You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130. It is Thursday morning. This has been one busy week, which is the reason we haven't updated for several days. On Sunday Rose and I drove over to the Illinois-Indiana border on Highway 64 to meet Scott and Sherry and Jalen. Jalen came home with us to spend part of the holidays. Brayden stayed at home with his Grandma Jean because he was still a bit under the weather. Sunday evening we all went to Chris and Shelly's for our family gathering, and that was wonderful. Shelly and her Aunt Kathleen had set such a beautiful table that we were actually stunned to look at it. And that was only the beginning of a wonderful evening. The family was great, the food scrumptious, the house decked out for Christmas, the gifts perfect. We got to meet Katie's friend Austin for the first time. He is an anthropology major at Kansas U where Katie is majoring in interior design. Drew finished his first semester at Mizzou with a 3.2 grade point average which made his father and granny very proud. Jalen was the only child at this event, but you sure couldn't tell it. He is one grown-up seven-year-old. On Tuesday morning Shirley had to be at St. Mary's Hospital at 5:30 am for her out-patient surgical procedure. That all went perfectly, and she was home by 11:00 am to recover. She had a rough day Tuesday but was much on the mend on Wednesday. Jalen brought with him a 550 piece Spiderman jigsaw puzzle which Shirley and Rose have spent hours hovering over. Finally, last night at around 11:00 pm they finished it. Jalen is very good at those kind of puzzle but his interest is in his video games. Occasionally he would walk by the table and drop a piece in place to all our astonishment. Yesterday it was back to meet Scott, this time to get both Brayden and Shirley's young friend Jamil. Jamil and Jalen have become fast friends, and were lobbying for a way to get together over this school break. Jamil's dad met Scott for Scott to get Jamil, then Scott, Brayden, and Jamil drove on west to meet us. Our drive home with these three boys was such a joy. Brayden took Jalen's gameboy and would not give it back. He holds it and punches with his thumbs just as the big boys do, staring intently as he 'plays.' We are happy to report that Brayden is well and has only an occasional cough left over from his virus. Last night Jalen, Jamil, Brayden, and I slept in the third floor 'guest suite.' Jalen and Jamil told me I snored and talked in my sleep, both of which they thought were hilarious. Unfortunately, Jamil cannot stay a long time. Dena and Layla will drive over, spend the night, and the three of them will have to go home to Bloomington, IN on Friday. Tonight we go to the Smith's for dinner. These boys will have a high time with Alex and Brett. Perhaps we have had a change of luck. Our wonderful neighbor here on Barnard College Lane, when told of our Pontiac Plight, offered his help in getting the thing sold. He is a no-nonsense sort of guy, efficient, and very kind. We took him up on his offer. Joe mistyped 'Pontiac' the other day in a note he wrote us, spelling it instead 'Pontias.' I've decided 'Pontiass' is a good name for this machine and have called it that ever since.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Hello, it's Rose here with a quick Christmas update. First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to our Dear Readers and their families.

The Big News we've been dealing with is Brayden's respiratory virus. Thursday night he had to be admitted to a local hospital in Louisville, later to be transferred to the children's hospital in Louisville. Scott spent the night with him, and on Friday morning the physicians released the little fellow.

Of course, we were waiting anxiously for news. Our Dear Beloved Brayden! Scott, Sherry, Brayden and Jalen were due to travel here tomorrow. It looked like on Thursday, No Trip to St. Louis. Scott was very concerned that all this happened on Jalen's Birthday Number Seven and that, in Scott's words, "Jalen was getting hosed." Then with Brayden's rapid recovery, the trip was back on. Today: No Trip to St. Louis for the family. Brayden was running a fever, and the virus wasn't completely gone. Our current plan is that we will meet Scott half way tomorrow to get Jalen who will come for a long-promised visit here. If Brayden is well enough, we'll get him some time during the week.

I'm afraid it is Scott who is 'getting hosed' this Christmas. He surely has his hands full.

When we last talked with Scott this afternoon, he had both boys, and they were having a High Time opening their gifts. When I told Jalen that Santa had been here and left gifts for him and his brother, Jalen said, "Wow! Santa was there too! He was at Grandma Jean's, at Grandma Mary's, at Mom's House, and at Dad's House!"

Folks, we are sick and tired of the gods laying waste to our plans! They surely have been trifling with us of late.

Sue spent a good part of today with Den at the Facility. He wasn't doing as well as he has been doing of late. This afternoon Shirley and I called for Sue at the Facility, and the three of went out to the Abbotts' for our Christmas Visit. For a dozen or more years, Den's traditional gift to the Abbotts has been the Hallmark Star Trek Limited Edition Ornament, some of which sell now for quite a pot on E-Bay. Just yesterday, Sue and I found the 2004 edition, something Den had been hoping we could do.

