24 Hours

 What a difference a day makes.

It was a month and three days ago when Jim was the Jim that we knew. The active, running, competitive, funny, thoughtful, vital, geeky Jim. Then... Somebody threw a switch and changed everything. What was... Gone. What was planned...Poof! What's coming... Only God knows. But, the last twenty four hours have been... As Jim is now saying..."Whoa". Honey, you did great! "Whoa". Honey, feel better now that you have a shave?..." Whoa." It's really pretty cute.

So, I am permitted to, so did put on his speech valve, as long as I am there keeping an eye to make sure he is breathing properly. And then, I encourage him to talk to me and explained that he needs to start using his vocal chords. To strengthen them. To change back to what would be normal. To not lose speaking and hopefully singing abilities. Also, to rid himself of the trach and be able to swallow normally. That can domino to bye-bye g-tube. Hello real food. I get excited just writing the words!

Also, gone last night... mittens! Be gone  miniature boxing gloves! Thank you for protecting the tubes you needed to protect, but your time here is kaput. Traded for the mittens... A sitter. Someone in the corner chair to keep an eye, so that he does nothing more than explore and investigate what he knows is not part of his natural body. A sitter all night, all morning and part of the afternoon. About 2:45 PM, the nurse came in to report the sitter order had been lifted. They were not even downgrading to a digital spy.

No mittens. No spies. Freedom to move his hands and arms about the limited world he calls his... For now. He is also responding to many of the commands made of him. Some of that is an understanding, I think, and some... Surrender.

The beauty of all this... He gets to leave after twenty four hour period of behaving on their terms. He will be moved to a rehab hospital where they work with TBI patients, daily. I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. I really cannot.

More excitement... He clearly connected with me today, held me and stated verbatim one intimate phrase that he has said to me many times before," I'm yours." Yes honey, you are. Then another intimate phrase composed of nine... Nine... Words! Clearly said and understood. No, sorry I'm not telling that one. Then about five minutes later, still very connected, "I love you."...Melt.

As if this all is not enough, the left leg moved a fraction. From the hip. To readjust the position. Amazing! The left leg and foot had previously only reacted to reflex stimuli. Which is good, but he moved it. I immediately told the sitter so it could be documented.

What a difference a day makes. Steal your world. Make your world. Twenty four hours. A lifetime.

( After he is moved, situated and somewhat settled, I will list a post office box for greeting cards, atta-boys, and Go-Jim's! for anyone who would like to encourage him directly. I will make sure he gets every single one of them.)