A new phase in recovery

Aunt Maureen has sent the following update regarding John's physical status. I want to ask everyone to continue to pray for his physical healing, but also that John can continue to gain mental strength to keep up the fight. With each step he takes, Uncle John is faced with the reality and magnitude of all that his body has been through. I pray that Uncle John will know that just as we all supported his family while his body and mind were 'resting', we will all walk beside him now that he is awake and help him in anyway we can. Please continue to leave words of encouragement. Uncle John could use some


From Aunt Maureen:

I can't believe all of the progress Uncle John has made throughout the last 48 to 72 hours. As you may recall when he left the ICU on Wednesday to be transferred to Virginia Hospital Center, he had been able to be off the ventilator for 12 hours. Well since Friday at 7:00 a.m., Uncle John is completely off the ventilator. He is still on what they call a trach mask which provides moisture and some oxygen support, but John is basically breathing on his own. Friday, Uncle John was able to drink Ice cold water for the first time since February 4th. As John described it, he felt like, " he had just left the Sahara desert". How easily we take for granted little things like drinking cold water. Yesterday morning, John was given his first soft diet. It was amazing to see that eating for the first time since this began was no small task. After a few bites of oatmeal, John started coughing and felt like something was stuck in his throat, but by yesterday evening( Saturday), the whole process went a lot smoother. This was helped along because the doctor decided it was time to downsize his tracheostomy. He returned today and took out the trach and replaced it with the next size down. This represents a huge step toward removing the trach all together. The doctor hopes that this task will be accomplished by the end of this week.

We were also told that John may have a small infection from a sample that was taken from John's lungs when he arrived on Wednesday. Though his White Blood Count looked good and there was no fever, it was decided to start an antibiotic to be on the safe side. If all goes well, John could be off the trach by the end of the week and off to acute rehab by the end of next week. Today, the trach was downsized and John suddenly became much more comfortable while eating.
Each of these small steps represent a new step toward regaining John's independence.

One of the highlights of today for both John and I were being able to receive the Eucharist together. We watched a Mass from the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and were able to receive communion together. It is amazing the things we take for granted. John has been visited many times over the past 5 weeks by Fr. Bryce, Fr. Valentine Keveny, Fr. Lee Fangmeyer, and Fr. Martin,. We are so appreciative of all of their prayers and support, but each time John was unable to receive communion because he couldn't swallow while on the Ventilator. Since John has been able to recover from the sedation of some of the medication, John has commented on how he missed going to Mass. We turned on the T.V. this morning and one of the first things we found was the Mass for the homebound and ill. Fifteen minutes later, a representative from St. Ann's church in Arlington came to John's room and offered him the Eucharist. For John and I, sharing the Eucharist has been a source of strength and grace in our marriage, so it seemed so fitting that we would have the opportunity to receive it together, so soon after John was able to begin swallowing and eating. Thank you, Lord. I couldn't help but think of how easily we take for granted being able to receive the Lord in the Eucharist until all of a sudden you can't. Then all of a sudden you realize what a gift it is truly is to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. One of the hardest parts of this whole experience for me has been not being able to attend Mass with John. Though my kids have been wonderful about attending Mass with me to pray for their dad's healing, I have dearly missed him. My prayer is that we never again take for granted what a gift the Eucharist is or the ability to receive it together.
One of the other realities that the last few days has brought is the new awareness on John's part of what has really happened to him. John was so ill through the first several weeks following his initial events that John really had no concept of what he had really been through and what a miracle it is that God provided the people and the skills to save his life that night. As John has continued to improve and advanced past the ICU, reality is starting to sink in. One of the things that has amazed him the most is that his body temperature was cooled to 18 Degrees during his initial surgery. He has affectionately been given the nickname, the "Iceman". In any event, John has a renewed appreciation for the fragility of his life and of all of our lives. He also has a renewed commitment to appreciate the moments and the people in his life. He also plans on enjoying life and avoiding stress. He would wish the same for each of you. As we enter this new phase of John's recovery, please pray that John will have the grace to see that each small step of accomplishment takes him one step closer to healing. I would also pray that each of us will continue to have the faith to continue to surrender this process to God's plan and continue to trust in His providence.

Amen.