We had a great time at the Abbotts, exchanged gifts, ate a lot, and watched Norm repair things we brought for him to repair. [Well, in truth, in one case he just showed us how to turn the thing on. Norm makes us women think he has secret knowledge when it may, in fact, be nothing more than his own good common sense, probably taught to him by Margaret.]

Shirley and I dropped Sue back at the Facility on our way home and will call for her around 6:30 or so. Den wasn't able to go to his mother's Christmas Day Dinner. Instead he had guests come to him.

For one brief, shining moment this week, it looked like there might be a possible buyer for the Pontiac. Alas, it's looks like not. Those trifling gods again.

We'll post more when Sue is around to provide input and perhaps even some humor. These grim times require a lot of chocolate.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Den's appointment with the gastroenterologist on Monday didn't tell us a whole lot. The next step, a CT Scan scheduled for January 13, may reveal more. The trip to the specialist was a parade. Kim, Aaron, Chris, and I went with Den and had a two-hour wait before getting into see the guy. The day was very rough for Den. It was bitter cold here, and he was totally exhausted. It wasn't a cakewalk for the rest of us either.

Since Monday, Den is 'some better.' Yesterday was probably his best day in about three weeks. Last evening his kids and their families came for the Christmas get-together. I didn't stay for the occasion because I had already made three trips there and was exhausted for reasons explained below.

Yesterday, the facility announced at one in the afternoon that word from the insurance company had arrived: NO MORE PAYMENT. Of course, that set off a huge alarm because these places are extremely expensive. Rose and I met with the facility social worker who is in charge of such things and arranged to have Den moved to a less expensive floor. Less expensive translates to $140 per day from the $300 per day where he has been. Of course, we enlisted Catrina's help because it seemed unseemly that all this could happen two days before Christmas. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the new Scrooge? Anyway, we may have a reprieve for a short time. THANK YOU, CATRINA!

Meanwhile, the facility is leaving Den in the room where he is until BC & BS reviews his case. Even with another week (and that's still a question), the problem of longer-term care is a pressing one. Den is unable to stay by himself. I can't take care of him, and there is no good alternative to one of these expensive facilities. The title to this story: "Back to Poverty Flats" or "Return to Turnbow." We're laughing here only to keep from crying.

On a different topic, I had a wonderful weekend with Chris and Shelly, then with Margaret and Norm. They all treated me royally. Chris ferried me all over town. Shelly cooked her special stuffed shells. Norm was at Charm Level 10, and Margaret her usual caring, loving self. She fried chicken and served it up with all the trimmings. Margaret planned to make eight pounds of fudge on Sunday but didn't get around to it. On Tuesday I called to see how the fudge was coming. Margaret said, "I cooked, and I ate it ALL." Den and I have been looking forward to that fudge. Den asked if it was taking so long because Margaret was 'fermenting' it like Norm does his wine.

Shirley came home on Monday. Chris picked her up at the airport then he came and got me at the Facility. Shirley and I went to Applebee's for dinner on Monday. Rose returned on Tuesday, again calling on the Christopher Taxi Service. What would we all do without Chris? [By the way, Chris, isn't it time for you to post an editorial here? We've been hearing popular demand for input from you. And, Anyone Else, please post comments!]

We heard from Scott yesterday. Louisville is in the middle of that big snow storm that is just east of us here in St. Louis. Brayden, when he saw the snow, ran to the window and said, "Cool!!!" Today is Jalen's Seventh Birthday. Yesterday Scott had a Super Jalen Birthday Celebration, going sledding with Jalen and letting him open his gifts. When Rose talked with Jalen, she said, "Oh, Jalen, I am so glad your birthday didn't get lost in Christmas." Jalen's response indicated he was bewildered that a birthday could 'get lost.' Scott assured us that the whole week was one big birthday-Christmas celebration in Louisville. Scott, Sherry, and the two boys will arrive here Christmas evening.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT:

New Car Deal:

Pontiac Grand Prix, 2005 Model,
four-door sedan, black with dark pewter leather interior:
MSRPBase Price.......... $26,560
Power Sun Roof.......... $895
Auto Dual Zone AC.......... $275
Leather Trim Pkg includingheated driver and frontpassenger seats, leatherappointed seating, leathertrim pkg.......... $665
Premium Audio Pkg includesin-dash six-disc CDchanger, 245 watt monsoonnine speaker system .......... $695
Aluminun Wheels .......... $275
Competition Group includes:P225/55VR17 PerformanceTires, 17" Aluminun FinishWheel, Magnasteer II, StabilitrakSport, Tapshift, 3.29 Axle Ratio,Trip Computer, Head-Up Display,Red Painted Brake Calipers .......... $1395
Destination Charge.......... $660
Sub-TOTAL .......... $31420

Extended Warranty .......... $1500 [Transferable, if new owner wishes]

TOTAL .......... $32920

The car has less than 1,000 miles.

