Food, glorious food

Another amazing day. I am so overcome it's hard to know what to say.

Today was pretty much about food. When I walked in this morning, I didn't get a "hi" or an "I love you," I got, "Can I have some hot food?" Dad was desperate for something to eat. He had to settle for crunching on ice chips until the doctor came in. After the doctor checked him out and was impressed by his progress, he said, "Leo, would you like some food?" Dad gave him the biggest, cheesiest grin he has! Right away the doctor ordered lunch and I got to feed Dad some yummy hospital food (we have no idea what it was, it was the pureed version of whatever was for lunch). Mmmmm. When he was almost finished with lunch, my uncle Gene said, "I'll bet you'd really like some coffee." Another big, cheesy grin. (By evening the nutritionist approved him to drink coffee! Somewhere, Juan Valdez rejoices.)

I have to tell you, in just the last two days Dad has gone from being almost unintelligible to much more clear speech. I can probably understand about two thirds of what he says now, especially when it's just one word at a time. A funny example: Mom asked him this evening who had visited him earlier, he said, "EVERYBODY!" (At one point there were about nine people in the room to see him. Plus the nurse!)

Dad is amazing everyone. His nurse today hadn't seen him for a couple of weeks and was blown away. At one point early in his recovery, his doctor told us he was "exceeding expectations." That's what Dad has always been about.