Day 7

Today I am grateful for how stubborn my hubby is. The Doctor said he would not breathe again on his own because of the trauma of the crash, and the added trauma of the operation to stabilise his neck, even though he was breathing mostly OK on day 0. BUT we had another win today. Since either late last night or else early this morning, they took him off the ventilator COMPLETELY. This means he is able to breathe completely on his own, still through the trachy, but with no added assistance at all.

His respiration rate (perhaps it is called something else) has gone from between 9 and 11 on the ventilator just after the initial surgery, to between 13 and 18 yesterday just after the trachy but still on the ventilator, and today it is between 19 and 24 breathing on his own through the trachy with no ventilator. That is progress for sure.

He was also able to spell out for me that they are going to change his trachy for one that will enable him to talk some time next week. We don’t know when, and I have not been able to get hold of the doctors who are working with him, but this is also good news as it means they are focusing on other unfortunate emergencies which also means that Colin is no longer an emergency. This is surely a good problem to have. It also makes sense now why his surgery for the trachy was put out for so many hours – it was no longer an emergency, and so other emergencies had to be dealt with before Colin’s one.

It has been a full, and busy week, but I believe we are over the first hurdle.

Well done Colin – you are working so hard with the physio. Please continue to fight, and know that you will NEVER be last because I will ALWAYS be behind you. <3 Behind you, and by your side - FOREVER! Like it or not. I miss you so much, and I love you so much. I am not surprised at how many people love you and are pulling for you. Yo are an amazing man and I am lucky to have you. Please continue to work as hard as you are so you can come home early. <3 <3 <3 <3