Our sales price: $29,810 with extended warranty; $28310 without extended warranty

The car will be stored at Midwest in St. Louis until it is sold.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Hello, it's Rose, writing from Chicago. Sue normally travels here on these regular jaunts to have acupuncture treatments with Master Wang. I think she stayed home this weekend because she doesn't like being away from Den for three to four days. Chris and Shelly were hosting her yesterday and part of today. Margaret and Norman will call for her at the Extended Care Facility, and she will spend the night at their house tonight.

Tomorrow morning Den has an important appointment with his gastroenterologist. The physicians cautioned Sue in Dartmouth last month that Den's well-being would require a delicate balance. That surely has proven to be the case. He has good days and bad days, and the balance is difficult to maintain without the kind of intensive medical attention he was getting while in hospital. We are all hoping that the appointment tomorrow will result in some improvement.

It is very, very cold today here in Chicago, and very windy. Pete and Janet called this morning as they do frequently to check on all that is happening. They are off later in the week to Boise for the Holidays to spend them with Kelly and his two sons. Early in January they return to their southern home then will be making a six-week tour through Mexico and Belize. Nice! This evening they are going to Church with daughter Nancy and her family. Pete had talked yesterday with both Bernie and Joe.

I invite all our Dear Readers to post comments of any and all kinds here. Family news is always welcome and sometimes very hard to come by.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon with my son Christopher, always a big treat. He called for me at the Extended Care Facility and visited with Den a bit, also checking out the set-up for Den to have a VCR and DVD Player in his room.

Chris and Shelly were into high-finance--renegotiating their home mortgage for a much better deal. The old mortgage company and the new one both debited their checking account, creating a temporary shortage-of-funds crisis. The mistake on the part of the old company brought out the red head in Shelly. She was livid and rightly so. The usual laid-back Mr. Chris was exercized. Somehow they got the situation resolved, but it was a very bad thing to happen, especially right here at Christmas time.

We had an e-mail from Pete and Janet who are home in Idaho Falls for the holidays. Pete is worried about Joe since Joe's retirement. He heard that Joe now takes an hour and half to watch "60 Minutes."

Suzanne picked me up at the Facility last night and ferried me home. She and Doug, among others of my sons' friends, have been sooooo helpful to me and to Den through all this that it brings tears to my eyes.

When I got to the Extended Care Facility yesterday morning, Lari and Evelyn, Den's sister and mother, were already there. We had a nice visit. Later Den's Uncle Paul and cousin Dave came.

One last note: REMEMBER THE PONTIAC!!! SUCH A DEAL!!!!

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


We had a sad e-mail from Sabrina this morning. She is in California on business and called home last night to learn that Mrs. McLaren, her boys' wonderful second grade teacher had died. Sabrina asks that we all pray for Mrs. McLaren and the young children she left behind. She was a treasure.

There is nothing new to report about Den. He is about the same. Next Monday he will see the gastroenterologist who treated him at St. Mary's. Perhaps we will know more after that appointment.

Rose and I have been, (in our spare moments which aren't many what with all the 'work' we've had to do), organizing the Oakland House for Christmas guests. Or, for that matter, for any other time people want to come to town. We can put them here in the guest room or in what we have been calling the "Oakland Guest House." We may never sort through all the stuff that was in Den's Chicago stuido apartment. The movers, Doug, Scott K., Scott S., Chris, and Mark G., could not believe Den could get so much stuff in such a small space. Den has always been a pack rack.

We are hoping Joe Felin and some of his family will visit during this season. Joe called yesterday and talked about the possibility. Joe, room or house, both will be ready for you and yours.

Today is a Rose Work Day, and I will spend time with Den at the facility where Chris will call for me to take me for my own physical therapy in the afternoon. Rose has class tonight, and I plan to again spend time with Den.

Shirley travelled to Chicago yesterday, and Rose will go there on Saturday. I am sitting this trip out, staying instead with Chris and Shelley and with Margaret and Norman. I'm skipping this acupuncturist appointment AND the cold, windy Chicago weather.

It's also going to be frigid here this weekend. Thank goodness for Dave and Judy Meisel, our Lake neighbors, who have had my boat winterized, stored Den's boat battery, and regularly keep an eye on the house. It gives us several fewer problems to worry about.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


By Monday afternoon Den was rallying. He was able to go to therapy and had resumed his grumbling about the place. At times he is confused, other times, totally lucid. He has been suffering anxiety attacks which, to him, are worse than his other ailments. Twice on Monday night, he fell, one in the shower and once while getting out of bed unaided. The big problem with falling beyond the obvious is that Den is on a blood thinner, and he could bleed internally.

He and his roommate, Henry, are both fishermen although Henry will not step into a boat. They entertain each other with whopper stories, and both are itching to 'wet their lines.' Den is fortunate to have such a great guy sharing the same room.

