Yesterday was another day of progress. Ryan walked a lot farther than he did on Wednesday...about 180 feet...with much greater ease than he walked the first time. He also did his trach mask weaning for 8 hours. We were again able to go outside too! It was a beautiful day and we sat in the Japanese Garden for about 20 minutes. It was the last nice day that we are supposed to have for awhile, so I am glad that we were able to take advantage of it. I am hoping that the next time the kids come to visit Ryan will be able to come outside and see them or at least come down to the waiting area and see them. (Our concern with them seeing Ryan has been more with the "bugs" up in the ICU than with Ryan's sickness.)



We were visited by Cathy from the Transplant team yesterday. Ryan really has not heard too much from them because they have not visited as much since he has been feeling better. We wanted to hear from them about Ryan's progress and what they wanted to happen yet before getting back on the list. We are getting closer! They want Ryan walking the 450 feet in 6 minutes (on trach mask, so far his walking has been on a portable vent) and on trach mask for 12 hours a day. They will probably want/need different vent settings at night than what he is currently on, but I am not sure about that. Next week??? Maybe?????? Pray that Ryan's strength will continue to increase and that we will get there sooner rather than later.



I am excited because I will (probably) be going home for a little bit this weekend. Ryan's mom and grandma are coming to visit this weekend, so I am going to take advantage of that to go home and spend some quality time with the kids. I am hoping to get to church too! I will be leaving on Saturday once they arrive in Ann Arbor and come back on Sunday afternoon. It will be a short visit, but I am hoping it will be just what I need to be able to keep on keeping on. Please pray for Ryan specifically about this trip for me. It took some convincing for him to be okay with it, but he knows that it is what I need right now.

This is a picture of Ryan walking on the first day. PT wanted Ryan to hold onto them just so that would be able to "help" him better. Yesterday PT just walked next to him and let him go at his own pace (much faster). The first time he walked he had to take more breaks, yesterday on the long walk he only sat down one time! Ryan is doing such a great job! He works so hard every day! Thank you, God, for giving him the strength to do all things!