Today was a bit better. Dad slept in a recliner last night, and his breathing was a bit more comfortable. In ALS, it's not the lungs themselves that don't work right. It's the chest muscles and diaphragm that don't work well moving air in and out of the lungs. When Dad lays down, gravity makes it worse for the weak respiratory muscles. The recliner has helped, but I learned years ago when my newborn would only sleep with me sitting in a recliner and holding her, that it's just not as restful or as comfortable. The hospital bed was delivered today, and hopefully Dad can sleep better and breathe better in an actual bed. It will be nice that he can stretch out and he will be able to elevate the head of the bed. Erin complimented him on his redecorating of the living room today. Besides the bed, there are now accents of oxygen tubing secured to the ceiling so that the rest of us, graceful as we all are, don't trip.
Bill has been here and, as luck would have it, has been sick. Turns out that he didn't have the Ebola virus as he feared, but a nasty sinus infection. It was still good for him to be home, and Mom got to make him toasted cheese and chocolate chip cookies. Hopefully a little antibiotic and Sudafed will help him get home comfortably tomorrow. It was good to have him home.
Overall, Dad still feels pretty crummy, but we aren't hearing him complain. I sure wish that he would be hungry.
As always, keep the calls and visits coming. Afternoons and evenings are better than mornings, because he feels better later in the day. His voice and breathing can be tough, but if he can't talk, we will be honest and he'll ask to call you back later. It does mean more than you will ever know to hear from friends and family.
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