Speech Therapy Update

I didn't get a chance to update last night after my Dad had his speech therapy session. Actually, the therapist wasn't planning on returning because she had gotten so busy, but the nurse paged her because we wanted to have her at least put in the passy muir valve, which amplifies his voice and allows us to hear him speak.
She came in, and as soon as she put the valve in and asked him a question, he was very responsive. He answered really well and enthusiastically. He is still on some pretty dopey medications and the part of his brain that's damaged is the part that controls his inhibitions, so it was a little like talking to somebody who had been drinking...a lot. But, it was soooooo good to hear his voice.
The therapist was so impressed with his willingness to interact with us that she decided to give him some ice to see how he'd do with swallowing. He did so well chewing and swallowing the ice, that she decided to try actual food. He had a choice between..jello, applesauce, or (drumroll please) chocolate pudding. Naturally, the choice was chocolate pudding. I helped him make the decision, mostly because I know he's not a big fan of jello since he sees so much of it at work. :)
He did remarkably well with the pudding also. He was able to have about four bites of pudding. Considering that he hasn't eaten in three weeks, that was really impressive. He thought it was the most amazing thing he'd ever eaten, next to the ice that he had eaten a few minutes before.
Keep up the prayers, they are working. The doctors and nurses have high hopes for his progress because he's been so agitated and aggressive. They say when a patient is a fighter, they heal faster than the patients that just sit there quietly and obediently. Anybody who knows my Dad, knows that obedient and quiet are not words that describe him.