Catrina continues to advise us on our many insurance issues. She's quick to help, thorough in her answers, and if she can't answer immediately, gets back to me ASAP with all the details.

Kim, Aaron, Darrel, and Diane visited Den yesterday. Kim brings him tempting foods. Rose and Shirley keep his laundry done. Chris will set up his DVD/VCR when Den is able to make use of it.

Rose and I went over to the Oakland house yesterday to ready it just in case any of our Christmas visitors need a guest house. Monday I e-mailed Mark Goldman to see if he would set out the Oakland house trash cans next week. Mark teaches at a school just a stone's throw away. Bless his heart! Yesterday, trash day, Mark must have gone very early, set out the cans, and come back to put the cans away--all before Rose and I got there in the afternoon. Mark is organizing another small move--the extra double bed at the Oakland House to here.

We got Jalen's birthday package in the mail. He will be seven on December 23, and we will celebrate his birthday during Christmas week. Scott says Brayden is working on his toilet training but has not given up diapers as of yet.

That's all the news for now from Lake WOE-Be-Gone.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130K


We continue to visit Den twice a day or more. He is not doing well. The food in the Barnes Jewish Extended Care Facility is poor, Den's appetite is off, and he's lost quite a bit of weight. Kim brings him his favorite food and encourages him to eat. Shirley keeps him supplied with his favorite chocolate chip ice cream. Kim brought a small Christmas tree for his room, this to follow-up the Thanksgiving theme she and her girls had done before. Rose and Kim keep his laundry done.

The staff at the facility encourage him to dress, stay up, and do his therapy. However, since he has been there (five days now), he has been too pooped to do much more than rest. Today he restarts his physical and speech therapy, so we are hoping for the kind of progress he was making at St. Mary's. Since last Tuesday, he just hasn't been well enough to take advantage of therapy.

Den had many visitors this weekend--Dale, Kathy, Rick, Denise, Lari, Jake, and perhaps others we don't know about.

Yesterday, Rose, Shirley, and I got our tree trimmed. Shirley baked and baked. All our shopping is done except for a few stocking stuffers. Now the task ahead, dauntingly ahead, is to get all this stuff wrapped.

After I hinted around with Margaret Anne in our phone conversation yesterday, she got the idea that I want some of her marshmellow FUDGE. She promised five pounds. Maybe it will fatten Den up some. God knows what it will do for Rose, Shirley, and me.

Pete and Janet were leaving Sunday morning to return to Idaho Falls for the holidays. Their plan was to drive straight through Nevada, not even stopping for gas.

Rose has taken on the task of finding a suitable bicycle for Jalen's Christmas present and has had a lot of fun doing so. She has been to every bike shop in St. Louis and one in Chicago. The purchase has been made along with a strong crash helmet. Jalen is only six and can already ride a two-wheeler. He loves to have his dad set up an 'challenge course' in their yard for him to maneuver. He is going to love this new bike.

Scott, Sherry and sons will arrive some time Christmas night. We plan to have the kids' Santa gifts under the tree when they get here.

Chris and Shelly are hosting our family gathering on the 26th. We hope Den will be well enough to attend. Den and I will have our Christmas with the Boaz kids on the 22nd. If he is unable to attend, we will move the party to the BJEC facility.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes . . . . And, the wind blew, the chips flew, . . . .

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130

After an off day yesterday, Den is much improved today. Part of his problem is that he is not eating very well. He ate a light breakfast, passed on his lunch, ate some dinner, and then dove into a half-pint of Ben & Jerry's which Rose and Shirley brought him this evening.

Den's physician thinks the problem he is having of late has to do with his inability to metabolize some of his meds so the doctor has changed the meds. Den is better, enough so that today he has physical therapy, could get around with minimal help, and is in much better spirits. He is a bit of a Jekel and Hyde, and his Jekel is more in ascendency these days. Of course, Hyde is still a reality and very difficult to deal with. Both made their appearances today.

Den's mother, Evelyn, is very concerned about her eldest son. I can relate because if one of my sons were ill, I would be fretting day and night. Evelyn called today while I was out and talked with Rose. The two of them had a very good conversation. They both agree that a full understanding of Den's condition is good for everyone to have--especially his mama. Evelyn, it turns out, had spend several weeks in the St. Mary's Rehab facility so knew a good deal about it. She's quite a spunky gal, gets out a lot, is active in her church, does volunteer work, and generally enjoys life. She is a good example for all of us.

Shirley and I did some power shopping this morning, then Rose and Shirley power shopped this afternoon and evening while I spent time with Den. Rose, Shirley, and I just finished a late dinner and are now sorting and figuring on all the gifts we bought.

We had a really hilarious e-mail from Brother Joe today. However, if you have not been a member of this family for over 50 years, there is no way you could appreciate the humor. Rose and I had a great laugh together. White writing paper? Red tissue paper? Let's just say, Brother Joe NEVER forgets ANYTHING!

