We are using “trach ties” as a unit of measure because we change them and do all of his trach maintenance right after his bath every night. So the number of trach ties is the number of evenings left until decannulation day.

Since about ’15-to-go’ day, we have been singing this little song in preparation.

I have been trying to talk to him about surgery and staying in the hospital and getting him ready for the adventure.

We sometimes linger when doing trach tube changes, not putting the new one back in right away. It has given him some time to feel what it will be like without the tube in his airway. Unfortunately, he has a new game he likes to play.

This video is full of loud rudeness. 🙂 🙂

He is just squeezing his chin down on his chest and blowing as hard as he can out his trach-hole. He thinks it is hilarious and so does Trevor. When the trach is removed for good, he will not be able to do this. They are going to cauterize around the stoma and make it raw to encourage it to heal closed. (He won’t be blasting air out of it!) He will also be encouraged to hold his neck dressing when he coughs to keep it from opening up. It should close all by itself in about 2 weeks.

Five more trach ties to go! Five more trach ties!
Our nerves are raw, but we are ready.