THE BROWNIE TIMES WEDNESDAY JUNE 24th

UPDATE

Mom spoke with dad's doctor today.  It looks like dad will be moving on to a new facility soon.  We will have to give a graduation when he moves to the new Acute Rehab facilities.  He has progressed very well according to the doctor.

The next step it to help others manage their expectations in regards to Dad health.  We are not sure about what parts of his brain has been damaged.  It's basically one of those hurry up and wait situations.  What we do know it that he most likely will not come back being able to do all those things we normally see him doing.  The doctors and nurses have expressed the concerns that dad doesn't really understand everything that is going on.  Explaining to the doctor who dad is and how stubborn he is was a fun conversation.  Dad is so used to communicating with only words makes it hard for dad to convey anything other than frustration.  He is still struggling to talk and still working with the speech and respiratory therapist.  And speaking of speech and respiratory therapist they are the ones directing the doctor about dad's tracheotomy tube.  They feel that it is a necessary option in case something would happen and dad's airway was compromised.

The doctor's and nurses are wanting to mange our expectations as a family.  They want to make sure we all know what to expect when dad comes home.  It's because of dad's age and the severity of his aneurysm that create a lot of unknowns as far as his mental and physical abilities.  Most patience with dad's aneurysm fall into one of the following categories: die in the acute stage, end up on life support or they actually improve physically.  Mom's is sure that dad is in the 3rd category and I have similar feelings.  Dad will do whatever he needs to do to get back on his feet and communicating.

We will all need to prepare for when he does come home and we will all need to prepare to step in to help him whenever possible (or when he will let us).  The good news is that everyone will be able to spend time with him!

Dad is one of the strongest willed people I have ever had the opportunity to work with or be a part of his life.  The lessons he has taught me are still going on today to this very day.  In fact I can't think of a day that something he has told me doesn't apply to at least one situation I find myself in that day.  I also know he has many more lessons for me to learn.

Dad at age 4 to 6, we think.