March 22, 5:30p update

A quick update and a couple of clarifications from yesterday.

First, I mentioned that Linda is slowly awakening from her coma. To clarify, her nurses rate her coma level (her level of awareness and ability to interact) each day on a scale of 1-15. When Linda was admitted to the ICU at LDS, she was at a level 3. Now, based on her being able to respond to questions by nodding her head and the fact that she can keep her eyes open and move her hands and feet, they're rating her at a 13/14 level.

Second, I stated that her doctors intend on performing a tracheotomy later this week to remove her ventilator tube from her mouth and throat. To clarify, the tracheotomy will reposition the ventilator from her mouth (which will help the sores on her lips and in her mouth heal) to just below her vocal chords on the front of her neck (which will hopefully allow her to begin speaking again).

I apologize for any confusion.

As far as today's update goes, she's currently awake and undergoing a 3 1/2 hour dialysis treatment. The wound specialist was just here to change the vacuum-pac dressing on her incision (which is done every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and noted that her wound is healing perfectly.

Linda's kidneys continue to improve! She began producing urine again a couple of days ago and is producing more and more each day. Lynn can't believe how excited he is for a little pee. :-)

They continue to "dangle" her a couple of times each day. She sat for just over an hour this morning in her chair as part of the work she does with her physical therapists.

We're grateful for the progress she's making each day. Thank you all for your love and your comments on the blog. I pass them along each day to Linda and Lynn. Linda smiles...Lynn just grunts. :-)

Until tomorrow...