Day 4 - A True Knight

Today we got a taste of some of the issues we will be facing.... James (our littlest one) got to come to the CSICU with me this morning, and got to help Daddy with some of his rehabilitation. Brad's breathing this morning went from not even being able to hit 500 mL to 1750 mL by this evening. We've been working so very hard at maintaining a positive attitude and avoiding complacentness..... I think that's the scariest thought, becoming complacent and accepting of limitations, I once heard it called the "Cardiac Can't," so we are working hard at avoiding this. Today he walked a whole city block (around the entire north tower), increased his lung capacity, did tedious mobility exercises, finger exercises, foot exercises, circulation exercises..... and still had a sense of humour!

Personally, I'm absolutely exhausted, I never thought this would be so very tiring, the rehab itself isn't so exhausting, the exercises that I do with him, not overwhelming, but trying to be consistently positive, ensuring that I am watching for signs of pain, infection, strength, and ensuring he's not facing depression, is absolutely tiring. I can't imagine how it really feels for him.

Right now he is tired, completely and utterly wiped to be completely honest, but he just keeps pushing forward, just wanting to get home to his boys. I have never been so proud or in awe of his strength, that steel strong inner core strength, I don't know how he does it! I continue to work with him and point out all the milestones he is meeting, but to be the one to meet them? Wow, just wow!

You see this? This man is a true demonstration of a man, an honest to goodness man, putting his family first. He has overcome the fears of having his life in the hands of another, knowing that his heart would be stopped, put his faith in his physio workers, and wife, to guide him in his rehabilitation, and even allowed his three year old to share his bed only 2 days after surgery! He has gone that extra mile, given that extra push, not for himself, but for his family, and regularly you'll hear him saying, "I need to show my boys that this can be overcome and how to avoid this."

He doesn't expect it to be all sunshine and lollipops, nor does he expect to be able to do it all, and he even thanks me for taking care of him when I am tucking him in, and struggling with a sleeping James on my shoulder. It's funny sometimes, cause before the surgery he was so worried that he would be weak, and now, unlike before, he understands that these limitations are not permanent, but rather a stepping stone and a learning experience that he isn't just sharing with me, or our family, or our friends, but with all of you.

Today I am tired, and he is tired, and we have worked tirelessly, but we have smiled, and laughed, we have maintained perspective and a positive attitude, and we have made progress on this crazy journey, and have learned yet again the strength that can come from a solid team!

My knight in shining armour as always!