Thank, You, God, for bringing my husband through the surgery, and thank You for allowing Ken to open his eyes and wake up from his coma!

My husband has awakened from his coma!  While he cannot talk (due to the ventilator still in his mouth), he can look at me and acknowledge my existance by squeezing my hand or slightly nodding his head whenever I ask him questions.

He knows he is in the hospital; he doesn't know how bad he has been injured.  The doctor will be in later to talk with him (and with me).  I stay by his bedside, holding his hand, and smoothing his hair back from his forehead, so as to try to comfort him.  He is in some pain; I will have to talk to the doctor to see if he can give him something for it.

According to Dr. Dinh's latest findings, Ken is still paralyzed, but that can also mean beccause his spinal cord is still swollen.  If it goes down, he may get some feeling back (or all of it).  So far, there has not been any movement (or feeling) in his legs, but it may return once the swelling subsides.  All we can do is pray and hope that this happens.

His intestines were spared catastrophic damage, but part of it had to be removed.  He has been given a colostomy, where he will poop from his instestine instead of from his rearend.  A lot of unnecessary information here, but this is what has happened.  The ostomy specialist will be in later to discuss in detail how to manage it and how to change the bag that he now wears on his stomach, on the left-hand side.  It may be temporary, but then again, it might not.  Time will only tell and it is just one more thing to get used to.

I have been home only once since Ken was shot: to get a change of clothes, take a much needed bath, fix my hair, and pay some bills as well as get the mail.  I have also kept family members informed in the latest news about Ken's condition; that way, they know what's going on at all times.  The remaining time has been spent here at the hospital, by my husband's bedside.

Or in the Intensive Care waiting room when visiting hours are not in operation.

I don't know how long Ken will be in the hospital, but he faces a very long road ahead in his recovery.  He will probably end up going home in a wheelchair but may be able to walk in the future.  He will need lots of physical/occupational therapy down the road.  He may eventually end up walking with a walker (or perhaps crutches or a cane if he works hard enough), and maybe even under his own power.  Time is of the essence as to whether that will happen.  It also depends on his attitude and overall outlook.

Just keep those prayers coming for my husband!  I (and he) would geratly appreciate any (and all) prayers we can possibly get!  Thank you!

~To be continued.~