Sunday morning

Mom and Dad got in around 1:30am, so we decided all all try to get some rest and go to the hospital in the morning rather than right then (Troy would have been sleeping anyway). We headed over at about 8:30 this morning and got there just as the Neurologist was making her visit, with Troy, Herman, and Ronnie also there. She basically thinks no change in Hyatt's condition. No evidence of higher-level activity, and partial brain stem activity (some ability to breathe and keep heart beating, but no apparent ability to control throat -- gag reflex, coughing, etc) . In the hospital room, Troy has been playing CDs of Hyatt singing in a band she used to be in when they lived in the midwest, so she can hear it. You can't imagine how hard that is to watch.

A good friend of Troy and Hyatt's specialized in neurology for child cases and has a lot of neuroligist contacts in the area. He's coming into town today and will be coordinating getting a second opinion from specialists he knows and trusts.

Our nurse Kim supported this idea when I talked to her last night. She's worked at small and large hospitals, and says she doesn't think they would be treating Hyatt any differently regardless of her location or doctor, since we're in a sustain and observe program right now, but she also said a second opinion is NEVER a bad thing. She made me a list of local docs and gave me some ideas about who she knows best and trusts most. I had talked to Kim about this because it's obvious to all of us her loyalty is with Hyatt and not with whatever doctor happens to work in this hospital. She said if, for example, the cardiac situation was more dire, she would tell us we needed to be in Fairfax, where they have more capabilities for certain heart tests and treatment. She said she's gotten herself in trouble with superiors before when she's told families to leave her hospital and go elsewhere -- but she's not in this profession to put rules ahead of patients lives.

I just brought Troy home to shower; he, Patricia, and I are going to meet Mom, Dad, and Mary Alice at church in about half an hour. Herman and Ronnie are spending some time with Hyatt, and Nancy and Whitney are here with the kids.

Bekah and Sidney slept well and ate good breakfasts. Bekah is the happiest waking baby I've ever seen -- she sleeps like a rock for 10 hours and just doesn't have any reason to be upset when she wakes up.