A Casper, Wyoming police officer who was seriously wounded in a shootout earlier in the month was able to answer questions from his mother on Mother's Day.
Officer Jacob Carlson is alert and able to wiggle the toes of both feet and fingers of both hands in response to commands and on Sunday was able to answer "yes" and "no" to questions from staff and family, including his mother, according to The Oil City News.
Carlson's mother was at his side in the ICU at the Wyoming Medical Center for Mother’s Day
"Jacob is clearly frustrated with the breathing tube that prevents him from speaking, but there remains medical reasons for keeping it in place," the police department stated in a Facebook post.
Carlson was seriously wounded when he was struck by five bullets in a shootout on May 6 and has undergone multiple life-saving operations since then.
The gunman, 38-year-old David P. Wolosin, was killed in the confrontation that began when the suspect pulled a gun after officers responded to a call for a vehicle in an empty lot.
Below is the entire statement from the Casper Police Department posted to Facebook:
Officer Jacob Carlson continues to steadily improve. Every day he takes small, but tremendous, steps toward his recovery. As you can imagine, it was a unique and memorable Mother’s Day in the ICU, and the Casper Police Department salutes all the mothers who, rather than celebrating, were by the bedsides of their loved ones at the Wyoming Medical Center.
Notwithstanding the circumstances, the mothers in Jacob’s life received some of the most memorable gifts ever today when, on command, Jake was able to wiggle the toes of both feet and the fingers of both hands. Additionally, for the first time, Jacob is able to answer “yes” and “no” questions posed to him by the nurses and his family, including those from his mother.
Jacob is clearly frustrated with the breathing tube that prevents him from speaking, but there remains medical reasons for keeping it in place. Jacob faces still more challenges, but today, on Mother’s Day, it was as beautiful inside the ICU as it was outside.
The Casper Police Department extends a heartfelt “Happy Mother’s Day” to Officer Jacob Carlson’s mother, his wife, and to his mother-in-law, who all stayed at his side on this beautiful day.
