Instead, we get this ^ ... up and down and sometimes UPSIDEdown.
On Monday, Ian got to try pudding and jello and gingerale! He topped it all off with a chunk of chocolae cake and a glass of milk at the end of a long day of therapy. You should have seen his eyes when he realized the cake they had (cruelly) baked in the therapy room and the slice she was bringing over with a fork was for HIM. It was a glorious day. He was strong, in good spirits, doing therapy without his oxygen supplement. His voice was strong and his "secretions" (if I never that word after we get out of here it will be TOO SOON) were lessened.
Yesterday ... we (his family support staff) took the day off: illness, tasks, etc ... I talked to him on the PHONE to check in. Wow. He sounded tired but good.
Today I got here just in time to see him right after his swallowing test (barium swallow with xray picture to see where the stuff goes), which he did not "pass." So no good foods for him for a bit. His coughs were thick and different and he had a fever. And then he threw up his feeding. Told me that he had tingling on his LEFT side as of the morning. If you have followed since the beginning here, you'll know that his RIGHT side is mostly numb and tingling, and that we headed to the hospital when the left thumb started to tingle and he couldn't swallow. So ... any move on the "more things tingling front" leads to immediate concern.
Luckily the doctors here are wonderful and hooked us right up with a scan and then an MRI. Thankfully, those showed no new bleed and if anything, show a decrease in blood product or swelling from the operation itself. SO... we don't have any cause for the tingling now except that it's possible some errant blood went carousing and caused the tingles. In the meantime, it seems to me that he has a virus, but that would be a layman's opinion. Who knows.
What I DO know is that he has gone at least 30 minutes without coughing, he no longer has the chills with fever, and he's sleeping comfortably. His color isn't back to normal but it's not green.
What does all of this mean? Just that every day is different. We can rejoice in the victories and try not to be defeated in the setbacks. We have hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)
Prayer: for health and relief from the cough and fever. Continued strength. I'm staying the night- rest for me and that my back doesn't get any worse because of it (it's angry at the moment). For a fresh, new day tomorrow. Encouragement and stamina.
Thanks, y'all.
