Welcome to the 5th Floor!

Hurray! Jason was moved to the 5th floor today, as a sign that his healing is moving along better than originally anticipated. He was in good spirits today, and when I came into his room this afternoon, with a bottle of Minute Maid Pink Lemonade he said, "Hey, that looks good. Is that pink lemonade?" I said it was, and that was the end of my pink lemonade, and it was the best bottle I never drank! Heck, even when David showed up today, I asked him to go and buy another bottle to take to Jason. His new room is a bit more accommodating to things being put in his room, so we're going to be bringing in stuff to brighten up the place. That plus a few followers of this blog have indicated that they are sending some things for us to put in his room, and I am guessing it will make it a little more tolerable for Jason.

A sign that Jason has accepted what has happened to him was seen today, shortly after arriving in the new room. They were getting him set up on the bed and they had to adjust a few settings, and then I asked the nurse, "Can I put his quilt back on the bed?" and she said, "Sure." She then took it from me and spread it across the bottom half of the bed and asked Jason if it was alright. Was it too warm for him? I thought, that's a strange question... Then Jason said, "I don't have any legs. I don't feel the quilt." The nurse seemed a little surprised/stunned and then Jason repeated himself, and with a slight impatient tone. She then adjusted the quilt so that it was just a little higher on the bed and covered a little bit of his upper body. I don't think he was trying to be mean or rude with her, it was just that this was the first time someone at the hospital really didn't seem to know how to work with an amputee and it irritated Jason a bit.

He is already starting to show signs that he wants to get out of the hospital (like the incident above), and my guess is that as soon as it is okay for him to get outside he is going to take advantage of it. We have been doing a little investigating and there are a number of programs and activities set up for the Wounded Warriors, so that they can get out and do many of the same things they used to do, just differently. For example there are "hikes" that are set up for the guys, and they have power chairs that have little tank treads, so they can get up and down some of the trails. Some of the guys even go hunting, though Jason isn't much of a hunter. They do get out and visit some of the historical sites and visit museums, and all that type stuff that Jason enjoys.

Jason will be going in for surgery again, tomorrow, and we are expecting to hear that they are closing up some of his wounds. Actually, from what I saw, it appears they have already closed some of them, and now they're simply doing more. His next major step is to set up, and then into a wheelchair. To do this we will need to begin work with a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. Actually his cousin Jake is a physical therapist, and I'm sure there is going to be some opportunity for the two of them to talk, with both of them asking lots of questions and both of them providing lots of information.

Please keep the prayers coming, and all that positive energy coming Jason's way. He is making some very good steps forward, and I hope they continue. Thanks, to everyone for keeping up with this, and I will continue to update.