In the past ten days her ventilator settings have been decreased to the point where she is essentially breathing normally (albeit with the help of the machine). She hasn't been at this point since the second week at Duke so this is a big deal. The respiratory therapist expects that in the next few days they will begin trying her off of the vent for short periods, and gradually increase her time off of the vent.
She has regained a surprising amount of muscle control in her arms and core. She is waving her wrists and moving her fingers. She can move her head better, and her facial expressions have improved.
She's currently working across disciplines with respiratory, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and she has made progress in each.
Here's the big news: With the help of her physical therapists she was able to sit up on the edge of her bed and look out the window. This requires one therapist behind her holding her up, and one balancing and working with her from the front. She was turning her head, and using her ever-strengthening arms to balance herself side to side. She has done this for the past two days for 10 minutes and 13 minutes respectively.
This change in perspective has done wonders for her mood. She says she's still restless and impatient for more improvement, but after I reminded her just how far she has come in the past 10 days, she nodded and agreed that, however small, it has indeed been a miracle.