All you Dear Readers and friends of Dear Readers who might be in need of an automobile, please remember the Pontiac. See the entry from December 9 for particulars.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130

Kim and Aaron went to see their dad yesterday evening. He was still not doing well. He was very agitated about everything, having an anxiety attack, Aaron said. His roommate had a lot of company, and Den was exercised about all the people. Of course, Den had a ton of company himself yesterday--myself, his kids, Rose, Shirley.

Den can't receive phone calls right now but does appreciate cards and letters. His address is Barnes-Jewish Extended Care Facility, 401 Corporate Park, St. Louis, MO 63105, Room 229. His e-mail address is dlboaz@aol.com. We print out and give him his e-mails.

I went to physical therapy yesterday for only the second time in about two months. (Normally I go weekly.) The physical therapist was pleased with the ease with which I could walk without my cane and the level of strength in my legs. Even the receptionist noted improvement in my walking, saying when I came into the reception area, "Martha! Look at you! Where is your cane?"

I continue to marvel at the goodness of people, especially Rose and Shirley who have taken on the added task of ferrying me back and forth to see Den at least twice a day. Fortunately, the facility he is in is only two miles from our house. And my son, Chris: anytime we ask him to do something for us, his response is "No problem, Momma." We try not to lean on him and Shelly too much but their offer yesterday to host our family Christmas was over the top. We are sooooooo grateful.

We'll update again after we see how Den is today.

to whom it may concern: SUCH A DEAL! A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. READ ALL ABOUT IT IN THE ENTRY OF DECEMBER 9.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Den is having some bad days. He had made enormous progress in physical rehab since his stroke but yesterday and today seems to have given it all back. We hope this is a temporary situation, one of the cyclical 'downs' you would expect under such circumstances. I will update as often as I can because I know a lot of people are concerned and are praying for the both of us.

A practical matter of concern: On October 30, just four days before he was stricken, Den bought a new car. It has become distressingly apparent that we need to sell the car ASAP. Neither of us can drive. Our medical bills are skyrocketting, and we can ill-afford it. I am posting the particulars here in case a Dear Reader might know of someone in the market for A Very Good Deal. You see, Den purchased the car using the GM Discount Privilege for eligible relatives I have from my days at GMAC. Selling the car before the six-month required ownership period could mean I will lose the privilege, but in my discussions with a GM representative an exception may be possible because of the extraordinary circumstances.


Anyway, the Car and the Deal:

Pontiac Grand Prix, 2005 Model, four-door sedan, black with dark pewter leather interior:

MSRP

Base Price.......... $26,560
Power Sun Roof.......... $895
Auto Dual Zone AC.......... $275
Leather Trim Pkg including
heated driver and front
passenger seats, leather
appointed seating, leather
trim pkg.......... $665
Premium Audio Pkg includes
in-dash six-disc CD
changer, 245 watt monsoon
nine speaker system .......... $695
Aluminun Wheels .......... $275
Competition Group includes:
P225/55VR17 Performance
Tires, 17" Aluminun Finish
Wheel, Magnasteer II, Stabilitrak
Sport, Tapshift, 3.29 Axle Ratio,
Trip Computer, Head-Up Display,
Red Painted Brake Calipers .......... $1395
Destination Charge.......... $660

Sub-TOTAL .......... $31420

Extended Warranty .......... 1500 [Transferable, if
new owner wishes]
=========

TOTAL .......... $32920


The car has less than 1,000 miles.

Our sales price: $29,810 with extended warranty; $28310 without extended warranty

The car will be stored at Midwest in St. Louis until it is sold.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It has been a busy week, and we haven't had time to update. On Saturday Rose and I drove to Chicago. Rose and Shirley went to the Chicago Jung Institute Christmas Party on Saturday evening. On Sunday the three of us spent almost the entire day looking for a new sofa to replace the threadbare one in their apartment. Finally, after an exhausting day, we decided the best bet was to try to get the old recovered.

On Monday Rose worked, Shirley flew home to St. Louis, and I saw my acupuncturist. On Tuesday I had appointments with Drs. Costas and O'Brien who are recommending I have another round of immuno-globulin infusions in January. The results of the first round were disappointing, but perhaps it is still too soon for any improvements to make their appearance. Both physicians were wonderful. O'Brien must be taking communications lessons from Costas or maybe he is just different when he isn't being tailed by half a dozen interns, hanging onto his every word.

Right after those appointments, Rose and I headed by car home to St. Louis. We went immediately to St. Mary's Rehab to visit with Den who continues to benefit from his physical and speech therapies. Kim and Sydney were there, visitors who always cheer Den and lift his spirits.

