Day 59 - July 29, 2008

Well, for the most part the meeting went well. Unfortunately the neuro doc was in surgery and wasn't present, but I will catch up with him tomorrow.

Kevin has definitely improved in the last 12 hours. I was overjoyed at how well he is starting to obey some commands. I also watched something amazing from him today. He was given a large plastic clothespin that is used for rehab (different colors have different tension levels for squeezing). Anyway, when the nurse put it in his hand it was upside down. Kev flicked his wrist upward and it kinda flipped in the air about 6 inches and Kev caught it on the way down and it was turned the correct way and he gave it a couple of good squeezes. I swear he knew exactly what he was doing! And it was all without being able to see it because his hand is down at his side and his head is usually facing upward while laying in bed. His left hand movements are no longer tentative. They are direct, without any hesitation. Mind you, he still doesn't seem to always know what he is doing, but we are getting there and I am realistic enough to know that that is going to require lots of rehab.

I personally think he has such good coordination with that hand because of all those hours on that XBox 360, lol. (I can just see all of his friends - including Sgt G, haha - nodding at this)

So I was told in passing that Kev may be going in for surgery in the morning to put that PEG in. I sure hope so. We can't be accepted to the Polytrauma Unit until it is and as you can see, Kev is ready for rehab. I was told that you have roughly one year from the date of an injury to work with the brain. Obviously I am going to ask that you don't quote me on this, but the rest of your body can take longer, it's only the brain that can't usually be rehabilitated after that length of time.

I was also told that Kev could have had the trach taken out a while ago, but because he will be flying to Tampa with a head injury, it is being left in place. Once we get there, it will be removed (barring any problems).

I think this about sums up the day. I am going to do something stupid and watch a tearjerker movie. No, maybe I won't. This has been the best day I have had in a week and I don't want to ruin it, lol. I guess I'll figure something out...