WATER and a Walk! (Update for Sunday, January 24)

Saturday Night
Sam has only been able to have Boost or milk to drink for two days, and it's been frustrating as can be, but thank the lord, this strategy worked. His salt level is now in the normal range, 136, at last blood draw. We are hopeful that it holds!And there are a million and one reasons I want it to hold, but now it's so he can have a drink of something. He has been begging for Sprite, water, anything. I can't explain the pain it causes us to hear him beg for a drink. I felt like going all "Terms of Endearment" on them. GIVE MY SON SOMETHING TO DRINK! Even the nursing staff couldn't stand it. They were standing in the hall last night outside his room thinking and struggling on what else he can have. Finally, they decided, because his salt levels are good, he could have a little Sprite and OJ. He kept saying "thank you" after he got something to drink. His salt levels will be checked again Sunday morning. Please Lord...
A representative of Facebook contacted me and offered free advertising in the Northwest United States to locate the persons of interest. I'm grateful. Also today, Sam got a gift bag from his boss at The Abbey Bar. It's full of books I hope he can read soon. He received a Packers blanket from Angel Blanket Ministries. (They said it had been for sale for many months and never sold and now they knew why. It was for him.) Several fellow Packer fans offered him tickets to a Packers home game. WOW. Rene L. has sent him a book on Bob Dylan. And on and on. Thank you so much to everyone. 

Gift for Sam. 

Sam has probably lost 20 pounds or more. It was obvious to me when he went for his daily walk last night with his walker and helmet. He walked to the elevator, to the first floor then a quick trip outside in the atrium. He was exhausted by it and barely made it back to his room. He didn't speak or answer questions when he was walking, but he was looking around. Sam's personality is a little different right now. Pray hard for my funny, brilliant son to find his way back. He has no filter, he's angry one minute then calm the next. All expected with a brain injury. He's completely coherent one minute and then he says something that doesn't really make sense.
Today, he had a sponge bath and we are hoping for a shower Sunday.

Sunday
I may finally get the days right today, whole day blogging instead of two half days. Today was a really good day for Sam. He had a shower. And, the best news yet, his salt/sodium level was 138! Because of that, he could have water! He can only have 2 liters of liquid every 24 hours, but we were so thankful.
Sam was amazingly alert today. His cough had quieted down most of the day, until this evening when it suddenly came back and he was in misery again. But this morning, he was focused on his childhood and long-time friends. He repeatedly asked me to call his long-time best friend Jeffery. Then he wanted Bridget to call his friend Ellen. Then he wanted me to call Wilson. Then Nick. I still have two of his friends to call, Cameron and Hunter, but I will do that tomorrow. He wanted to call his sister, Molly, and he talked to her for about 10 minutes. He had a brief conversation with his father. He asked about his grandparents again.
He watched some of the Broncos vs. Patriots game, and then a little of the Arizona vs. Carolina. He suddenly remembered last weekend's Packers game, which he previous could not recall.
He is still on pain meds, salt pills, Claritin and Robitussin. Today, suddenly, everyone noticed he had a swollen ankle that was black and blue. We have been so focused on his head. The doctor ordered an X-ray and it came back with no broken bones. Probably just a sprain, but he has not complained about it. I was helping him put his socks on today, and I was being slow and careful of his ankle, and he told me that I was the worst at putting socks on. That may be true.

Soothing his head.

His vitals are all good. He still can't hear very well, but the swelling is going down. As the swelling goes down, the left side of his head (his left, where the skull has been removed) starts to recede and become concave. That doesn't look so great, but it's a good sign. Moves him closer to his surgery to put his skull back in place. Right now, he has approximately 60 staples in his head, and it is starting to itch. We put soft cloths on his head to help with the itching. He didn't eat much at all today, so one goal not met. He had grapes, some pudding and two bites of some chicken.
My long-time boyfriend is here now, Dan, and just ... tears of joy. Sam was looking forward to his showing up, and asked me several times today if the four of us could go to dinner. He said, "That would be fun." After Dan arrived, we took a walk down the hall. He really likes getting up, and he said he would like to go outside tomorrow.
Today was a good day for Sam. He was very emotional, but completely coherent. The nurse, Emily (whom Sam adores), told me she had never seen a patient with the left bone flap out being so alert. She said, "They are never where he is. He is doing so well." Prayers answered. Thank you everyone!

I have received lots of questions from people all across the country, and I am going to try to answer a few today.

1. Can Sam have visitors? Not at this time. Only family at this time. Unfortunately, he does not feel well enough to have other visitors.
2. Can he accept gifts? We have been accepting gifts. We love cards, prayers and messages of hope to share with him.
3. When is he leaving the hospital? There is no talk of that yet. After leaving the Trauma Acute Care Unit, he will spend some time in a rehabilitation facility.
4. When is he having his surgery to replace his skull? The doctor said two weeks to two months.
5. Can he accept phone calls? Not at this time.
6. How long am I staying here (me, his mother)? It's going to be so hard to leave but I'm heading back to Arkansas January 30 for awhile. His dad will arrive on January 31 to stay for a week or so. After that, his sister will come. Then I will return after that as much as needed.
7. Who will be his caregiver when he returns home? Bridget. She will be taking a leave from her job. The GoFundMe account will allow her to do so to take care of Sam full time. So thankful.
8. When will Sam be back to his normal self? There's no hurrying his progress, but he is getting better every day. 

Here are a few more articles found online.
http://m.jsonline.com/news/crime/oregon-man-beaten-because-he-wore-packers-cap-family-says-b99657307z1-366322421.html

http://www.record.com.mx/mas-deportes-nfl/dejan-fan-en-coma-por-usar-gorro-de-empacadores

Love to all.