Day 17 - June 17, 2008

WE HAD A WONDERFUL NIGHT!!!!

Although the docs aren't going to admit this and we know that tomorrow could be a totally different day - Breezy and I firmly believe that Kevin responded to us tonight!!!

We went in to see him about 8:45 or so and I could see his pupils moving under the slit below his goggles. I asked the nurse if we could put them up for a little bit just so we could see his eyes and he allowed us. When I said something, I watched Kev's pupil in his right eye move right to me. DIRECTLY TO ME!! (somewhere along the line - the stitch was removed). I truly believed that he could see me, so I started asking him some questions and told him to raise his arm if he could hear me. So here are our questions and here are his responses:

Kev, can you hear me? Arm came up about 6 inches (I gotta admit I about cried here)

Hon, you have a lot of goop in your eyes to protect them from scratches - but can you see me at all? Arm came right up (I did start crying here)

Kev - are you scared? His arm came up very far! I told him not to be and asked if he understood that he was safe. His arm again came up.

I asked then if he knew where he was. No response. I then explained that he was in Texas and asked if he understood. His arm came up a few inches.

I asked if he remembered Sgt G coming and there was no response. I then told him the Ninja Training story and Breezy asked if he remembered doing that. His arm came way up.

We both asked him then if he knew we loved him and his arm came up so far he almost hit me.

Breezy then told him to raise his arm if he loved us and again - it came up as far as it could.

After that last line, Kev's left eye closed and he stopped responding. We knew he was sleeping so we just left. I also want to say that at one point Breezy was talking and he turned his eye over to her, but we didn't think he could see her because she is too short, so we told him that she was coming to the other side of the bed so she could get on the stool and he could focus on her. His pupils totally followed her to the other side.

Y'all can't imagine how excited we both are tonight!!

Oh, and they did remove the tube from his brain this morning and tomorrow they are talking about making some sort of change to the ventilator. He has mostly been breathing on his own, but when they do wound care I think they sometimes turn it up so that he doesn't have to work so hard.

YAY FOR KEVIN!!!

Ok, now this is going to be kinda hard for me to do, but many people have asked what they can do to help Kevin, Breezy and me. One of the best ways to help is simply letting us know that we have friends to support us. The comments that everyone leaves on this blog have honestly kept us going. We truly could not do this if it weren't for all of you giving us the strength to continue. Also, the great people in East Brady are supporting us by sponsoring a few events in Kevin’s honor. Here is a link to their web site if you are interested in attending any of them. Please don't feel obliged to do so, but any and all efforts are appreciated by all three of us.

http://kevkammbenefit.blogspot.com/

Thank you all! And I mean it - thanks to everyone that has left comments! We love to hear from those we know and love and also from those that we don't know, but are here to support us.

So now? Everybody cheer tonight with us! I doubt Breeze and I will sleep a wink we are so excited!!