The Continuing Improvement

As this week draws to a close, Jim continues to improve. His voice is almost back; a bit scratchy and sort of whisky-like, but at least he is able to speak again. He tries not to use it too much as it gets sore. His plumbing is beginning to work properly, he has a bit more energy, and he was able to sip and swallow water for the first time in about six weeks. A big step forward. At least he knows the swallow mechanism works. We were told at the outset that some patients lose this ability and, once it's gone you do not get it back. So thank God for small favors. He had a fairly active morning but faded about 3 o'clock, took a long nap, and got up still tired but willing to stay up for awhile. Tonight he tried sipping some chicken broth (yuck!), some melted vanilla ice cream (more yuck!), and some pulverized lentil soup (ditto!) I guess he's not ready to eat yet.

I had lunch with a friend who, among other things is an opera lover. She told me that the Metropolitan Opera Company will begin its radio broadcats next Saturday, December 9, with Mozart's Idomeneo. This is one of the operas we listened to going back and forth to Jim's radiation treatment. But I think I'll listen anyway, just for old time's sake!

Tomorrow will bring more good news, I trust. Each day brings a bit of improvement, it's true, but once he got his plumbing sorted out, BIG changes started. Once again, kudos to Nurse Ruby! Tomorrow we will shop for baby food as a way of getting something into his stomach via mouth. Let's hear it for Gerbers!