Day 17...update...Today Was a Good Day

So, surgery went well. They didn't end up taking skin grafts to close the wounds on his leg. The plastic surgeon was able to repair them with "extensive suturing". I'm not even sure that he had to go under anesthesia for it.
When I got back after his surgery, he was no longer on the CPAP or Ventilator. He was breathing on his own with only oxygen streaming to him. His breathing was much calmer than it had been the last time. Before, he seemed to be struggling to breathe on his own. Today, he had a more normal respiratory rate.
He was able to wake up somewhat while I was there. I had really been hoping that I could see him awake and I wasn't dissapointed. He repeatedly attempted to 'get out of bed'. At least that's what it seemed like he was trying to do. He did open his good eye and look directly at me. He seemed somewhat scared and confused, like he didn't understand quite what was going on.
My Grandmother and I explained to him again that he had an accident and had several broken bones, but that he was going to be o.k. He tried to talk, but we still can't hear him because of his tracheostomy. We are hoping that he will be able to stay off of the ventilator so that they can add the part to his trach that will allow him to speak through it. At this point, it is very hard to determine how much he knows or remembers about what is going on because he can't speak to us.
For the most part, today was a pretty good day for him. He had the c-spine collar removed, avoided a skin graft with extensive suturing, and got off the ventilator. All positive steps in the right direction, steps toward recovery.