Thursday 23Jan

Today was another good day! Brian was still pretty awake. He had that right eye open quite a bit today and we did get to see his left eye open spontaneously a few times which is so great to see. He did seem a bit more tired today but yesterday was a big day for him with how awake and active he was. 

I saw the trauma team this morning when they were rounding and they didn't have much of an update, just said it would still be a lot of the same as previous days and working towards discharge to the LTAC. Brian was very tired when they came around and he didn't wake up for them. The trauma team did said they do not have to wait for the ileus to clear before transfer because it is not something that will clear up quickly. He just needs to continue to tolerate the goal feed rate (which he was on all day today as well as yesterday). 

Respiratory also changed their plan a bit today too. The plan yesterday was to have Brian on the trach collar (just humidified oxygen and Brian has to do all the work breathing) during the day and switch him to the vent overnight to let him rest. Today their chart notes said to have Brian on the collar until he couldn't tolerate it anymore (either de-stat or elevated respiratory rate). His nurse said she would probably suggest they switch him to the vent around midnight just so he didn't get too worn out. His breathing muscles are like any other muscle and not using them will cause them to atrophy. He doesn't use his breathing muscles very much when he is on the vent, and since he was on the vent for so long, it will take some effort to get him back to fully breathing on his own. One of the respiratory therapists told me today that breathing muscles atrophy very quickly (it can happen in a day) so even the progress Brian is making now is incredible when we consider how long he was fully supported by his ventilator. 

In a super exciting personal update, Lincoln was allowed back to see Brian today (thanks to all the amazing nurses surrounding Brian) and Lincoln got to see Brian awake and talked to him a bit. Brian turned his head towards Lincoln and looked at him when he walked over to the bed. It was a really special moment for our family to be together again to the extent we can be right now. 

🤍