I am sorry that I haven't written earlier than now, but I just got back from the airport, that is, back from Alabama! Yup, I flew down for about 48 hours to surprise MaryAnn for her birthday, which is today. I was going to share that with you all before I left, but I was too afraid of spoiling the surprise. And the surprise went like this: I wore a blonde wig and ducked my head into Steve room. I had a scarf around my face, and MaryAnn just stared at me, I think she was actually about to throw me out because she didn't know who I was and what I was doing in Steven's room. And then I spoke and she was thrown, since I sounded like her sister, but we were just on the phone and I told her I was just back from grocery shopping. Finally I revealed myself and told her, "Happy Birthday." She had no idea. Steve knew about the plan the whole time--he said it was a good surprise!
It was wonderful to see them again, of course. Steve looked good, he was feeling a little better than he had been previously during the week. On Saturday morning, the ENT doctor came and had Joe change Steve's trache. Props to Joe, that's a pretty serious deal. The doc said again that his throat was healing well, and that he would continue to change the trache about every ten days so that the scar tissue does not have a chance to grow around it. We are hoping that Steve will soon be able to try a new trache, which would allow air to pass over his vocal cords, possibly giving him the ability to speak. Let's put our collective energy and prayers towards that thought. Please.
We had a scary moment last night. I was talking to Steve, explaining how hairy I find the roads there to drive at night (I had drove my rental car out to dinner with Mare, Ashley and my mom for Mare's birthday) and the road home was windy and dark and I was a little freaked out. Anyway, as I was talking about the new concrete power poles going up on Steger, his vent alarm went off. As MaryAnn had told me to do, I asked Steve if he could breath. He replied, "Get the bag," meaning that his vent was blocked and he wasn't getting air. I tried to use the ambu bag, as I usually do when we suction his lungs, but for the first time ever, when I tried to squeeze it, there was resistance and I couldn't get a breath into him. MaryAnn, Joe, Kris, Ashley and Grandma came running into the room and thankfully, Joe took the bag and forcefully squeezed it to get air into Steven. MaryAnn ripped open a lung suctioning kit and immediately unhooked the bag to put the suction tube into his trache. Within milliseconds, she was able to get and dislodge the clog, and Joe refastened the bag and was able to get breaths into Steven. He was okay.
I can't begin to describe what this intensity felt like. I asked Steve if that was as scary as it gets, and he said yeah. He closed his eyes. I stroked his hair, not knowing what to say. He deals with the possibility of moments like this everyday. As do the rest of the family. As my plane took off, and I headed north, I was overwhelmed by the love that I witness every time I go down there. I have always felt lucky to have a big, loving family. But 265 Chipmunk Circle is a remarkable place that I feel so fortunate to witness. I just feel the need to say that. I am sure that some of you feel the same way.
Steve did not have a fever while I was there. Hopefully, the antibiotic that he's been on is kicking ass against the lung infection. He was still really tired though. His medications knock him out at 5 PM and then he has a hard time sleeping at night. That was the case last night. This morning he told me that he was up from about 3 AM on.
I think that's about it for now. To everyone who has continued to bring food by the house throughout all these months, the family thanks you. I have often benefited from your delicious generosity. I know that it is an enormous help for Mare and Joe. And as always, thanks for checking in. More soon. xo Aunt Jean
