They have replaced John’s traec with a smaller metal one. It is capped and is only in place so that his lungs can be suctioned. He can talk normally and breath in and out through his mouth and nose. They will remove the traec when John feels that no more suctioning is needed. John wants to keep it until he is able to sit up. Other than one small area that the doctor is watching closely, the flaps are healing well. John is not enjoying having to lay completely flat. He can not work his computer without being able to sit up a little. Soon John will be moved back to VIBRA for the remainder of his flap healing time. The sergeant will continue  to see John and monitor his healing while he is at VIBRA.  When John is able to sit up for 3 to 4 hours, we hope to get him to the Rehabilitation  Institute of Oregon, (RIO) for physical therapy.

This is John’s favorite hospital yet.