Update on Jim & Ruth Ennenga

Good morning, itbs been a good week. Mom came home on Thursday. She is
feeling pretty good, though still weak. She is supposed to use a walker, but
is
kind of cheating with that. The first thing on her agenda yesterday, was to
get
a haircut. It looks good on her. J
Dad has had his trachea capped (oxygen tubes have been removed and a bcapb
is  on the end of the trachea). At this time, the tracheabs only use is to
suction  his lungs, if need be. His lung secretions have dropped to almost
nothing. What  he does have, he is able to cough up and suction out with a
small
suction wand.  This also has allowed him to talk better, and when he wants,
not
when he has the  passy muir speech valve in place. He is on antibiotics for
infections through  today. He is still being fed through a tube, but should be
weaned off that this  upcoming week. He has lost 20-25 pounds of weight.
On Wednesday, he flunked a water swallow test. That depressed him. We started
 doing a number of mouth/swallow tests immediately, and on Thursday and
Friday,  he passed two different swallow tests. Yesterday, he was allowed to
have
one  small container of apple sauce, his first swallowed food since the
accident on  October 2nd. This Monday, he is scheduled to have a barium
swallow
test. If he passes that, I believe they will slowly start him on liquids and
progress to solid foods.
Once that happens, things will go quickly. His trachea tube should be
removed, feeding tube and catheter (which they are slowly retraining his
bladder
for) should be out by the end of next week.
His doctors are talking about moving him to the rehabilitation center in 1-2
weeks. I donbt think it will happen this week, but possibly the next week.
Based  on his muscle deterioration, I would assume he will be in the rehab
area
for at  least 2 weeks, probably 4 weeks or longer.
Dad is in good spirits and wants to know bwhatbs the scheduleb? I have
to
remind him that he has no schedule, just to rest and get better! He and I are
working on the swallow exercises, as well as some arm and leg exercises he can
 do in bed. We want to keep as many of those muscles as we can!
I go home to Omaha on November 3rd, and my younger sister from  Columbus, NE
comes in for two weeks. Her name is Susan Haskell. After that, my  twin sister
from Flagstaff comes in for two weeks. Her name is Winnie Ennenga.  Updates
should be sent by them after I leave.
Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. Mom and dad have both welcomed
and enjoyed your notes, cards and best wishes.
Have a great weekend,
Mary Richling

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