We are moving forward. Dad's eye for how things works is definitely still active. He attempted to tie the back of my gown for me. Spent quite a bit of time trying to work it out. Friday he was able to refuse therapy. We aren't happy about the refusal, but the ability to communicate his desire is very important. It was a clear communication and understood by the therapist. The weekend is therapy rest time. We attempted to get him outside in the warm weather Sunday, but with the wind that didn't last too long. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers they are working! We have this!

Dad a productive day. He sat in a wheelchair for 3 hours today. He was alert and interactive during this time. After a big nap, he had speech pathology. They did the vita stim again. He isn't as big of a fan of this as we are, and tried to use me as protection from the therapist. He swallowed two small sips of water. The first one went down easy. They second triggered a small cough. This is a good sign as well. This means that there is feeling in is throat and silent aspiration isn't as likely. We are scheduling a swallow test. This will tell us where he is and if foods can be introduced. These are all small steps when looked at individually, but together make a big difference. He is LOVING visitors. He will react if he can. He looks at pictures on phones and enjoys the stories that go with them. Thank you so much for the love and prayers! It means the world to us and they are working for each of us! We have this!

Dad is well enough that therapies have started on a regular basis. Today the speech pathologist started the vita stim. This is an electro stimulation to the nerves and muscles used in swallowing. She has seen some good swallows, so we are very hopeful. Strawberry ice cream here we come! He did get irritated at all her poking. He kept moving his face away from her and pushed her hand away. This is great! We know that when he is done with something or just plain doesn't want to do something, that he can communicate this desire. We are still trying to interpret some meanings behind faces he makes, but we will get there! Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! We have this!

Dad's recovery is going well. He grimaced when they moved is right leg today. We are hopeful that this is a sign of feeling returning. He is loving the visits. Please know that even if he isn't awake, he enjoys and knows. Thank you so much for you sweet thoughts and prayers! We have this!

Dad moved yesterday. He is now at Echo Manor. We think the change from a hospital room to a living situation will be great for him. He would LOVE visitors. The stimulation is great for him and will motivate him to move forward in the therapy. We are hoping that in two weeks, we will replace the gastric tube. This will be a key move to get us back into intensive therapy. The real healing for stroke victims is therapy and reestablishing the connections in the brain. So we are excited that Dad is healthy enough to start this phase.

Dad is holding steady. His last CAT scan showed healing, which is incredible news. He will most likely be moved to a new facility tomorrow. This will be a skilled nursing facility center. He will heal more, get a gastric feeding tube, and receive therapy there. When he is able to move back to boot camp, we will get him there. Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers! We have this!

The good news today is I guess there isn't really any news. Dad is continuing to improve with health issues. He was alert and heard both Andy and I speak on the phone today.

It looks like Dad will remain where he is until next week. He is continuing to improve. His lungs are clear. The cdif is clearing up. It looks like the next move will be to a skilled nursing facility. This will allow Dad to heal and have a gastric tube placed. With a little more time, we could move to intense rehab when it would be more effective. We are hoping there is a bed opens in Echo Manor. It is in Pickerington, so the location alone would be a great change. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! We have this!

Quiet snow day for Dad. It looks like he might be moving tomorrow. Where is the question. More to come. Thanks for your love and support! We have this!

Today was a good day for Dad. He was moved out of ICU yesterday. We were all pretty nervous about this move, as he had an afib three hours after he left ICU Friday. PT and OT were in today. They had him sitting up on his own and exercising his left leg. He is still apraxic on his right side. This means the connection from his brain to the muscles haven't been quite figured out. We are very hopeful from the few signs we have seen from his involuntary movements on the right side, that he will regain some control there. If you visit, you will notice he is wearing a mitt on his left hand. He hates the NG (nasal feeding) tube. He has pulled it out several times now. We are trying the mitt, in hopes that we won't have to restrain him. Once his stomach has healed more, we will have another gastric tube placed. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! They are working for each of us and we truly appreciate them. We have this!

Yesterday, they were able to remove the oxygen. They placed a NG tube for nutrition. He was aware, but not overly active. PT get him in a standing position, which is awesome. Today, he pulled the NG tube out. He has developed c-dif. They caught this early, so hopefully there won't be complications. They are planning on moving him out of ICU yet today. Dad needs to catch a break. For every step forward we take, we feel like there is some backward slide. Please keep your helpful thoughts and prayers coming. He truly needs some positive energy and thoughts right now!

We had a set back today. They moved Dad out of ICU last night, only to bring him back with an Afib attack. When they brought him back to ICU, the felt uncomfortable with amount of fluid in his lungs. He is on a bipap machine to help him breath. They have reduced the oxygen flowing from it throughout the day, so this is a good sign. This is frustrating to say the least. We will have a few more days in the ICU for sure. Thank you for your love, prayers and support! We have this!

Today they removed a few of the arterial lines from Dad. His nutrition is being given through and IV for now. The sepsis is gone, but the stomach still needs to heal, before we look into other nutrition delivery methods. He started PT again. When Mom left today, she heard him make some sound. We are hopeful that this is a sign of what may come back in time. He is being moved this evening. He isn't leaving West or the floor, just out of ICU. This is a blessing and hopefully a step back to rehab. Thank you for all your love and support! We have this!

Dad is healing well after the removal of the gastric tube was removed. The ventilator tube was removed today and he is breathing on his own. He is recognizing visitors and reacting. It is hoped that he will be moved out of ICU to the next level down in the next 24-48 hours. We are still watching the septic infection, and healing of the stomach. This will guide us on our next moves to get dad the nutrition he needs. He is currently receiving it through an IV, which is not sustainable. Thank you for your love and support! We can't do this without it! We have this!

Yesterday was full of rest for Dad. He was sedated and exhausted, so we didn't see much from him. Today they are stopping the sedative and hoping to remove the ventilator. He was over breathing it yesterday, which is a great sign. He is opening his eyes today. There is still light bleeding in the brain. So for the time being they have stopped blood thinners. This, we have assured, is ok. We need to let the brain heal. Without blood thinners, his chance for another stroke are higher. The good news is there isn't new damage or swelling. He is still in the ICU at Mt. Carmel West. We are still assessing to know when the next step can be made. Thank you for all you prayers and support! We have this!

Dad is resting today. The surgery was successful. We are still trying to assess where he is medically and neurologically. I will keep you posted. Please keep him and my Mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Late today, Dad went in to have the gastro feeding tube removed. It seems it pulled out. They cleaned up the infection and put in a nasal tube. Dad is resting comfortably. Long day for Mom and our family friend Tom, who was sweet and stayed with her at the hospital. Please keep Dad in you thoughts and prayers!

Unfortunately, Dad went back to ICU today. When Mom and Andy arrived, they noticed he was clammy and sweaty. He also wasn't waking up. He was holding his stomach and grimacing. We have done UTI tests and x-rays of his abdomen. His levels weren't quite right, but nothing that explains what is happening. A CT has been scheduled to see if there is additional bleeding in his brain. Otherwise he is in a place that can better monitor him. Please add him in your prayers tonight. Thank you!

Saturday Jan 30 Bill took a few marching steps.  He did swallow 4 pieces of ice and did not choke on them and did eat some applesauce.  He still sleeps a lot and they are thinking of giving him medication that will keep him awake.  Stacy went home Saturday and will miss her a lot.  Hard for both Bill and Stacy to say goodbye.
Sunday Jan 31 I stayed home today.  Was told by too many people I needed to "take are of my self"
Andy is coming Monday and then will post more then