Another update:
For the past few days, your father has been doing extremely well. He only eats by mouth now, (soft foods mainly), has been sitting up in the wheelchair without falling to one side or the other, sitting in the recliner, and trying very much to talk. Unfortunately, it is still hard to understand what he is saying when he tries to speak more than one or two words but I am very encouraged by his progress. He definitely understands when he is spoken to.
Freaky.