Even More Good News!!!

This morning Mark's doctors took him temporarily off of all sedation. (For about 2 hours) They called it a "sedation holiday." Their goal is to let him come off of the meds and monitor at what level he starts to react. They then step back up the meds until they reach a threshold where he is receiving enough to make him comfortable without over sedating him. They will do this every couple of days as they step him down gradually from the meds to ensure his neurological function is still up to par.
During this morning's visitation, with his mother on the right side of his bed and Kim on the left, Mark again raised his right arm up off of the bed. As they both held his hands, the nurse ask him to squeeze their hand if he could. And he did!!! They also asked him to move his foot, and he did. No doubt about it, he heard them and responded upon command.
His fever is still coming and going, and they have taken additional cultures today.
They have set his next surgery for this Friday, but a time has not been set as of yet. It will basically be a "cleaning up" of sorts. They will be checking the cadaver skin and adding to/replacing any areas that need to be. Dr Guy has been in touch with the lab in Boston, and the skin cultures are progressing very well. The first of the grafts using the cloned skin will be in 2 weeks. Once Dr Guy sets the date, everything will have to be orchestrated perfectly. He used the analogy of "threading a needle." From the shipment of the skin from Boston, to Mark being ready to receive it, the timing will have to be impeccable.
And finally, Mark is growing a beard! Which wouldn't ordinarily be earth shaking news, but hair growth means the skin underneath is good. Another sign that his face will have minimal residual damage. So he will still have his same charming good looks!