Today Den was transferred from St. Mary's a few blocks away to the Barnes-Jewish Extended Care Facility where he will continue to get therapy but not the intense nursing care he needed up til now. He was exhausted when we arrived there but rallied after a short rest and a good lunch. We don't yet know how long he will be in this facility. It looks to be a very good one and was highly recommended by the staff at St. Mary's.

Den is in Room 229, Barnes-Jewish Extended Care Facility, 401 Corporate Park Drive, St. Louis, 63105; Phone (314) 746-4242.

Shirley, Rose, and I found time this afternoon to buy our Christmas tree, a tall, slender, beautiful Frasier Fir. It is in the living room now, shaking out its limbs and drinking deeply from the tree stand.

We are really into Christmas this year, perhaps because we know better its meaning and perhaps circumstances help us to appreciate the season and our wondrous family all the more. In some ways it will be a 'scrimpy' year; in others the richest ever.

We are happy to report that Catrina's daughter Lizzie is much improved and is being treated for underlying asthma that was the cause of her symptoms, not pneumonia as was first thought. Catrina and Robbie are much relieved because they know exactly what they are dealing with so it is not so scary. Sam, too, suffers from asthma as so many young children do these days. Robbie's two fine sons will come in from Arizona over the holidays.

I've heard from Joe, Pete, and Bernie in recent days. Of course, we talk with Margaret almost daily and with her kids, my kids, and Den's kids almost daily.

Sabrina, our Thanksgiving hostess

Norman and his cousin Patsy, wife of Joel 

Sue and Catrina 

Karen 

Mark 

Sherry 

Scott and Brayden 

Lynn 

Randy 

Shelly 

Chris 

Lizzie 

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Thank God November is over! And that it has only 30 days. One more would have put me over the edge rather than teetering on the brink. On Saturday Rose and I will travel again to Chicago, she to work and I for a follow-up appointments with my two physicians there. We'll be back late Tuesday. Since neither Rose nor I will be here for those four days, any of you who can please visit Den for his days are long.

Yesterday Aaron was at the hospital when I couldn't be then ferried me there and Rose out to the car dealer to pick up her newly-serviced very old vehicle. He is a love. My Editor Son, Chris, AKA Ding, was on duty yesterday as well. He hauled Rose home after she dropped off her car and the two of them picked up lunch for us. Other loves, Doug, Mark Goldman, and Scott Kaenter, were at the hospital in the evening. And still other loves, son Mark and Karen, cooked us a lovely dinner. Rose and I felt like queens yesterday.

As we were leaving the hospital last night, Mark Goldman told us he was off for a dinner date with a new woman. I reminded him of Uncle Pete's advice: Remember, they are easier to get than to get rid of.

We are awaiting an update on Lizzie, Catrina's daughter who is once again in the hospital with pneumonia. She got very sick on Monday and ended up back at St. John's on Tuesday. Margaret told us yesterday that she is 'some better,' and may come home today. Lizzie will have to have some follow-up testing after she is well from this bout. Catrina and Robbie have surely had a trying time of late. We'll update after we know more today.

Shirley left for Chicago yesterday where she will work and rest up from our baby time. We loved having the little tyke and only had one traumatic event the whole time we had him. He locked himself in the first floor powder room with the light off. Immediately he started crying and getting upset, stopping only momentarily to cry out, "OSE!" OSE!" The stupid safety mechanism was broken so we couldn't free him. Shirley called 911 and had the police on the way. Rose worked on the lock and all three of us talked and talked to soothe Brayden. Of course, he was scared. Finally we just forced the lock and got him out, so we cancelled the police call. It took him a few moments to calm down. Actually, he returned to normal much faster than the three of us.

I gather from various conversations with the guys that the move out of Den's apartment was both a party and a Big Job. Den is a packrat, never throws away anything, and has two of most things. Doug says Den has at least one screwdriver in every drawer in any place Den lives.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Hello from Rose. Ding is an awfully hard act to follow. The first thing I tried was adding our Thanksgiving Dinner photographs, but the only one that 'took' was Joel's. Tomorrow I'll try again to post many, many photos of our day together. It was a glorious one and one truly to be thankful for.

Den continues to improve. Seems there is a delicate balance to be maintained between Den's needs for physical and speech therapies and the insurance company's need to get him out of that place. So far Den's needs are winning out. He has had tons of company and is in pretty good spirits in spite of the labors of Hercules that his therapy places on him.

Sue is doing well. She spends as much time as she can with Den and is trying to manage all the nitty gritty detail of both their lives through this period. Aaron and Kim are able to fill in where Sue cannot. Den can be really proud of those two!

We've had Brayden since last Wednesday night, and that's why we haven't been blogging. With Brayden around, all we do is take care of him. He is such a dear little boy and such a joy. He's happy, has a sunny disposition, likes to skip along and sing, loves dogs and birds and squirrels, is shy with people, and now likes to be read to. We returned him to Daddy on Tuesday afternoon. In the days we had him, he probably cried a total of five minutes.

