Joye's Update 5/5/08

Well, we have some news today . . . our trip has been postponed until Wednesday. We were lacking a signature to get Andrew transferred to another state, and it didn't come until late today, so plans had to be changed. But, it's okay; I just took it as a sign from God that Wednesday was a better day to travel than Tuesday. Everything is signed and sealed now, so we're happy about that. Andrew was disappointed, but is happy to know he only had to wait one extra day. He rested well today and he had no fevers. We've read and heard from many of you that you are wanting to visit him in Colorado, which is great . . . I think he needs people around him. Andrew did express to me today that although he does want people to visit, he really wants to get further into his recovery before people make the trip. His desire is to get off the vent, get talking, and be in a better position to be able to visit with people the way he'd like to. Not to mention his regimen for weaning off the vent is going to be drastically different at Craig. It will require loads and loads of rest and small periods of time with very hard work to strengthen the diaphragm followed by loads of rest, and so on. This weaning regimen is a completely different protocol that has been developed for patients who have a spinal cord injury and will be relying solely on the diaphragm to breath. It's much different than the regimen he's been going through at Select. The key is GOOD rest; just like a person who is a body builder . . . they lift heavy weights and then rest the muscles a lot, and then repeat. So I ask you to please understand, he does want to see people, he just wants to have a little control himself as to when that is. Since the beginning of this ordeal, I've made it a point to try very hard to make sure he doesn't feel that he has no choices or no control as to what is happening in his life right now. Andrew is my very best friend and I know that I am his . . . I respect him so much and the most important thing to me is that right now he always feels as though he is my husband and that I am his wife and although I am giving him all the care I can right now . . . I never want him to feel as though my role has changed to just that (caregiver). I will preserve our marriage and our friendship and our love; I just also happen to be the one providing him care as well. Andrew has a lot of pride and he is a very strong man . . . I will make sure that he always knows that will never change. He is my big, strong, kind, loving man and he will always be. We have our faith in God and, of course, that faith has only grown stronger since this has happened. We know that Andrew is in the fight of his life right now and with your prayers and encouragement, and with the love he and I have for each other . . . he's going to get through this just fine, I just know it. God is good and He hears our prayers . . . He is working on this for Andrew. Good Night and God bless you all. Joye