....Day 20

Kelly and Shawna arrived from California today and were able to spend time with Mily. They also went to dinner with Millie, Danny and Ryan. It gave the family some much needed down time away from the hospital. Mily had a pretty good day today. She was off the vent all day, and they plan to keep her off the vent through the night tonite as well. If she tolerates it, then it will be a thing of the past! She continues to be on oxygen via the trach, but it's a low setting that will likely wean easily soon. She rests well and gets agitated when awake; both good signs. With her recent progress, I would presume that she will be transferred out of the ICU soon. A more aggressive rehab evaluation and program will probably start once she is on a regular medical-surgical (med-surg) unit of the hospital. The many accounts of the world's recent events are fabulous! Kelly took a pile of emails up to Wa with her that you've all written to Mily; they should be plastered all over her wall by now. We have all overwhelmed the staff at the hospital a little but I must say; they don't see patients often who get the outpouring of support that we've given our girl. It has helped them come to know her some, as they don't know the pre-injury Mily. Small victories over the slow course is the name of the game. That's alright - we'll be on the road with her as long as it takes. 'night all, B