August 26 (Sunday) - 710pm

A quick update, as it was a quiet day, and quiet days are always good days when you are talking the ICU.   Jeannette was a little stronger today, moving one of her arms around some, and she even cornered her primary doctor and asked him: "What's the plan?"   She might not be talking up a storm yet, but she hasn't lost her ability to get to the point!

The doctor took the time to detail the recovery plan for Jeannette, going through it step by step and she took it all in.   Basically, they first need to get her nutrition levels up, and they are double feeding her right now with both an IV line and a stomach tube to deliver nutrients.   It might not be a Simon and Seaforts dinner (a high class Alaskan restaurant in Anchorage), but she is getting fed, and she is handling it.    Nutrition of course is one of the keys to help her get her strength back.  The doctor also said they need to continue with the respiratory therapy to increase her lung capacity and blood oxygenation ability.  

He said that he estimates that this process could take between one and two weeks.   So, its a goal, and a direction and a plan.     Once they get her to that point, then it will be surgery time to fix her two legs.   One of them needs a full knee replacement, and the broken bones still in need of repair will have to be addressed and fixed.   The key to everything is to get her strong enough to handle the operations.    Her hand/arm still needs some surgery too, but the doctor indicated that is a much lower priority and will probably come a little later.    

All in all Jeannette was in pretty good spirits today, getting a little stronger with each day.   Rich was keeping up with things at home, and in fact he relayed much of the report I'm writing.   He was concerned with Jeannette's birthday, trying to figure out what he wants to get her, and that was the big item on his mind.    Rich had plenty of company, and Sam was with Jeannette most of the day.   The bottom line is we had a good weekend, and so it goes, one day at a time with a clear plan now in place and things moving in the right direction.-John