Updates from Luke's Mom

He slept till 9ish would not wake up for early rounds, physical therapy had him sit on edge of bed(dangle) he had to be supported up right. He was told to reach out and touch my hand, he did with right hand but not left. They tilted him to his right and asked him to push himself up. He put out his arm/elbow and fired all the correct muscles to do it. Then they tried left side and he got a EXTREME look of pain, red faced. Could not do anymore, had to go back to bed. He got pain meds, but that makes him sleep too much during day. I have asked that they cut dose in half for day shift. later in day in chair for awhile, thumbs up, moving some muscles when asked. Lesley, Larry, Jesstina, and Kevin visited while I slept for awhile. after pain meds wore off he listened to conversations, Max got him going about weddings. Max gets to win all conversations for awhile. When we went to put Luke back to bed I helped and he reached for the black bar lift, so I moved it closer and he reached up and grabbed it, held for few seconds, to me it was forever. He had to get pain meds again and that put him out. When he is in pain he knits his eye brows together and his arms start to quiver.

When he was in bed 5 am with reposition he stirred for awhile and crossed left leg over right and stuck his foot into side rail and kept pushing on side rail. The other night he pushed on side rail on and off, kept moving till his toes/foot between the rail.

Good or bad- I am unsure- I can not read anymore on TBI, I have to believe good, Luke's more relaxed with his arms when he sleeps now. I know that ICP up and his muscles can spams in, for him it was his arms.

Luke woke up at 9 pm in time to get sleeper. but has not wanted to go back to sleep. Wanted mouth cleaned, wants brace off badly, but not happening, marched for awhile , did what nurse asked, when nurse asked if he wanted pain meds, I said lets ask him, he really scowls when in pain, so got pain meds back to sleep little after 11;00.

The doctors think he will be ready for rehab the end of next week. Mom is very happy, but very scared. The army has said they will take him to their rehab facilities. A transport coordinator has already been in touch with the d/c planner here. Still very unsure where he will end up. They are going to base this on reading the charts. Now if they only read the doctors notes, he is not doing well and may get less intense rehab, doctors do not have much hope for recovery, but if they see nurses they will see how much he does move and respond, they are at bedside longer that 3 minutes. I want the best most intense rehab possible for best chance for full recovery, not just warehoused somewhere. This is were I am scared I do not have any control and I will not be bedside anymore. Who is watching that he is doing rehab. I do stuff all the time when Physical therapy is not here. So did mom.

There is a place in Boson, but not Army, Walter Reed outside Washington, DC, there is a place in Atlanta Georgia, private and Army in Atlanta Georgia. Texas and Washington state also have a level 1 rehab. there are only 4 level one in the country.

So continue prayers, more healing of that brain, strong body, and pray for the best possible rehab place for recovery and give family strength to turn him over to the Army for this.