Sorry we missed an update yesterday but there’s a LOT to tell all of you - all good!
Rob’s healing well from the surgery itself and is now allowed to sit upright in bed.
He has a lot more mobility in his arms now - he can turn his arms over, raise his arms over his head, turn his wrists, and position his hands to shake hands - but he can’t grip anything yet. When his nurses have to roll him from one side to the other he has the strength to help by putting an arm over the bed rail and pulling. He even tried to arm wrestle the surgeon tonight.
Rob still has sensation in his legs, and can wiggle his knees in some positions - we’re waiting on the toes.
There are no mittens yet, so Mandy still has to feed him - but she’s only dumped chicken and rice down his neck brace twice (or maybe three times - or maybe that was pasta, or maybe that was Liz...) The doctor says it’s really important for Rob to eat and drink lots because he can expect to lose 20-30 pounds during rehab - so any suggestions for high calorie, high protein supplements you have would be appreciated.
Rob’s stay in the Surgical Critical Care Center (SCCC) will probably end tonight. He should be moved to the fourth floor tomorrow to the Neuro unit… but only for a few days. We hope to get him to New Jersey, to the Kessler Institute in West Orange, as early as Friday! That’s especially exciting because we were told to expect a three to four week stay in Delaware when he first arrived. We’ll post new visiting rules for the fourth floor when that happens and for Rehab as soon as we know anything.
Rob’s watching movies and listening to lots of books on tape (thanks to Walter and Wayne). He can take phone calls from our cell phones if we’re with him, but that’s really tiring for him so we have to keep those really short.
Thanks EVERYONE for all of your emails and messages. We print them out every night to read to Rob during the day. We’re grateful for all of your prayers and good wishes. Keep up the good work!

Rob’s injuries include broken vertebrae (C4, C5 C6), damaged ligaments in his cervical spine, a ruptured disc (between C4 and C5), and compression/swelling of the spinal cord. The swelling may or may not be masking damage to the cord itself.
Rob had surgery yesterday (8/22) afternoon and his surgeon told us this about the procedure:
1...the broken bones were repaired with titanium plates
2...during the “monitoring” phase of the surgery Rob’s limbs were stimulated and there was corresponding electrical activity in his brain.
What this means for Rob is:
1...he may set off metal detectors the next time he’s in an airport
2...his spinal cord is NOT severed
What this means for all of us is that we have to wait - for an indefinite length of time - for the swelling of the cord to resolve to know if there is lasting damage and what the damage will mean for his recovery.
Rob started both physical and occupational therapy today. He has sensation EVERYWHERE - he describes it as “pins and needles.” He can differentiate between pain and pressure in some places but not in others. He can shrug his shoulders. He can flex and extend his arms at the elbows in some positions but not in others. Though he can’t use his hands by themselves he has enough range of motion, strength in and control of his shoulders and elbows that his occupational therapist has ordered mittens that will provide grip enough for him to feed himself.
That bring us to food… Rob is able to eat anything he wants to! He’s playing it safe sticking to the hospital food, but there’s probably a taco bell run coming in the near future.
Rob’s spirits are high. He’s positive and motivated and ready to work as hard as he has to. He understands his injury and knows that it’s going to be a long haul so keep calling and writing with your love and support.