Week 8 -- Progress & Regression

Overall, Jeff made some significant physical progress during the week (9/3-9/9):

• His trach collar was removed, so he's breathing on his own.
• His feeding tube was removed because he was eating the pureed food so well. Jeff began eating 'real' food, but has to be spoon-fed, because he still wears mitts on hands, though he does sit up to eat.
• He began wearing the processor for his new cochlear implant, albeit for short periods, and then only when family or therapist is present. (Jeff still tosses & turns, and tries to pull things off, so we cannot risk losing the processor.)
• Jeff continues to recognize more visitors, though not necessarily while they are present.

On the other hand, Jeff still exhibits some disquieting problems. One of them is that he appears to be paralyzed on the right side of his face. We are hoping that this will eventually improve, but nothing is certain in brain damage cases.

Jeff continues to show signs of pain & irratibility, so he still needs medication to calm him. He also has started trying to get out of bed, so these meds have become a necessity. The downside is that one never knows whether or not Jeff will be focused during visitation.