Around noon the doctors inserted a tracheostomy into Emily's neck to take the place of the tube that had been going down her throat. Not exactly a step forward, although it has allowed her to move her mouth and not to have a tube sticking out of it.
One of the potential benefits of the tracheostomy (I know you're all thinking I'm spelling it wrong, but a tracheotomy is the procedure and a tracheostomy is the actual opening) is that it may be easier to wean her off of the ventilator. The other benefit is that in a few days she may be able to talk a bit through a special valve. This would help her mood I'm sure because her hands have become too stiff to sign and we're back to assisted telepathy (i.e. me going through the whole alphabet ad nauseam while she squeezes my hand when I get to the right letter and then I try to guess the words she's spelling)
She should be having another test tonight or tomorrow to help the doctors determine the extent of the nerve damage. This will give them some idea how long it may take for her to begin recovery.
Emily's also getting tired of looking at me for 12 hours a day (who wouldn't?) so if you want to visit give me a call or send me an e-mail.
