Message Twenty Three

It's very good of you keep reading because we feel that we are here for the long haul.

While I think there are things to say, I'll keep going.

Elizabeth noted that we were 40 minutes late arriving (visiting starts at 1pm).  She told us off.  E, Liz's physio was with her when we arrived.  She deflated the tracheostomy cuff, and, for the first time in nearly a month, Liz was able to breathe through her nose.  Liz was also able to swallow naturally into her stomach.  It was amazing to see her take this step with real courage.  She said it was a bit like swimming underwater, trusting that you could come up for air.

For about ten to fifteen minutes Liz breathed on her own. The length of time will be extended, and eventually she will be able to go outside in a chair without tubes for about fifteen minutes.

Dr F and Dr B visited to look at the weeping sore round the peg feed. They gave her some antibiotics.  We trust that it will be a manageable bug that will be defeated.  Liz is putting up with this without complaining. On a different note, Liz told us she does not have any sense of smell as yet.

M, Elizabeth's nurse today, found a gospel channel on the radio and Liz has been singing along to some old favourites.  We can only think of Elizabeth singing with gusto, so miming to the radio is a new one for us.  M told us she did Elizabeth's first night shift in Leicester and, when she got home, saddened, she told her kids about her new patient.  Her eight year old went and got her picture Bible and read out the story of Daniel in the Lion's den.  Certainly, we have seen Elizabeth surrounded by dangers, and she is more than just surviving.

Liz was visited by Taiyeba and Komal, Leicester friends, which was great.  I joked that using the letter chart to communicate was a bit like one of group games Liz and her friends often play together.

As you know, Joanna is leading on managing the visiting schedule.  If you would like to visit, please contact her (or we can pass requests on to her).  Liz she said she is up for visitors,  assuming she is free from serious infection, and is keen for entertainment.  This is a wonderful change from last week and the week before when the key word was 'endurance'.

This is what Liz can see from her bed.

Liz's room is on the first floor, second window from the right.