Mon 10/12 update

[Joe Haldeman]

Mon 10/12  The best day so far.  Found Joe wide awake.  He was  
evaluated for swallowing with apple sauce, juice and a graham  
cracker.He rolled his eyes and made happy faces when he had food in  
his mouth.  When the speech therapist asked him to smile, he made  
exaggerated monster teeth faces and cracked everyone up.  He's been  
cleared for a soft diet.  If his pancreas enzymes stay down, he'll eat  
on his own and be unhooked from the gastric tube. The whole visiting  
family got to interact with him.  Physical Therapy showed up, sat him  
on the edge of the bed for a while and he did well.  He paid attention  
as I was given a lesson in caring for his iliostomy.

He made writing motions, so we dug out the dry erase board Tim's  
sister Jenny gave us.  Jag asked him if there was anything she could  
send him.  He pointed, slowly, letter by letter, to W-O-R-L-D   P-E- 
A... before we caught on.

A lovely day so far!  It's like a giant leap forward.  The whole  
group, minus Joe, went out for ice cream at Aglamesis before  
dispersing in five directions.

Last night we had a fabulous birthday dinner at Eddie Merlot's  
Restaurant.

Thanks so much for all the good wishes.  They really help.  Love, Gay