{Karlton Bontrager}

We’re so excited. So many good things have happened. Last night when I returned from emailing at the university, a Chinese energy healer was there. Mom seemed to be comfortable with his work, and we could see marked changes in KS’s behavior. KS had been so restless before, reaching out with his right leg as if trying to explore the space around him, but sometimes nearly kicking anyone who was nearby. After the energy session, he settled into peaceful rest.

Again, people have been so wonderful. One of his friends stopped by yesterday morning about 7:15a on her way to work. As we were leaving the hospital at 9:00p, we ran into another friend on her way in to visit him. She’d been working all day and stopped by on her way home. Another friend brought in bags of pastries from the supermarket where she works. That covered what we needed to eat last night with enough for this morning and still more left over! Rest assured that we are in loving hands.

All of KS’s movements so far have been with his right arm and leg. That’s because the damage is to the right side of his brain. The only thing he was able to do on his left side yesterday was open his eye occasionally. This morning, however, we detected a small movement with his left arm. When asked to repeat it, however, he moved his right instead. It looks as if he’s having to use a different part of his brain to do the tasks he used to with his left.

He’s scheduled for a tracheostomy this morning. That is, they’re going to open an airway in his throat so he won’t have to have the air tube in his mouth. The fear in removing the airway is that his tongue will fall back and block his throat. The trachostomy will allow air to flow even if that should happen. It sounds scarey, but hospital staff assure is that it’s standard procedure and can be reversed when he’s healthier.

The press keeps trying to get an interview with us. Haven’t quite decided how we’ll handle that. Want to bring that up with the hospital social worker.

One of Karlton’s friends went back to Queenstown to start a campaign encouraging people to wear helmets when they snowboard. Great idea, huh?