"Your smile is the best thing I've seen all week!"

So said the case worker this morning when she saw Nancy at the ICU.

Nancy had talked to Wiley's nurse this morning, heard about Wiley's night (he'd waken up enough to pull out of his restraints amd started to pull out his tubes; they'd told him where he was, that he needed to leave the tubes in, that his parents had been there but were now home sleeping, it was the middle of the night, and he needed to rest. Astonishingly, he did settle down. They said it was extremely unusual for head injury patients to follow instructions; they are usually too confused. They did put him in "big boy" restraints, nonetheless, to be sure he doesn't hurt himself.)

When Nancy went in with a big box of thank you crossiants for the nursing staff, the nurse with Wiley, Rob, met her with a hug and tears in his eyes. "Tell him good morning" he said. Nancy did, and Rob said "Wiley, open your eyes, it's your mom!"

AND HE DID.

Nance said it was clearly Wiley in there. Wiley eyes. He could only keep them open briefly, but long enough to know it was him. She told him that visiting hours were over and she'd have to go, but that she and Tim would be back, that he was doing a great job and he just needed to rest and get better.

That's when the case worked came by, also visibly moved. She said "We've got to talk about rehab." "Wonderful!!!! said Nancy. "We're gooing to need to talk about where to have him do his rehab." "Wherever it needs to be!" said Nance. ('Cause really, could there be a better thing than getting to talk about rehab when you've been worrying about sheer survival????) Another nurse also came by, smiling and tearful. Clearly, the staff in the ICU were feeling like things had taken a remarkable turn for the better. And they would know. Nancy came out of the ICU beaming.

A happy morning on the Wiley road, to be sure.