Day 17 — Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Another good day 😊

He stood again and took two steps. He lead with his left leg while the right leg supported him.

And Shane spoke! ☺️ Speech therapy came and tested a speaking valve on the trach. He answered various questions saying: “Ahhh” “Yes” “Ok” “I think New Jersey” (when she asked where he was)

I am so happy about this! The first time I hear his voice in 2 weeks.

They will reduce the size of the trach tube from 8 to 6 to allow for a speaking cap that doesn’t cause back pressure (a build up of CO2)

They removed the ventilator from the room. He is independent from it now. He’s still doing well on the O2 from the wall.

Helen Heyes rehab processing is started. We still have a few details to sort out. Also we sent a request to two more facilities as back up.

He sat in the recliner from 10:00-2:00.

He wore his glasses and turned pages in a magazine with his left hand.

The nurse pointed to people in the room and asked if he knew who they were. He didnt know any of the nurses. Then she pointed to me and asked again if he knew who I was. He said “No.” She asked him if he thought I was a nurse, he said “Yes.” I went cold. I wasn’t expecting that because before he could speak it seemed like he knew exactly who I was. When they finished their questions, I followed the nurse out to the hallway and said I was confused by his answer. He seemed to have all the normal responses and warmth toward me as if he recognized me since he woke up. The nurse said it was normal. His memory would be inconsistent at this point. I asked what I could do. She said to tell him our story of how we met and who I am. It will eventually more memories will keep coming back.

I went back in the room and sat straight across from him in the recliner and started to tell him all about my life and how we met. How on the second time we saw each other he asked for my phone number and the first time he called me he asked me to start dating him with a view to marriage. He listened very intently. He didn’t nod his head. But the look in his eyes was that he was hearing something familiar.

It hurt me to have tell the story to him. It felt like something that should be so deep inside you that nothing should be able to take it from you. But that’s what the injury did. To counteract how sad I felt in that moment, I decided I would tell the story exactly the way I wanted to. I left out details of our X’s. And a few other things I had always wanted to forget. I thought, few women get this opportunity in life. Those of us who do, should take it! 😂

We got a visit from Gary Blackburn. He told him jokes and stories about camping and wood working knives. He loved the guy conversation 😂 after days of me and the nurses.

We had a good call with his parents at 8:00pm. He smiled a lot when they told him stories and they made jokes. Betty and Bill said they’ve been loving the phone calls. Including the calls from people who work with Shane.

A nurse tonight said Shane has recovered because of God. And that it is a “testament to our faith.” She said she’s been watching how we support him continually.

Please help us pray for a good result with the rehab process. HE has done so much for us, we know he won’t leave us now.

Thank you 💕