Update: Lori Can Smile! And Taste! (A Little)

It has been over 3 months since Lori's facial paralysis began, and just this week she began to get the first tiny bit of movement back in her face. Watch in the video how she can turn the right corner of her mouth up in a trace of a smile. It may seem like a small thing, but it's progress!

The video also shows her blinking with her new "palpebral spring." She has been SO much more comfortable since the procedure. Almost all of the swelling and redness are gone (it has been about 5 weeks since the surgery). If you watch closely, you can see that the right eye blinks just slightly slower (and opens slightly slower) than the left. It isn't so obvious that you notice it during casual conversation with her; you have to look to see it. She is thrilled with the results, and thinks that it was definitely worth it! We remain amazed at the simple brilliance of this procedure, and how much benefit a person can have from the restoration of the simple act of blinking the eyes!

She also noticed during breakfast today that she could taste her key lime yogurt and banana! This is also a new thing, and a sign that the nerve is regenerating. She is ecstatic about this, and doesn't even complain that she now gets the metallic "Lunesta taste" with her sleeping pill again.
Here are some photos of her tonight. She is looking beautiful as ever.
Lori continues to handle this medical adventure with grace and style. I admire her for the courage and fortitude with which she has faced this so far. Maybe we are starting to see the end of it for her, though, and that is exciting!