Patsy's husband, Joel, aka 'Conway' 

Sue's Journey Back to Health


This is ding again reporting back with an after thanksgiving update. First let's address Thanksgiving. It was a grand time. I have to give kudos to Bebe and Dave for inviting us into their house. I know how stressful it can be to get your house ready for that many people and prepare a feast. It reminded me much of the old Thanksgivings, when all us clans would get together for Thanksgiving. The only thing missing was the guitars and sing alongs. Also, with a fresh layer of snow, it reminded me a alot of the Thanksgiving at Aunt Roses several years ago when we had a big snow. I don't remember anything except playing in the snow all day. So thanks for everybody who contributed in such a big way.

We also got Denny's stuff moved this weekend. Doug, Goldman, Scott (my brother), Scott (Kaenter, goldman's roomate) and I went up to Chicago to perform the daunting task. It actually went quite well once we got motivated. We got there Friday night and did almost all of the work Saturday morning. Doug, Goldman, and Scott Spreitler took the big load back and then Scott Kaenter and I dropped Mom's car off at Aunt Roses and then took Denny's car back to St. Louis. I would like to thank everybody for their backbreaking labor. To quote my brother "It's a lot easier when you have five guys" And my extra note....especially when one of the five is Doug.

A good story that I would like to share. We did a lot of getting lost. Our internet directions were wrong, and if I hadn't been there last week, I am not certain that we would have found it, but we did. We also learned that doug is our compass (definitely not moral compass though). We would get turned around and Doug would get us straightened out even though we disagreed with him. So Friday night we went out for Pizza and met up with Goldman's old college roommate, Paris. Afterwards, we stopped for beer. At the convenience store Doug explained to Paris (who had goldman riding with him) to take a left on this street and that would take him to the apartment. As we left, Paris went right on the opposite road. They finally showed up half an hour after us.

"Paris, why did you go right on that road instead of left on the opposite road like we explained to you?" I asked.
"Because that was the way Goldman told me to go."
"See you never get directions from a jew....there was a reason they wandered around the desert for 40 years", I responded.
"I thought it was 40 days" someone added.
"40 days, 40 months, 40 years, it always 40 something in the bible" somebody else added.
And then Doug, in his infinite wisdom responded "And hence, we have the 40 oz. beer."

Again I would like to thank everybody who helped us ou not only in the last weekend, but in the last year. I am certain I have forgotten people. I apologize for my ineptitude. One more thanks too to my bride shelly, who put together Thanksgiving for her side of the family on Sunday with virtually no help from me. It was great and went off without a hitch. I truly appreciate it.

More later,

Ding

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130

Sue and I left Chicago yesterday morning at 6:10 am and pulled into our garage here in University City at 11:10 am. We did not stop because of the threat of bad weather. As it was, we drove through rain for the last four hours of our journey. We and the gas gauge were on empty when we arrived.

In the afternoon we went to see Den at St. Mary's. He was exhausted from his morning physical therapy and dreading the coming afternoon workout. He can't come out for our Thanksgiving Get-together at Sabrina's but has had a ton of company so is doing fine.

Scott, Sherry, and Brayden arrived this morning at 1:00 am. Of course, all three of us old ladies had to get up to greet them. Brayden would have nothing to do with us at that hour, clinging only to DADDY with dear life. However, this morning he loves us all, is laughing and playing, and quite content to stay with us. Scott, Sherry, and Sue just went over to visit with Den. We're going to drop two movies off for Den on our way to Sabrina's, and Den does love movies.

I talked just now with Sabrina who, with her sister Catrina, were doing everything that Margaret makes look easy but really is not. From our household, we are contributing the cranberry sauce and Shirley's special broccoli casserole. It is one easy, easy day for us.

This is the first time things have seemed anything like 'near normal' for over three weeks now. There is the near normal and new normal. I think this is the new.

Sue is doing great. The physicians told her it would take a couple of weeks for any improvement in her neuropathy to become apparent after her five-day immuno-globulin treatments. Of course, it will be difficult to know if it was the medicine or Baby Brayden that makes her better. He is such a love and is so loving--full of hugs and kisses and spontaneous affections. And now he talks and talks and talks. The phone rings, off he runs, saying something like "I'll get it!" This morning nothing would do him but having a shower. He loved it. Scott, who was still sleeping at the time, told us later that it was his first. He has to brush his teeth anytime one of us brushes ours. And he loves to look at photographs on the computers. We think he believes a computer is just a big, big photo album.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It's Tuesday night. I'm home again after a long day and my fifth and final infusion. I talked with Dr. Chris and Dr. O'Brien. Both told me this medicine might take some time to show results. I was hoping for something instantaneous. Dr. Chris said that my last bout at St. Francis was indeed encephalitis, which I did not know before today. He doesn't think that episode and this one are related. However, he did say that seizures could occur for up to six months after a bout of encephalitis.

