Fw: Daniel after two weeks
Topic: Daniel

SeNT: Friday, January 28, 2005 2:32 PM
SubjeCT: Daniel after two weeks


The past couple of days have brought some changes for Daniel -- some subtle, some more obvious.

When you walk into his room there is more spaCE: fewer machines! He's still on the ventilator and will continue to be as he's weaned off of the heavy doses of morphine. But several of the other monitors have been removed as his condition has stabilized. (Later I'll post a couple of photo for those who would like to see the difference that three days can make.)

He is finally tolerating his liquid nutrition. There had been problems placing the catheter that went down his throat, through his stomach and into his intestine. Yesterday they finally felt that he was stable enough to endure the procedure to get it placed properly. He has lost considerable weight (and he was *very* lean to begin with!) and they are giving him I.V. as well as G.I. calories.

The two I.V. lines (one in his chest and one in his lower arm) have been replaced by a single line in his upper arm that threads into his chest. Last night they adjusted the ventilator to begin weaning him off of it -- he needs to begin breathing on his own.

The fluid in his sinuses and lungs continues to be a concern, but he's on two antibiotics to address that issue.
The sterile blue surgical wraps that were on his head have been replaced by a 'stocking cap' which covers the rows and rows of surgical staples in his scalp. We had the opportunity to view the CAT scans again yesterday and to see the extent of his skull fractures as they appeared when he arrived at the hospital. I can't comprehend how he survived. What a miracle! The CAT scan taken before his surgery shows that the bleeding in his head was so severe that the centerline of his brain was pushed over to the right. What a mess.

He continues his sluggish attempts at semi-consciousness, opening his eyes when his name is called. The medical staff is now encouraging us to keep talking to him and touching him, encouraging him to wake up. We're happy to do that!

Again, our thanks for all of your prayers, emails, phone calls and kind thoughts.