Serious Progress

I came into dad's room this morning to find he and my Mom watching the Saturday morning Conference session. I sat with them until dad had therapy before lunch. During his physical therapy the aide walked him around the unit several times. I haven't seen dad walk very frequently, and I was completely amazed. He is walking almost entirely by himself. The aide just offers one hand for support when necessary. The aide would tell dad to look right, left, up and down while he was walking. I noticed that he got a little off balance when he looks to the right. He still seems to prefer that left side a bit. Dad's therapist commented on how much dad has improved just from yesterday. He said that he believes dad will be walking on his own very soon. My mom and I were so elated with this news. Walking has been a major concern for us since dad began waking up. We couldn't help but notice the other patients around us as dad was doing his exercises. Mom and I commented on how amazing his capabilities are. We are very aware of the limitations that dad could have had, and we are so very very relieved and grateful by what he is doing everyday! Dad continues to have a nice healthy appetite. Though I will say, hospital food is not exactly the caliber of cooking he is used to. :) Even so, I have yet to hear him complain. My mom said that he gobbled up his tuna sandwich and soup today with no problem. And he loved his eggs and fruit for breakfast. I think that being able to eat and discontinue the tube feedings have really done wonders for dad in therapy. He is becoming more physically and mentally strong after overcoming that very important hurdle of food. In other fantastic news, dad is no longer on the heparin drip! The doctors rounded shortly before lunch and ok'd the discontinuation of the constant drip. This, along with the absence of the tube feedings, means that dad can walk around freely now! We are all so happy to get rid of the darn IV pole and pump that we have been dragging for weeks. As I thought back to the first few days of this mess, I remembered the double row of IV pumps that Dad needed just to stay alive in Idaho Falls. It's just another physical testament to how far his body has come. Dad continues to have a good attitude today. He seems to be a lot less grumpy, and I think he recognizes that he is doing so much better. He seems to be as encouraged as we are by his progress. I hope everyone is enjoying conference. I know that I have never felt so faithful and grateful to my loving Heavenly Father, or excited to hear the messages of our apostles.