Daniel 3
Topic: Daniel
FrOM: Jill Kessler
TO: GSRC@yahoogroups.com
SeNT: Sunday, January 16, 2005 10:30 AM
SubjeCT: [GSRC] Daniel


Bret, while that is still all so overwhelmng it's all good news. It sounds like he's receiving the best care possible, and time and God will tell us how he will fare. But still, you're heart must feel like it's in a vise every moment of the day.
That pretty well describes it. Just moment-by moment.

How's Barb holding up? Is he still on the ventilator? Is he out of the critical zone yet?
Barb's hanging in there -- we're sharing that vise.
Yes, he's still on the vent. And still critical. But we made it through the third day which is often the most difficult in terms of post-trauma brain swelling. It'll be day-by-day for a while.

Tell Daniel, even though he's not awake, "To keep fighting the good fight" for me. Make sure you tell him that he will NOT leave this physical world at this time, that you forbid it! Or perhaps some empty promises such as "I'll buy you the new Lamborghini Diablo when you wake up." Some dumb jokes are always good, or stories of Onyx and Barb (which amuse me and Bev endlessly).

I took a couple of books to read to him. But that will come later. Right now they want minumum stimulation of the brain. Any electrical activity in the head requires oxygen, and they want to save any O2 for just living at this point. So we whisper when we're in the room.
He's less interested in fancy cars than most guys. He might respond to a promise to climb Half Dome or hike the Olympic Rain forest. Or share a week camping in the redwoods. He loves working in the yard, planting and growing things. Damn, he reminds me of me.
Ah, Barb & O-man. She's concerned that he gets enough "quality time" during our burnout-at-the-hospital. So she locked me in the bedroom (sleeping) with Havoc & Kaj and brought Onyx upstairs to hang in the livingroom with her and Majik. After her sniffed around the kitchen and dining room he just laid down next to her chair.
They are really doing well together. (I don't think she's anywhere ready to slip the choke chain around his neck and take him for a walk!)
Your family is constantly in my thoughts. I can give you Jack if you need a little boy to run around the house and demand Mac and Cheese.

Thanks.
Barb made Mac & Cheese last week. She's a wonderful cook and it's always a hit -- so tell Jack he'll have to stay home.
+ )
Off to work....