Monday. Day ?

Dear Burk,
I'm starting to lose track of the days.  On Wednesday, you will have been in the ICU for 2 weeks.  As far as I can tell, everyone else on that floor has come and gone while you've been there.  None of the patients are the same.  You seem to be the longest resident thus far.  Congratulations.  You've outlasted everyone.  Again.  :)
Today is much the same as yesterday.  Although today you don't have any oxygen going through your trach.  You are breathing "room air".  A good step towards getting the trach removed.  Then they have to try to get you to eat on your own and remove your "NG" tube.  If I remember right, that's the tube that drains the stuff from your stomach.  I was in the room when the nurse suctioned the stuff out and I nearly puked on you.  I asked her to warn me before she did it next time.  It was nasty.  She said it's part of her "livin the dream".
Technically, you don't need to be in ICU anymore.  But they can't find a "sitter" for you.  I can't imagine why there isn't a long line of people wanting to do that.  If the hospital paid me, I'll come do it.  I'll just duct tape you to the bed and bring a book.  Sounds easy enough for me.
Shane is in town now.  He came last night.  He's here for Kathy's funeral.  So we nominated him for a visiting shift today.  You kicked him.  He didn't stay long.
We went to Kathy's viewing tonight.  And everyone was asking how you are.  People who didn't know a thing about you are now very interested in your well being.  I don't know how you do it, but you can quickly get people to like you.  Must be that charming personality of yours.
The thing is now, the hard part isn't over.  The hard part is actually just beginning.  Not that it wasn't hard to watch you go through all that.  To watch mom and dad go through all of that.  It was hard.  Really hard.  But now....Now we have to take you home.  Eventually.  And based on your performance the last few days, you aren't going to be an easy patient.  Dad seems to be taking it in stride.  He's dealt with patients his whole life.  Mom seems pretty worried.  I just keep reminding her that she can walk out of your room whenever she wants and you can't follow her.  Easy as that, right?
You can't move on your own.  Despite your confidence that you can walk.  You only have one good limb. So you're pretty much stuck in bed.  Unable to do anything for yourself.  Mom and Dad just graduated to empty nesters.  And now they've found themselves with a 2 year old again.
I've volunteered to send Jaida and Mya over to be your nurses.  They declined the offer.  Sorry.
Depending on how your brain injury is and your short term memory loss, we'll probably have to keep you tied down at home.  Oh Boy.
So this is when the "fun" really begins.  And the really long days continue.  And you will get more and more frustrated.  As will we.
It's incredible how one choice, one action, can have such a large impact on so many.  Let us all remember the gravity of our choices.  Even the seemingly small ones.