Evaluation

Today will be a day of evaluation. Speech therapy has already been in to evaluate her ability to swallow. She passed their test. She was put in a puréed diet. She will be re-evaluated on a daily basis until she is eating enough on her own that they can remove the feeding tube.

She was worried that she "failed her cognitive test" but the nurse explained to her that by that statement she proved she had not.

She will be evaluated by physical therapy and occupational therapy for strength and range of motion. Even sitting up is difficult because her core muscles have lost so much strength.

They continue to monitor her vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respirations) very closely. I asked the nurse when we will know she is out of the woods. She told me as long as she's in ICU, she's not out of the woods. (That's not the answer I wanted to hear. )

So many little things we take for granted every day, such as sitting up, breathing, swallowing, and moving an arm. It makes me grateful to our Heavenly Father who gives us life. I look forward to the time when these things once again in become second nature for Elaine as well.