Bye-Bye ICU!

If yesterday was bittersweet, today was pure unadulterated sweetness. Dad was moved from the ICU to the spinal cord unit! What a huge step. We had heard rumors this may be happening, but never a for sure date. Then the doctors came in today and said he was going. Praise God...what a huge blessing this is.

To top it off, dad "woke-up"today. We've been saying for these past three weeks that he really hasn't been "all there" and would somewhat float in and out of reality. Well, today was definitely the first day that we really saw dad as we know him. As soon as mom started talking to him this morning, she noticed he was different. His facial expressions, the way he talked, his responses to questions...all were clearly dad for the first time in three weeks. Mom started to tell him where he was, what had happened, how long he'd been at the hospital...his only response was utter shock. He said that he has absolutely no recollection of the last 21 days. He doesn't remember ever seeing any of us, doesn't remember the nurses that have cared for him all this time, doesn't remember the surgeries, the awful tubes in his throat, or all the singing. He was stunned as mom filled him in on the last 3 weeks, from the helicopter ride, the news stories, his having to be recessitated in the middle of the night. Mom asked if she should keep telling him what has happened, and he very much wanted to know everything. He couldn't believe Christmas had come and gone, that it was almost the new year. He said to mom, "I should be dead...Thank God that I am here." Absolutely Pops! That's what we've all been thinking the last 3 weeks!

Today was an absolute gift from God. To see the dad that we know, without a doubt. I have never heard mom sound this happy in the last three weeks. I know in the back of our minds we have all been wondering if the Pops we love was gone forever...if he was ever coming back. Until today, we never had a good idea if his mind would ever be the same. But without a doubt, he's truly back, baby! This was a huge day. And amazing to me how perfect God's timing really is. The day that he is transferred to the spinal cord unit is the day he "wakes up". Just when we really need his mind strong and focused for the grueling work of rehab, he's ready for it. Praise be to God for going before us and for this most sweet day. Absolutely amazing. A day we will never forget.

Another reason I will never forget today was a story mom told me. As she arrived at dad's room this morning, she turned the corner to see dad's good friend Dan in the room with dad. Dad and Dan have been prayer partners for the last 20 years, meeting together faithfully every Friday morning. This Friday morning, Dan faithfully came to not only pray with dad, but to give him a much needed foot rub. Mom said it was moving to watch this 6 foot 6 man, bending over and tenderly putting lotion on dad's swollen feet...so precious to watch as he cared for his brother in Christ. When I heard this, I started to cry. What an amazing picture of having a servant heart, a Christ-like attitude. To know that if my mom had not accidently seen this picture of brotherly love, we would never have known about it. It was done in pure humility, out of love for a friend. Thank you Dan for your awesome example of Jesus that you set for all of us. Let us all be as pure in heart and motive, and serve each other in humility. I thank God for you, Dan. May you have 30 more years of Friday morning prayer meetings with dad.

And bless you for touching dad's somewhat nasty old man feet...let's be honest. They're just not that pretty.

Let's give God the glory for today, the three week anniversary of the accident. I know the spinal cord unit is very strict on visiting hours, so as soon as we know details we promise to let you know. But for now, keep on praying! Good night and God bless!