son happy to see me and in good spirits. Nerina's visit is the very best medicine for him and that was verified by the staff. We had a good evening just talking.....I mean really talking....like with vocal cords and everything. That is such a wonderful feeling for him and for all who get to talk to him.

I left about 9pm and had my first visit to a restaurant recommended by Nerina called Esos which is a healthy fast food restaurant across from the motel that the VA put me in. I ordered a Thai chicken salad and had a sample of "air fried" french fries. This restaurant has a unique way of cooking things that eliminates the oil but tastes really good. The salad had organic lettuce , and an "air fried" Thai chicken breast with this really good hot chili oil salad dressing. I was given a sample of the french fries and I will certainly order them again.

Yesterday was another awesome day of great conversation and fellowship even thought his shoulders, neck and head still really bother him. The doctor feels that once he gets up and moving this should improve. I mean think about if we laid totally still in a bed for 5 months how much we would hurt! The hetereotrophic ossificans that is in his knees, hips and a bit in his elbow and shoulders should begin to abate with the medication they are giving him ever 2 weeks. From the sound of it it almost sounds like a chemotherapeutic drug but I will check on it a bit more. It is so nice to be so confident that they have Dustin's best interest in mind at all times that I do not have to play "Holy Spirit" doctor and be researching every decision they make.

We waited all day for a echocardiocgam type test to see if the vegetation around his heart valve had been eliminated but they never came. Dr Pope (the wonderful female doctor) really set them straight in her most wonderful, professional way. She is definitely like a mother hen over her chicks and demands the best care for them. They never came which made Dustin and I miss our 1 hour date that we had been approved to go outside in the beautiful sunny 80 degree weather. We will go today and everyday until I go home and let him get a little sun and Vit D. The other exciting news for yesterday is that Dustin got his first haircut in 5 months! He looks like a new guy and did very well, although his neck bothered him a lot later.

Last night Dustin and I watched the DVD of my mom's and Forrest (son/brother) memorial service. It was a special time and I did not leave until 10pm. God has blessed our time together and for that I am very grateful. Dinner gets later and later and Chinese tofu, brocoli and carrots at 10pm certainly is a different experience!

Other great news in response to all of your prayers is that his bed sore had GREATLY improved to the place where he can begin to sit up a bit without fear of it tearing. They have a really neat machine called "the mister" that pulsates ultasound that draws circulation to the skin area. It was improving but almost overnight it has really begun to start closing up!!!! This will release him to begin to get up in a wheelchair and head to the gym.

The other news from the speech therapist is that Dustin in doing his cognitive testing, that had not really even been done, scored on one test almost brilliant (That is the writer in him). It is some weird word test that she say is designed for you to miss many of them. Dustin passed with a 99% which she had never heard of and had never seen. Dusitn was very proud. The big cognitive area they are working on is speed of processing. His swallowing is not going as well but Dustin does not seem to mind not eating too much. He continues to work on his swallowing exercises and before we know it he will be complaining about the VA food.

I would like to invite everyone that can to please send birthday greetings to Dustin. He will be turning 24 on March 26. Our goal is to get him in some clothes, get a little tan, sport his new haircut and new sunglasses I bought him yesterday! The speech therapist said he could have one bite of cake. That will probaby be more than enough for Dustin as he has never erally been the big sweet eater. The other goal which appears very attainable is that he will be off the vent (except maybe at night) by his birthday. What a present!!

Any cards you could send would go to:

Dustin Bowman- James Haley Veterans Hospital
SCI - Unit B - Room 23
13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa FL 33612

We look forward to our outside date today and preparing for new spring growth in us all.

love to all
mary pat