Journal entry by Barbara Bradley — Jan 22, 2013

To our surprise, we got word of Katie’s discharge early Sunday morning. I was so happy of the news I didn’t dare argue. We had originally been told Monday but this was all based on Katie getting over her nausea.

Nathan has gotten the first smiles out of her. She loves that boy. One of her favorite things to do is pull his ears (I know, I know) but she loves to pull and he squeals and she laughs…and he squeals more and then they both laugh. It’s sounds pretty torturous to me but I guess it’s a sibling thing.

Other than the physical setback she seems to be on point cognitively. Her neurologist came to see her the day before we were discharged and he was enjoying quizzing her on her colors and where’s your nose…where’s mommy’s ear? I knew she was still my Katie when I saw her recovering in ICU. Prior to them taking her back she was playing with my phone so it was an answer to prayer when she asked for the phone as soon as she saw me.

We have just been taking it easy and trying to get back to normal. The kids already had Monday and Tuesday off so that worked out well. Billy stayed home the past two days as well. We have enjoyed spending time all together. Nathan is going back to school and Billy returns to work tomorrow. Katie attended therapy today but I don’t think she is quite ready for a full day of school yet. I hope to take her in for half a day Friday. I think it will do her good to see her friends and teachers.

For now we focus on getting her back to her normal routine and keep her healthy. She has been touching her incision so we have to watch her. Aside from putting a cone around her neck I am not sure what else we can do. We see her surgeon in two weeks for a follow-up and will see her neurologist in about a month. It has been such a blessing to see her sleep peacefully.