Update from Mike 2/14

Thursday/Friday/ Saturday 2/12,13,14
The Road To Recovery Days 24,25, & 26
Sorry for not updating yesterday's status. I fell asleep.
First, I can't say it enough. Thank you again and again to our families and everyone else that have been so supportive to my family in every way during this very difficult time. I am truly humbled by the amount of love and kindness that has been given to my family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Most, of all, I want to give my eternal gratitude to the young man who unfortunately lost his life way to early, for signing up to be an organ donor. Without his unselfish act my wife would not be in the situation to begin a whole new life, breathing on her own for the first time in three years. Every day I think of the family that lost their loved one and hope that their mourning gets a little easier with each passing day.
Both Thursday, Friday, and Saturday pretty much mirrored each other. Physical therapy was the same for both days. Karen did four sets with seven minutes for each set, totally 28 minutes. This is the most she has done so far. She also pedaled a floor bike while sitting in the recliner for 20 minutes. Like I've said before, she has been an overachiever on the physical circuit since the beginning.
Breathing, however, has been another issue. Karen's has been meeting her breathing trials of 12 hrs for the past 4 days. Her problem continues to be breathing off of the ventilator when she's awake. She does very well when she's napping/sleeping while off the ventilator.
No problems at all. When she's awake she panics still and hyperventilates for a short time complaining that she can't breathe. She thinks she's not breathing but her numbers have been outstanding and X-rays show that her lungs are functioning perfectly, just like they are suppose to do. Her problem is all mental. When she's awake she goes in and out of these gasping for air episodes thinking she still has those same nasty lungs, but she doesn't have the oxygen hooked up to her anymore so she panics. It's like being underwater with you air running out then racing to the surface to breathe and when you get there you gasp for a breath of air. It's scary when you have been so dependent on something for a very long time when all of a sudden it's taken away from you and then you're told you don't need it anymore. I'm sure the brain is confused. That would confuse me, but I walk around confused any way. That's probably due to college and teaching two classes of kindergarteners. That's a topic for another day.
Right now I'm focused on reinforcing her positive breathing times and trying to get her to eat so she can get that stinking feeding tube out of her nose and small bowel. It goes in as a liquid it's going to come out that way. That would wear the crap out of me. (Sorry I couldn't resist) To go along with that she's taking oxycodone and the rejection medicines which are all hard on the stomach, especially with no food in the belly.
Well I guess I am going to have to break out the moves to go along with the Pom poms. Karen's needing some more Mojo. It might be time for the splits. Not from me, but someone. I'm not stupid. So keep the Mojo flowing. As soon as that brain realizes those lungs are desperately waiting to be unleashed, WATCH OUT! Thank you everyone for caring so much. We couldn't do it without you!