Day 36 – Kaiser/Oakland ICU

Day 36 – Kaiser/Oakland ICU

We made it to Oakland today! The last time we were there was back in the 1980s. Only took us 1.5 hours so not bad for the amount of traffic @ 10:00 a.m. Mark looked sooo better today and even could talk for the first time. They put in a smaller tube in his trachea and he had a shallow voice. He even got a sample of water to see if it would go down the right way. Hopefully, tomorrow they will try a sample of pudding. They want to be sure it goes to his stomach and not in the airway. He even had the stitches taken out of the left leg and just a small wrapping on the leg. Surgeries still planned for the right leg, but they want him to be able to eat, drink and have him totally breathing on his own first. The chest tubes are still in and also the gall bladder device for another 6 - 8 weeks????? Golly!

He has a nice view of the hills from his room (one thing better than Stanford - ha!) We are going to try and go see him every other day. As soon as he is able to have visitors we will let you know. I’m sure he will be anxious for other faces very soon.

I will cut back on my e-mails to every other day as we see Mark. If you like, please continue leaving messages for Mark. Also, today, I read the lil book of messages left by all of you since his accident. He smiled a lot and thought everyone was so nice to do that. Talked to him again about the great blood drive and next visit going to show him his tie-dye shirt from the blood drive and also, take his cards everyone has sent to him to open up. There is quite a stack from ya all. We want to thank you for the messages and cards you have sent to us too. Everyone is so

Amazing with care and love sharing with us. There is no others as special as all of you.

Many hugs again and lots of prayers –

The Alexanders