Update #23

Ryan was transferred to the Richmond rehabilitation facility this morning around 11 a.m. via 2-hour ambulance ride. Thanks to some awesome friends and co-workers of Ryan's, I was able to be packed and ready for the trip. I am so grateful that Ryan and I have such amazingly supportive people in our lives. Their help enabled me to be able to ride in the ambulance with him to Richmond.

Ryan had his eyes open for about half the ambulance ride. I think he knew he was traveling somewhere and wanted to be awake for the trip. At this point he was still on a nasal cannula for oxygen and requires some suctioning for the amount of secretions coming from his lungs. This is due to the pneumonia and a staff infection in his lungs.

Ryan was admitted to the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center around 2 p.m. After arriving, I filled out some paperwork, answered a barrage of questions and took a tour of the facility. I am very impressed with the facility and staff so far. The unit that Ryan is on is relatively small and quiet. It is a huge culture shock and is very different from the intensive care unit of Walter Reed.

Ryan's primary doctor and the resident doctor came to assess him. They decided that they would take him off oxygen soon because he was only on a very low level flow and was maintaining his oxygenation levels. Ryan had a nasal trumpet in his nose to allow for better suctioning of the secretions. The doctors agreed that they would leave it in through the night and remove it in the morning if it wasn't needed.

There is no static monitor to watch with Ryan's vitals being displayed at all times. They put a small mobile monitor by Ryan's bed to measure his vitals. I think they are going to leave it on for a while to make sure Ryan is completely stable.

Ryan has a nice room with two beds in it. One for him and one for me. :) A hospital bed is a step up from the examination chair I was sleeping on in the ICU. And, the unit here is a lot more quiet and relaxed than the ICU. It's a big change.