Day 5: Letter from Aubrey

We just discovered this e-mail (below) from Aubrey, which was sent this morning:

Sent: Sat 4/04/09 10:59 AM

When we have a quiet moment, and have access to one of the world's 8 wonders, "The Computer", I really enjoy reading all of the messages of support and encouragement.

Daniel finally got his first "Jamba Juice" last night. Someone had brought one to him the other night, but with his ventilator tube, he wasn't quite able to maneuver his lips around the straw, so Alex stood next to him and drank it. Brothers can be cruel. Of course, during those few days, even though he begged for water by writing in the palm of his nurses hands, he was refused. Two minutes after one of his nurses' gentle refusals, she said, "Oh...would you like a cold bottle of water?" His head started an excited nod, and then she said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I meant your dad" That was a sad moment.

Anyway, last night, before he took a sip of the long awaited Jamba Juice, he had a shot of wheat grass. His friend said, "do you actually like that stuff?" and Daniel said, "No, I hate it, but it will help me get well." I was in the room when they removed his one-inch chest tube and he didn't even flinch. He ran a low grade fever all night and was in a significant amount of pain in his lower right abdomen. The doctor explained that there was a cavity located in that spot that is called a "????? Trough" where the blood from his damaged liver, spleen, and kidney will collect. It will eventually dissipate or it will have to be drained.

They are running another CT scan this morning, to monitor the damage to his liver...that remains to be their biggest concern, as well as infection. They are also taking more X-rays of his broken pelvis. He asked for his breathing exercise devise last night and worked so hard that his heart rate raised to 165. I can see the determination in his eyes. He is constantly coughing to clear his lungs because he knows what will happen if he doesn't.

This morning he took his first two steps to see if his broken pelvis could support the weight of his body. For the first time, Mendy saw his back and said that the bruised areas were huge. He's just so broken up, but refuses to give in to the pain. Because it hurts for him to get even a few words out, he doesn't talk a lot, but aside from re-assuring us that he loves Christine (and he does include us as well), he seems to spend his energy asking the nurses if all of his tubes and monitors are working correctly. He doesn't miss a thing.

Even though he doesn't express it, I know he hears the doctors discussing the extent of his damages, his risk of infections, and his long recovery time...I can see his quiet determination to prove them wrong.

Your blog site for Daniel is a big hit and a perfect solution for providing the much desired information to friends and family everywhere. The world of technology is amazing, but more amazing are our friends.We love each of you so very, very much and want to express our gratitude to you and more especially to God. His tender mercies continue to be manifest to us and the quiet peace fills our souls. Thank you, again.

Aubrey, Mendy, Geoff, Stephen, Alex, and most of all, Daniel