Update

ETA: He's been moved out of ICU and into a regular room, where he'll be staying until the doctors judge that the swelling has gone down sufficiently. He's starting to regain a little feeling in his thumb and pinky, which is terrific; we're just hoping that he doesn't regain too much feeling - according to my mom, the 'tiny' incisions on his wrist and arm weren't actually that tiny. Other great news is that the tissue in his hand didn't die from the venom, so he probably won't be needing additional surgery. Surprising, wonderful news!

 

Talked to mom, and they are still waiting for the plastic surgeon to come by this morning. He's more alert, and the swelling in his hand appears to be decreasing and he's getting a more natural color back in his fingers. They can't see what's happening with the arm right now, as it's bandaged from wrist to elbow from the surgery last night, but the painful pressure seems to be going down. He's still in ICU, but they're hoping to move him into a regular room sometime today. Thanks again for all the prayers. He once told me that if you could count your true friends on one hand, you were lucky. He's also fond of saying that sometimes when you fall face first into a pile of shit, sometimes you come out with a gold nugget in your teeth. Well, I'd say he's right on both counts - this whole ordeal has shown him to be lucky, loved, and (maybe I'll wait awhile before telling him this as he may not find the blessing just yet) blessed beyond belief.