UPDATE 6/21

Michele had a busy weekend with many visitors as well as continuing her therapy. Michele was taken off of oxygen this weekend and she has done well without it. Yesterday her trake was capped off and she has handled this as well. She is breathing on her own without any help at all. I spoke to the doctor today and she is ready to have the trake taken out this week but I asked to leave it in for her surgery which should be in about 2-3 weeks. I will not have a date until her prosthetic is done being made. Once it is done we will schedule the surgery right away. The doctor feels this will help her tremendously in her rehab. I told Michele tonight all that is going on so that she is not surprised with anything we are doing. I even asked her if she wanted to see any pictures of the last few months of herself and she said no by shaking her head. She understands that she has a head injury but does not want to see it at this time. Below is an email from Michele’s sister Cindy explaining her day with Michele. Also please be reminded that all of my past emails, golf tournament info and saint bracelet ordering info are all posted at http://www.miraclemichele.blogspot.com


“Michele had a great morning! When I arrived at 9, Terry the speech therapist was working with her – Michele was still in her bed. Terry had a cup of ice chips with her, and she put a few on a spoon and began to put it towards Michele’s mouth. Michele opened her mouth and sucked on the ice chips. She even seemed to be chewing on them a bit! She did this three or four times. Then, Terry asked her to hold the cup of ice chips. Michele tried to open her hands to accept the cup. Terry helped her grip it and she held onto it well. Then Terry said, “take a drink, Michele.” Michele moved her head down to look at the cup and tried to move it up, but couldn’t quite do it. So, Terry held the cup up to her mouth and they worked through the motion of taking a drink. Then Terry asked Michele to give her the cup back and Michele released it. Terry said that the releasing motion is a much more complex task than grasping (you know how babies grasp and hold on to everything and then won’t let go?) so that was very good progress.

The best news is that they capped off her trach temporarily to see how she would handle it. It was so awesome! She was breathing on her own – without the aid of oxygen and through her mouth and nose all morning! That is a really good sign as AJ the Respiratory Therapist from this weekend was telling me that they often take the removal of the trach in tiny steps like that to see how she tolerates it.

Michele did vomit a bit when we moved her from bed to chair, but when we moved her back to her bed she did very well! I just kept telling her to relax and think about her breathing. Tracey came in at around noon and Tana was scheduled to arrive around 1. It was a great day!”


I have started a new email since this one is getting too long. This will be the start of the 3rd email chain.

John