Tuesday- One Digit at a time

Ok. I have a confession to make- since the magical day of the Dr Purcel doing the finger dance to tell me that Colin's fingers had moved, I had not actually seen them do so until Tuesday. Sometimes when Colin does something, i.e. move toes/or ankles, he doesn't do them for me. I think he is worried that if I ask him and he isn't able to do it then we would both be disappointed. So I don't ask and he doesn't offer.

Anyway, Dr Purcell's Tuesday visit coincided with the physio, all good, chest clear breathing etc. And then the question, "hows the movement in the fingers" blank expressions. Hmmm. The physio said she had been working mostly on his chest to help off the vent.

Dr Purcell said "Colin, move your fingers." Well you don't argue with this consultant. Colin duly obeyed. Fingers, not all but some are definitely moving. I was even given a demonstration. They definitely move. Another major achievement. So Colin is gaining strength. He is gradually building up his talking time. I nearly cried yesterday when I asked him how long the valve had been on for? "Quite a while," he replied"but I had nobody to talk to." Bless.

Melissa, middle child, was there to support me yesterday. We oooed and ahhhed at Colin's moving digits. We discussed menus for him. Now the cuff on the trachi is down, he is to wean back onto solid foods. Custards, yoghurt, soups were discussed. Much to his horror, bar soup, he never eats any of the above. The soups on offer at the hospital all have onions. For any of you who have been kind enough to have us for dinner will know, Colin cannot eat onions, milk or citrus. Well flasks are now to be bought and "Delia of Broomhills" will emerge. I wonder if you can mash smoked salmon.

Technology Arrives at the Southern-

Susan Sykes' generous gift of an Amazon Kindle caused great excitement in Glasgow yesterday. Word spread rapidly and a flurry of staff flitted in and out to wonder at this new phenomena! Now they just have to master how to work it!!