10/21 Wednesday update

[Joe Haldeman]

Joe walked with a walker today, just a few steps.  They pulled out his trach tube (easily).  Now his throat whistles when he talks, but that'll heal up quickly.  He passed the barium swallowing test, so he can have real food instead of "dental soft" food.  And real water and juice instead of thickened water and juice, yuck.  He was able to read quite a bit of a book for the first time, too, and watched a whole movie on TV.  They made him play with a medicine ball, throwing it back and forth and wore him right out.  I drove Rusty up to Dayton to get his mail.  He's off to be toastmaster at ICON in Iowa City tomorrow.  Thanks for all the messages and cards and stuff.  Love, Gay