"I FEEL FINE"!  Those were wonderful words to hear today! He did quite well with his speaking valve today. He swallowed a piece of ice, although I think he aspirated more of it than not, but he kept the valve on for 1 1/2 hours and did quite well swallowing and trying to talk. Dr. Patel came in during this time, and he was just amazed. After Bill said this, he started to cry, which got to all of us. Dr. Patel even got down on his knees in front of him to talk to him about how great he's doing. We're going to keep practicing through the weekend to see how he does. His O2 saturation stayed up most of the time he had the valve on, which is also a good sign.

We still don't have the results of the biopsy yet, but, like last time, if there had been something wrong that could be detected immediately, we would have know yesterday. He had an echo done today and it was good. Dr. Patel did order some fluids thinking that his blood volume was a little low, but not low enough to need to be given blood.

He stood for about 30 seconds with the help of a walker and 2 therapists today and instead of sitting in the cardiac chair, he sat in the regular recliner. They have a portable lift, like the permanent crane system in ICU, to move him back to bed and that was done easily when he was ready for a nap.

He got the rest of his staples out today and the chest incision looks really good. Just put a few steri-strips on to make sure it healed. The incision in his groin had been puzzling the nurses this week. It was draining a clear fluid that you could see run out. Dr. Patel had the surgical team look at it and Rob, the technician, took the staples out. You could see the fluid pouring from the site. He then pushed down on it with a q-tip and the entire incision opened and gushed like a gyser. He explained that sometimes the lymph nodes in that area build up with fluid and even though it looks like the incision is healing, it is only the skin that is healed. He looked down into the wound and could see veins so they can't use the wound vacuum that sucks the area closed. (Phillis, you know about this all too well). So, it is packed with gauze and bandaged and they are just going to keep repacking it until it starts to close. It sounds really gross, but it isn't and there is so much fluid that there is no chance that the gauze will stick and cause more problems. When it does dry, they will use wet packing.

He's been very alert today and is now starting to flirt with the nurses more. He's in love with Elizabeth his PCT and I think she's a little in love with him too. He showed me 4 fingers a little while ago but I don't know what he meant by that.

All for today. As late in the afternoon as it is, I don't think we're going to see occupational therapy today. And I probably won't be here much longer tonight. I still haven't slept well this week, even took a sleeping pill last night. Maybe since I won't come quite as early tomorrow I'll sleep better. The doors aren't open as early on the week-ends and I will get a better parking place. So, probably won't update again until tomorrow. Hope everyone enjoys their week-end!