Good News update

Hi to all - Dustin is back in his old room at the VA. I never thought I would miss the VA but I guess it does become family and they certainly know all of Dustin's medical idiosyncrasies He arrived back last night and was kept on a pureed diet which is certainly not cool. He continues to be on one liter of oxygen which is minimal but is off the vent. As of dinner time, he is back on a regular diet.

I am very grateful that he is so much better and he does not have the severe headaches as before. He does have general neck, shoulder and headache pain which is to be expected after neurosurgery. The neck and shoulder pain comes from not being up for 5 days as well as the spinal cord injury itself. They say spinal cord injury patients always have pain, it is how much can you tolerate which how much or how little meds. I am believing no meds and no pain as he gets moving about again. His arms and shoulders are moving well which is amazing for a C4-5 injury and with some work to get the strength back, he should be able to do lots of things.

He continues to have his junky lung issuess and lots of lung secretions and mucous plugs which require suctioning to keep him from drowning in lung secretions. It is never fun to watch him gasping for breath as the medical staff quickly get him suctioned. Today I went over from Sanford while Rick stayed at the house to receive our new refrigerator. We also talked to 80 year old parents of someone at the VA that would like to come live here. We hope that works out as they would get some of the VA benefits that would help pay our nurse. Dustin enjoys him as well and it should be a longterm stable relationship. His nurse is moving into the VA Fisher house and will begin to learn some unique respiratory therapy and other care for Dustin. His discharge date on paper is Sept 28 which was before the surgery. To be honest he is doing as well if not better than before the brain surgery. That is amazing to me and I am grateful that God continues to have His hand on Dustin. As David in the Psalms so often said, "when I think of all that God has done for me" - boy do we believe that for Dustin.

Rick and I have had a somewhat fun time at Sanford and really are enjoying the quiet and comfort of the house. We had a "date dinner" last night in the very cool little town of Sanford. We are heading back to Tampa tomorrow evening and will meet will the benefits guy of the VA on Friday before heading back home on Sat. We are looking forward to having a few days together at home with our farm friendly animals and crops. It is time for me to plant a bunch of brocolli, cabbage, and brussels sprouts. It is hard to believe that this time last year after getting the call about Dustin that I went out and planted 40 broccoli plants. To be honest, I really didn't know what else to do. I am grateful we are still walking, talking and standing to represent our Beloved Father in heaven. He has certainly carried us through this year along with all of your prayers.

Please pray that Dustin can remain off all of the drugs he had so gotten weaned from and that his lungs would function perfectly and all secretions would dry up and of course for strength to move forward in therapy and for his bedsore wound to continue healing.

Love to all
mary apt