Wednesday, August 1, appears to be our scheduled date to return home!
Dan has been a model therapy patient. The same determination, and a little bit of stubbornness, that kept him fighting for his life are present as he “thinks like an ant” for a slow yet steady progress in the rehabilitation process. His balance is good. He is able to walk short distances unassisted. He walks down the hallway with his walker like a man with a mission. 
OT had him cook an egg. YAY! A good way to test his standing endurance. Food has always been a good motivator for Dan. As part of his therapy, OT and PT are taking us to lunch on Monday. Dan picked HyVee as he loves their all-you-can-eat salad bar!  Again a good test for endurance, plus to see how he handles his “ new normal “ in public. 

It will be 42 days since his collapse on Tuesday, July 31, which just happens to be our 42nd anniversary. What an anniversary to  remember and for which to be grateful!!! And thankfully, Dan also turned a year older during this ordeal on July 22. Busy month!

They say it takes one week of rehabilitation for each day in ICU (17 days) and three days for each day in the hospital (25 days) to get back to “normal”. So we have a long road ahead, but we are thrilled to be on this rehab road!!  I doubt he will be chainsawing, hauling and mauling wood, but I am guessing he will be hiking and biking by spring!

His heart output is at about 40% and oxygen levels remain in mid to high 90’s, which is pretty awesome considering the trauma he experienced to lungs and heart!  So much for which to be thankful!!

They say it takes a village to raise a child; and I believe it takes a village to pray and support a very sick person back to health and their home. I realize it doesn’t always work out that way for everyone, but we are forever grateful to “our village” for bringing Dan home. 
God Bless You and your loved ones. Hugs to all!