Hungry?

After receiving word from the nurses that Dan had passed his swallow test, I rushed to the hospital this morning with a grocery bag full of coconut water, gatorade, and smoothies - thinking that to start off he'd be on a liquid diet only, and all my presents were gonna send him over the moon. I was so excited to give it all to him, and I burst into the room holding my grocery bag proudly, and he was sitting there already eating ice cream, with a tray of spaghetti and meatballs on the table about to get eaten. Not only had they cleared him for swallowing liquids, they took his tube out of his stomach and put him on a regular diet...so now he can drink and eat anything he wants! My presents lost a little bit of their flare after that. But he was still appreciative.

A menu for his next meal was sitting on the table, and his nurse was helping him to make selections for what he'd like tonight. He had her select the following for him - and this is not a joke:

Cottage cheese, American cheese, fresh fruit plate, fresh vegetable plate, cheeseburger, turkey sandwich, roast beef sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chicken strips, pizza, pie, ice cream, and vanilla wafers.

Whether all of that is actually going to make it onto his tray tonight is another story. But at least he gave it a shot.

Surgery yesterday went really well - they revised the amputation on the right leg, so he now has bilateral above-the-knee amputations. Always looking at the positive, Dan pointed out that he'd rather have both of his legs the same length anyways. The doctors are still trying to find the best way to control his pain, because he can't be on such heavy-hitting pain medications when he leaves the ICU. So they are trying some new options right now to see what will be most effective for him when he moves to the 5th Floor.

Unfortunately I have to leave Bethesda for a couple of days to take care of some stuff back in New York, so I am leaving my mom in charge of updating everyone on Dan's progress. I know she is excited to put her thoughts on here.

Thank you again for the continued support.

Leslie