June 10

Mom was put on a feeding tube yesterday afternoon. She is responding
very well to that. They hoped to get her up to a rate of 70 ml per
hour and Kathie just called me to say that she has now arrived at
that rate. The feeding tube goes directly to her small intestines so
we will still encourage her to eat, but it is wonderful to know that
she is getting the calories and nutrition she needs to help with her
recovery. Laurel said that at about 4:00 this morning, mom went into
the deepest sleep she has seen her have during the last 5 days. Her
heart rate was good and she was taking nice deep breaths. All the
doctors who saw her today said she was looking better. Her breathing
sounds better today and is less labored. She is having a physical
therapist come twice a day now to help her build up her strength.

Dr. Wallentine said that she was more awake today and glad that she
was still not having any pain. He actually thinks she is doing
better today than last week. He mentioned to her that she had a high
temperature during the night but that now she had no fever at all, to
which she responded, "You know I'm a cool chick." And with that she
did make Dr. Wallentine blush before he left her room. (Some of you
might not know that mom tries to crack some joke every time she sees
him. He blushes very easily and it is a little joke between them
that mom is always trying to see if she comes up with something that
might make him blush.)
Dr. Wallentine is bald and mom started to call him her "twin" when
she lost her hair. She keeps telling him that with his wife's
permission they should go on a date with their two bald heads when
she gets better. Laughter is the best medicine and mom tries to keep
herself and others laughing amidst her serious condition.