After spending more hours bedside I can provide more details on exactly how Peter is doing. First of all, he looks better than he did 7-10 days ago. His tongue used to be sort of swollen right out of his mouth under the paralytic and sedation, but now that he’s frequently awake and alert and his mouth and eyes look a little better. His eyes are very irritated and I think it hurts to keep them open long.
When he would wake up today (Tuesday), his face scrunches up and reddens from various discomforts. His throat may be sore, his bedsore might be irritated, his eyes may hurt, or he may need to go poo, which he’s refusing to do into a diaper (or maybe it just hurts to try). In any case, it’s difficult to detect the exact problem through questioning, nods, and sign language. Ty and Erika show great patience through the frustration. Usually a simple adjustment is made, the redness leaves his face, and he falls back to sleep.
I’ll get an update on how the vent removal goes as soon as possible tomorrow.
Our family had another scare this week. Art Walen, Peter’s great grandpa (also Erika’s and my grandpa, also Grandma Barb’s dad), suffered a major heart attack, or congestive heart failure, in the middle of Sunday night. Grandma Barb headed to the hospital at 2:00 AM Monday morning and upon arrival was told that her dad probably wouldn’t make it. Some time later, Art woke and began lucidly speaking to Barb. He stabilized and is doing relatively well. He somehow didn’t suffer major damage. Peter’s great grandpa and great grandma instilled values into their family that are helping Peter today, generations later. This week Art showed a little fight of his own. Keep fighting, Grandpa.
Sending lots of prayers, blessings and love from Hawaii. Your in our daily thoughts.
Lots of Love,
Charlene Mersburgh and Ruthie
sending thoughts and prayers from Little falls.
The Coutures
Good Morning Eigners – you were on my mind the minute I woke up today! First of all, I’m glad to hear Peter’s great grandpa is doing OK – we’ll keep him in our prayers as well.
I hope the night was uneventful – and as restful as possible. We will patiently await the update on the vent removal….
Thinking of you all
P & R
Your family shows the strength and fortitude we all strive for- our prayers are with you all.
Eigners,
Good morning – Our prayers are with you today as they prepare to remove the vent . Peter is a strong guy so we have faith that all will go well. We will say a pray for Grandpa also and hope is recover goes good also. Hang in there my friends.
Hugs,
Dean, Denise,Blake ,Bren & Tiffany l
My daily morning thing is checking in on you Peter. Thank goodness we have Uncle Matt to keep us up to date with all your progress. I am so impressed with your strength and will. We are keeping the faith and sending prayers your way.
Prayers and happy thoughts coming your way this morning! You and great grandpa certainly have some strong fightin’ genes!! We look forward to today’s update!
With much love~
Jenni and family 🙂
Peter, Ty and Erika~
Everyday we read about you Peter to see how you are doing, sometimes it makes us sad and other times we have big smiles on our faces knowing that you are inching closer and closer to getting better.
We say our prayers so hard for you every night and God keeps answering them in his own way. Your family is an inspiration to all of us. We look forward to seeing you holding that hockey stick again.
Go Peter!
Dear Eigners,
Pete continues to take those small but important steps forward. Yahoo Pete.
Our thoughts and prayers continue for Pete and now Grandpa Art.
The Lemkes