Friday, Sept. 5th updates

Dan is doing so well. He started reading and writing today. And he got to eat real food for all 3 meals today, along with drinks mixed with the thickener, though still no thickened iced tea - yuck. His doctors are very pleased with his progress.

He did only 2 laps with the OT today, his lower back is sore from that fall a few days ago, the doctors have ordered an xray just to be sure nothing is broken. Dan really enjoys visits from the OTs (occupational therapists). They get him up and to the sink for grooming activities, walking his laps, then arm exercises with a towel. The hard stuff comes next week when they move him to rehab - 3 hour workouts with short breaks, but Dan says he's ready for the challenge. They also do some fun stuff, like bake cookies or go shopping...where do I sign up?! Right now, the plan is 7 days in rehab, so he might get to come home after next week.

Today, the endocrinologist came by to teach us about insulin and how to do blood sugar maintenance. Some of this I already knew since my Mom is diabetic, and she uses insulin pens rather than syringes, Dan will get to use these also. Alot of info to absorb, but Dr. Childs explained everything so well - if you watch the tv show Frasier, Dr. Childs reminds us of Niles only with dark hair. I'm glad they give us just a little info each day, I think we'll be ready come time to leave the hospital.

And today's word from everyday things around us: we watched Mayo's educational video on taking care of a new liver (did you know your liver performs over 5,000 functions?). One very important thing for Dan now will be to stay infection-free. He can't be around sick people, he needs to avoid big crowds for that same reason (Hawaii ohana, don't be offended if Dan isn't able to hug you all). He will need to practice good hand-washing hygiene and even be very careful not to get cuts or skin abrasions, believe it or not, a little cut infected can harm his new liver which will harm the entire body. God spoke loud and clear to me about the need for purity in my life and in the Body of Christ. Just like a little cut can ultimately harm Dan's entire body now, sin (even a "little sin" only I know), could ultimately harm the Body. And just like Dan needs to avoid folks that are sick, we need to avoid unhealthy relationships, media, anything that might cause a "sin" infection in the Body. 1 John 1:5-10 comes to mind.

Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan