08/19 - First steps

Friends,

I'm happy to report that David went from taking 4 steps on his first day at rehab center to taking 24 steps today.

Also, he put together some puzzle and took his first shower. It is a lot of emotions.
we are confident that his recovery is on track.

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. David is inspired by your prayers and good wishes.
Please keep him in  your prayers for a speedy and full recovery.

08/17 - Moving to Intense Physiotherapy Facility

Everything went well. Last night 08/16, we got the green light to go for a rehab facility where the goal will be intense therapy (occupational, speech, and physiotherapy). The first step will be evaluation and then  create a plan. So far, so good.

08/15 - One month!!!

Dear friends,

One month ago, 07/14, David was checked in on the hospital. Lots of scary moments, lots of crying, no sleep, but finally, JOY and more JOY.

This week has been great. David is conscious, responsive, active, keeping his good mood and thoughts, and responding REALLY well to physiotherapy. Every day is a new day. Monday, his left leg was moving better. Tuesday, again around 4am, he waked up moving his left feet and toes. Wednesday was the time of his left arm. And Thursday, left hand fingers. Small movements but enough to bring tears not just to me but also doctors and nurses who witness all the fight since the beginning.

David is blessed!!! God is SUPER!

08/09 - Ups and Downs

This week was a complicated week.  In the beginning of the week, several scary moments: fever, swelling, confusion, new nasal tube. But seems everything is back on track. 3 days without fever!!! Yuppy!!!!

Yesterday, Saturday (08/08) David wake me up with blessed news: he was able to move his left toes. This is amazing and it is showing we are in the right path.

Today, during physiotherapy session, he was able to do all sets successfully with both legs and feet and we started seeing some minor movement in his left arm.

Now, he doesn't have the nasal tube anymore, he is speaking better, his eyes are in sync, he is responding well to exercises.

08/05 - Day is shining again

Friends,

Sorry but I was not able to post since Saturday... David was not ok and the priority was to make sure we have all the points covered.

So, in a summary:

- Sunday / Monday, David had a small step back. Scary day. Doctors worried and small swelling in the brain; visitors were requested to hold because we should save his energy; some adjusts with his medications and here we go.

Today is a better day for sure. He is up since 6:30am, alert and communicating (and joking) and taking naps. Also, did almost 1:30hr of physiotherapy and was able to sit in the chair for another hour. He is feeling hopeful and confident

08/02 - It is Not a good morning

Friends, please keep your prayers!

David is not ok today. He is really confuse. His ammonia level are up again and sodium down. I'm chasing the doctors to request a new ct. lets hope for the best

08/01 - Almost there

Today was pure joy and grateful. David is fully awake, full of hope and confident. He passed the 'swallow test' and is already drinking his sparkling  water.

Hopefully tomorrow we are going to move again. Seems we are going out of ICU.

Today we are having the assistance of a great nurse who gave some rehab exercise! And we are doing!

God is good! God is with us ALL the time.

07/31 - Intubation is over

Friends

it was only 3 days of intubation. but it was one more step for all of us. The joy, the emotions and the light we had once the doctors gave us the thumbs up to remove the tubes were extreme. 

David is conscious, happy, shine and, of course, singing :)

Thank you for your prayers, love and support. 

We are ready and confident on his recovery.

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:9–11

07/30 - Optimistic. One day at the time.

David had a good night sleep. Complained about the tube in his mouth and cold. He had an increase in temperature yesterday but to avoid to entry with medication, the doctors decided to lower the body temperature until the culture results come back (2-3 days).

Overall, he looks good. No coughing. I believe the fact he didn't try to talk during the night had helped.

The reddish urine, per the doctor input, was an expected result from the intubation.  The color is much better today:)

I'm sure God is working here for us.

They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.

07/29 - Conscious. This tube sucks!

Today, David wake up conscious. Unfortunately, he can't talk or sing. And he is feeling really uncomfortable with the tubes. We is writing instead talking but this process is bringing frustration. Hopefully, we will find some way to improve. But basically the news are:

• He is conscious;
• He is awake;
• He is looking forward to go re-start the physiotherapy. And the good news, I briefly discussed with 1West and they are open to re-admit him as soon as he is ready to Rehab.

Please, keep your prayer.

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise." 

[Jeremiah 17:14] 

07/28 - One more day

Thanks  friends for your prayers and comforting words.

