September 25 (Tuesday) - 7:20pm

I noticed it's been a couple of days since I last wrote, and the good news is that there has not been all that much to write about.   Today however marks a really good day, for both Rich and Jeannette, and good news always makes for an easy to write "update."    Rich saw his doctor today, and he had his splint/cast removed, and he's been cleared to start (slowly) lifting weights and building his strength back in that arm!  That's right, he is "cast free!"       He was also taken off the blood thinner Coumadin, and that's one drug he didn't like and he was sure pleased to find out he no longer needs it.   He has a completely unrestricted diet now, and so in every single measure he is getting well and making progress fast!

Another big item was that he was able to attend church this past Sunday, which is the first time since the accident he's been able to get there.   He really enjoyed the service, and also seeing everyone and it felt WONDERFUL just being there.   But it was also somewhat difficult too because Jeannette was not there with him, and he still grows tired easily so he did not try and handle the social hour after Mass.    

Speaking of building up his strength, he's working on that too, and in fact he has been chowing down some incredible calorie loads according to my not so secret sources.   On purpose of course.   Yeah...eggs, bacon, bread, corn, meat, more meat, etc...    The great news is that the food is "sticking" and he has been gaining his weight back at a measurable pace.    So, all the markers for Rich are good, and today he even had a chance to get into Anchorage and see Jeannette, which always is the highlight for the both of them.   

As for Jeannette, today she got a double dose of Physical Therapy, and she's working on rebuilding muscle tone and getting back in shape.   Yesterday I had a great visit with her and Sam, and we got a few laughs in about some of the food they are getting her to eat.   The "pink slime" dish and "Ensure" shakes aren't exactly the favorite thing on the menu, but I did notice she had cleaned her plate of its Salisbury steak, so she has her appetite back and looked really great to me.   

While I was there an alarm I had not heard before penetrated the silence of the ICU room, and I about jumped out of my chair while every else hardly seemed to notice it.   As it turns out it was a "bed" alarm, not a "person alarm" and it just meant that the cosmic star wars bed (estimated cost $15,000 by the way) wasn't happy with its air supply, because Jeannette was sitting up and the bed wanted her in a different position.    The nurse got the alarm under control in short order, but I got a big smile out of thinking that we now are just down to bed alarms in the ICU.       

Sam was in great spirits too, as was Jeannette, and it is clear to me and everyone I think that Jeannette is doing better with each day that passes.   Even so, this healing journey is a long process, and the big surgery to deal with her left leg is still looming for the future.    But the doctors and her medical team are still focused, and they are tracking her numbers, adjusting the meds now and then, and checking on her constantly.  I find warm comfort in knowing that the good hands that have been there from the beginning are still working strong. -- John