Thursday, March 26th

11:00am - We are waiting for a doctor to read the MRI from last night before they will do the Tracheotomy. Tim is more awake and aware than I have seen sofar. Donna was talking to him loudly, which comes natural to her. She said to Tim, "I'm sorry I'm so loud, but you know I'm just loud", and he slightly nodded yes. When visiting time was over we told him bye and that we would be back, and he slightly nodded yes again.

2:00pm - Still waiting on the MRI reading. Tim is squirming around in his bed alot. The movement is mainly his left side. He seems uncomfortable, but he's been in bed for 18 days so he probably is very uncomfortable. Donna tried to put a pillow on his side next to his shoulder to help him out, and asked him if that helped. He shrugged his left shoulder, so his communication is getting better.

5:00pm - The Tracheotomy was finally done. It was done right there in his ICU room. Donna and I went in to see him, and he seems to be doing just fine. He was sedated for this procedure, so he is just sleeping now. But we watched him swallow pretty often, something he really couldn't do before with the tube down his throat. He still has the neck brace, but we were told that he has an injured ligament in his neck. This will heal, but requires the neck brace. All in all, not a bad day.

8:00pm - While we visited Tim his Neurosurgeon, Dr. Silva, came in to check on him. He asked him to do a few commands. He did a slight thumbs up when asked. Dr. Silva asked him to open his mouth, then asked him to show his teeth. (Things he couldn't do with the tube in his mouth) He was able to complete these commands slightly, but only the left side of his mouth moved. His right side is very delayed in recovery. He can moves his right leg, just not as often as his left. I still haven't seen his right arm move. The doctors have said that the right arm has recoiled when pinched. So I'm not afraid that he is paralyzed on the right side. But it may just take quite a while for it to catch up with the left.