When Dr. Kanasewitz saw Beverly sitting up in the chair with her purple shawl around her shoulders and he said, "Good morning, Ol' Queen Kohl." We all had a good laugh and tried to remember the nursery rhyme "Ol' King Cole". He is very pleased with her progress. The pressure support on the ventilator continues to be reduced each day, which means each day she's generating more of the pressure needed for her breaths. The physical therapists helped her sit up in bed and support herself (with help of course) on her elbows. She also practiced some diaphragm exercises while lying flat on her back with her arms above her head and shoulders.
Janie gave her a facial and foot bath in the morning and her favorite new nurse, Margie, helped her with an afternoon bath. We listened to some of the CDs Chris brought yesterday, and also enjoyed the woodland sounds from the "sound machine" again. The speech therapist and her assistants arrived ready to help her with the speaking valve. She had a much easier time with it today, and spoke for about 30 minutes. As soon as the Passe Muir valve was on the trach section, we told her we wanted to hear her speak and she asked what we wanted her to say. We suggested she quote some of the poetry she knows. (Some of you may not know that she can quote many classics by memory)! She began with a few minutes of Edger Allen Poe's "The Raven" and then moved on to some of Daddy's poetry. Her voice is strong - and isn't even scratchy or weak after all of these weeks without speaking. She said the speaking valve was much more comfortable than the last time she tried it. Hopefully she'll even do more tomorrow.
Please keep the emails, cards, and prayers coming her way!
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