Cuff Down and Speaking and Wheelchair ... Oh My!

WHAT A GREAT WEEK WE'VE HAD WITH DAN.

It started on Tuesday with Dan getting a different resident Dr., who seems to have taken a great interest in Dan. He said he had not heard Dan's voice, and so we proceeded to "put his cuff down". *[see below] When this is done, there is about 3-4 minutes of secretions that have to be suctioned out of his mouth and lungs, as Dan can't cough on his own --- bottom line --- it's a difficult process to put the cuff up and down. Most of us have been trained to do this "cuff down" procedure, but it can be an anxious time for all.

After working through the above change, Dan kept his cuff down for 5 [yes five] hours that afternoon. It might have helped that friends Jen and Issac were visiting him. His previous record time was 1.5 hours. Well Wednesday, he didn't want it down and so we didn't post the good news. [Caution vs Excitement]

On Thursday he had his cuff down 6 hours, Friday[in 2 different segments] 12 hours, and today it's been down since 9:30 am. He even stated that he might like to get approval from his Dr. to keep it down overnight. That's big.

Dan has responded to his weekly goals, with sitting up in his chair for 3-6 hours a day, and doing more with his swallowing of different puree and soft foods.

This is far more of a mental challenge vs physical than any of us could have imagined. We continue to dialog with Dan about his thoughts and his physical status.

Continue to pray for the "mental challenges" that face Dan each day, and let others in your churches and prayer groups know. We feel that Dan might be turning a corner in his recovery.

Know that we think of and appreciate all of you, and how you continue to help and comfort us with your love, gifts and prayers.


*[Cuff technical jargon - meant to be read fast]
There is a small inflatable ring or "cuff" that holds the trach in place. Usually it is inflated so all of the ventilator air goes down into the lungs. When air is taken out of the "cuff", it allows air to flow to the lungs AND also upward past the "cuff" and the larynx, allowing the person to speak.

Now since machine breath is a volume of 1000 and 10 times a minute, [natural is 600 vol. 6-8x], the air flowing into the mouth or nose can be annoying. [Like having some one blow air in your face.] Dan prevents this by closing his larynx, and the air goes back out his breathing tube. So although it works a bit differently than before, when Dan "puts his cuff down", he can speak, and he says it makes him less anxious.