This is a photo of mom from today. As you can see she no longer has the nasogastric feeding tube, trach or rigid neck brace. She currently only has a small tube in her nose called a nasal canula. Nasal canulas provide patients with extra oxygen.

Mom is still not very alert. People who sustain traumatic brain injuries have injury at the microscopic level in addition to what is seen on CT scans. Although her CT scan earlier this week showed significant improvement in both her subdural hematoma (bleeding between the brain and its covering) and in her excess collection of cerebral spinal fluid (fluid that cushions the brain); she also has injury at the cellular level which can take weeks to months to heal. Time, rest and avoiding further head trauma are the main treatments for these traumatic brain injuries. The extent to which she will recover from these injuries is difficult to predict. We will have see how she progresses in order to answer this question. It is also hoped that increased physical therapy and sitting up more might also help. Mom evidently sat up for fifteen minutes today. This physical therapy will certainly help her bones to begin to heal better.

Kim has returned home to North Carolina. Bob reports that Dena Kimber will come in on Monday to do mom's hair. Bob continues to improve and does his physical therapy religiously. Don't forget that he needs visitors as much as mom.