Two Weeks

Monday 22 October 2001  (Mom)
7:40 am Some coughing and a slight fever overnight. Blood O2 up to 98-100 percent. Deeper breathing, some "apnea"-type breath-holding: normal. Between 11 and 12, some stretching/posturing, elbows bent, arms up. had to have hands restrained. Otherwise quiet. 
9:25 am  Spent an hour with him. Restful, with a brief coughing spell and a couple episodes of clenching hands and arms - less intense than last night. Turning head back and forth, as in changing position in sleep. Tossed out right arm once when turned to the right. Nurse Penny says he seems lighter than two days ago. This am's x-rays look clearer, said Dr. Fennel. Fever last night from lungs. Lots of gunk still. Heartrate 87-89, except when coughing. Everything else also good. Trach is set for tomorrow morning. 
(The coughing/lung infection took SO long to go away. Watching him cough so much was excruciating)
Hands unrestrained again.
Marshall and Kellie with him. MK and Terry leave today after seeing him. Jesse and Jamie will be here Friday, 3 pm. 
6:55 pm  Alana, Matt, Marshall and Mom in Waiting Room. I just saw Brian, who was awakened in pain from vent tube. Every time he swallows, it hurts. He grimaces and clenches his hands. When it was especially bad, I held his left hand and we looked in each others' eyes (here I actually wrote "lives"). I stroked his head, reassured him. He was scared and in pain. (oh I do remember this, so much, the pain and fear in his precious face)
Trach is scheduled for 8:30 am tomorrow.
Randy F. and Jesse Hodges visited.
7:45 Thom Little and Jamie called.
8:35  Alana and Matt visited Brian. Aunt Linda called.
9:20  In Brian's room. Has been given some morphine to alleviate pain/agitation from tubes/coughing. Heartrate higher, in 90s. Breathing good, O2 absorption at 97%. Assisted one breath per minute, given 40% O2.
12:25 am  Left Brian resting. All numbers good. A bit doped on morphine because tube is bothering him so much. Stroke his brow and reassure him. One time the nurse dropped something heavy in wastebasket and Brian's eyes popped open, startled. Trach at 8:30 am, about half an hour. No problems anticipated.

October 22, 2012
Brian's voice was affected by the tube down his throat and all the irritation. It was already deep, but it deepened and became harsher. Not at first, but as time went on and still now. Of course, he wasn't speaking at all yet. He was still mostly immobile and did not have any obvious voluntary movements except his eyes and head. No longer comatose, but not surfaced, either. Floating.