Determination!

This morning, my determined mother reached up and pulled her breathing tube all the way out of her throat! She was being moved after having a routine CT scan performed, and I guess she decided to take the opportunity (while her hands weren't restrained as they usually are) to really let us know how much she dislikes that tube. Her trachea is still swollen, so the doctors had to re-insert the tube. We know that process is uncomfortable for Mom. However, I can't help thinking it's encouraging that Mom can move her arms and has the strength to yank that tube out -- even tearing the tape around her head that was holding it to her mouth.

In the afternoon, I got to spend some time with Mom while she was the most awake she's been so far. She could open her eyes much wider than yesterday, and Dad was coaxing her to communicate "yes" or "no" with eye blinks. I really think she hears what we say and is trying to respond. Dad asked her if she was in pain, and other questions like that. When I came into the room, Mom lifted her right hand up a little, and moved her eyes to look at me. I asked her to just blink if she loves us, and she blinked four or five times really rapidly, just fluttering her eyelashes. I guess it could have been a coincidence, but we're pretty convinced she's able to do these blinks intentionally to respond to us. Isn't that exciting?