 Emails, calls, VoiceMessages, Facebook messages, text messages are welcome and much appreciate.

Since Friday 07/26, David is back to ICU. The doctors are working around the clock. God is here with us providing his blesses. He has been mostly sleep . When he is awake, he seems to acknowledge whoever is around but he goes back to sleep in few minutes.

To help his breath, he had been intubated and should remain intubated for the next 2 or 3 days.

Please, keep you prayers for his full recovery.

Wrap us as a close knit family, draw us near to you Lord, and bind us with your Loving Hands. Let us be drawn closer to You. You are the Vine, dear Lord and we are the branches. You carry all knowledge and all power. You Lord are our medicine. Your Words Lord are Truth and Life.

Help us put our trust in You. You Lord are the greatest physician. You heal, You protect, You care, You love, You are kind, You are patient, You are thoughtful, You are strength. You Lord are our Creator.

You know our thoughts, our sighings and our cryings and every hair on our head. You are Wonderful and make all good things for us. Heal us Lord, if it be Your will.

Amen 

07/26... Not a great day

Friends, the day is not over yet. But it was not a great day for David. Headache and ammonia level increased.  Seems the doctors have a plan and we are waiting for the next steps.

Please, keep your prayers.

Firsts movements in the left leg

David woke up in the middle of the night determined to move his left leg. And it was with excitement, that we could follow the fist movements. Here is the shared... Way to go Dai!

Why this blog?

Dear Friends, 

I want to thank all of you for well wishes, support and prayers. Please know that I am deeply moved by the outpouring of love that I have received over the past few days. 

Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to return your phone calls and texts at this time. So excuse the mass mailing, but I wanted to update you on my condition. 

This past Tuesday night I began to experience a weakness in my left hand, whichI simply attributed to a possible pinched nerve. By Wednesday morning, my symptoms had not subsided. My beloved Katy, who was out of town on business, insisted I go to the doctor. Thank God, for Katy.

I was taken to the ER at UCLA Westwood where I was diagnosed as having localized bleeding in the brain – a stroke, if you will. The bleeding has stopped onits own, and I have been moved to the Neuro Surgery Intensive Care Unit for further evaluation and treatment. 

I can still treat the nurses to my incredible singing voice when the mood strikes. My speech is fairly good (except the Welsh accent remains). I can move my right leg with vigor. But my left side is still very weak and I am exhausted throughout most of the day. 

Doctors have explained that this occurrence affects everyone at a different pace and in different ways. I am stable, in reasonably good spirits (when I am awake) and my prognosis for the future is yet to be determined. 

Katy is by my side 24/7. My son Evan flew in from Denver and Nathan will be arriving back from New York next week.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.Feel free to contact my friend Dan Cowan (909.374.1424) if you have any questions. or Katy T (512 506 0848) We will keep you posted on my condition if there are any changes.Use comments to tell us if and when you are planning to visit us. We are trying to be conservative and yes, have visitors but also allow time to Dai to rest.

So far, we are going to use this blog to make sure you have access to the most up-to-date situation and also to make sure we are ready for your visit.

Timeline

• 07/14 - Buying tickets to go for a vacation (Barcelona), then celebrate Catherine birthday and finally celebrate our love in Paris

• 07/14 - Dinner. Bad silverware. Not able to eat a simple salad with that.

• 07/14 - I'm felling weird. "I punched a nerve during work out". No. I'm not going to ER tonight. I'll go see my doctor tomorrow morning.

• 07/15 9:00am- "Yeah... Things are not looking good. Need an MRI". No... I won't take a cab, or Uber or ambulance. It is just 4 blocks and I can walk.

• 07/15 12:00pm - It is a stroke. Ambulance. UCLA ER.

• 07/15 4pm - Katy arrived. ICU here I go. Speech impaired. Few friends rush to UCLA Ronald Reagan to support us.

• 07/16 - ICU. No movements on the left side. Evan arrived.

• 07/17 - ICU. No movements on the left side. Faith. Prayer. Love. Friendship.

• 07/18 - ICU. So many friends showed up expressing Love, fellowship, and support.

• 07/19 - ICU. So many friends showed up expressing Love, fellowship, and support.

• 07/20 - Evan leaves for his International Trip. Friends keep filling us with love and support. So many emails, messages, facetime, facebook etc etc etc. We must find a way to spread  the communication

07/21 - This blog is born.