I talked with Den this evening. He had had a very rough day, but sounded in better spirits than he did last night. Kim was there with her three children, and that might have done a whole for Den.

Scott is in need of my car for a few days next week. In our discussion, I bartered with him: Car for Brayden. Looks like we might get to keep Brayden for a few extra days after Thanksgiving, not until first grade as I was holding out for.

We have been talking with Sabrina and Margaret over this upcoming Thanksgiving feast. I can't remember looking forward to a Thanksgiving quite as much as I am to this one. This has been ONE difficult period, but I remain overall very thankful. We don't yet know if Den will be up for an outing for dinner on Thursday, but we surely hope so.

Pete and Janet called this morning from quartzsite, AZ. Leslie called from Springfield. I was relieved to hear that her son Jeffrey was in Ft. Louis, WA, instead of in Iraq. The rest of my conversations with family and friends was around the hot topic of the Thanksgiving guest list and menu.

Rose and I are overnighting in the Chicago apartment. She and I just had a wonderful dinner. It's early to bed because we intend to head toward St. Louis at around 5:00 am. I'm eager to see Den.

I have found Chris' Blog comments most interesting. Several people think his addition to the 'Tandy What Nots' is a good thing and urge us to keep him on. In fact, we welcome comments from any and all readers. Just click on the "comment" below every entry and follow the yellow brick road.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


There have already been 47 hits on this blob today so there is a lot of interest in an update. Here it is briefly:

Sue is doing well. I had breakfast with her this morning and she was in good spirits. Den had called her last night from St. Mary's Rehab to report that he too is doing o.k. He had a ton of company yesterday and that cheered him. Today he begins his intensive physical therapy.

Sue and I have contacted our friend Joanne who is the pastoral counselor at St. Mary's where Den is and asked her to check out Den, to give us any feedback she can about his doctors, and to pray--something Joanne is very good at.

Sue has completed three of the five infusions. She will have the last one tomorrow and be finished with it sometime in the afternoon. Tomorrow is a 'black out' day for Southwest Airlines free fliers (which we are), so we must drive and will head south just as soon as she is released from the hospital.

Dr. Costas came in yesterday afternoon and again was extremely informative. He thinks these last two episodes are related to Sue's neurological problem even though the neurologist does not think so. Costas says the odds are just too, too great that she would have two rare disorders simultaneously. However, he like everyone else, doesn't know just what is the problem. He says that this immuno-globulin treatment is effective 65-70% of the time and expects to see improvement in Sue's whole system in two-three weeks.

Our friend Boris from Madison, WI, called to leave a message after he caught up on his blog reading. His message: "Tell Sue that I had been there, I would have looked."

Nancy Felin Hafla called this morning to tell Sue of her and Caitlin's plans to travel to Lourdes. Sue was so touched by the call and Nancy's message that she told me she could hardly talk for crying. Nancy also is a regular blog reader.

Margaret Anne told me that Mary Pauline in Kansas now has an e-mail address plus reams of past entries from this blog and is catching up on family events of the past months. Margaret and I think putting family e-mails here might be of interest to folk. Let us know if you think that is a good idea.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130

This is ding (chris) giving a guest editorial. First of all, let me thank everybody for their support and understanding. I can not thank people enough. Aunt Rose has already gone on about how poor people without insurance get along, how about people with very few friends and family. And certainly I can not thank Aunt rose and Shirley enough for all they have done for everybody.

Now enough of that. Let's talk Mom and Denny. Shelly and I arrived in Chicago on Wednesday just in time for rush hour traffic. When we got to the hospital, my mama wasn't doing so well. She was having hallucinations where she thought everybody's head was swelling up. It was terribly frightful. We needed my buddy Chuck, who has talked me through such predicaments before. With all the talking I had done, she just didn't do well with hallucinations. I told her how people pay big money for such a "trip" and if she could just channel and enjoy, she would be much better off. She just didn't get it. It ended up being a reaction to acyclovere (my phonetical spelling) which, ironically, Shelly also takes. The doctor said it can cause such side effects in 10% of the patients. Regardless, shelly is thinking of doubling her dosage for recreational purposes.

I will say that everyday Mom improved drastically. And honestly, we laughed far too much to be appropriate. One story in particular made mom laugh so hard that she almost pissed herself (in fact afterwards we had to untangle her IV's and take her to the restroom) The weekend before, shelly and I had gone to the lake for a conference (shelly's). We also knock out lots of Christmas shopping at the outlet mall. One place we stopped at was the Polo store. I thought that it was ironic that all women employees at the store were "low boobed" Mom didn't get that. So I explained that meant they all appeared as though their breasts were growing from their abdomen. It didn't matter if they were young or old, big or small. They were all low boobed. On Friday in Chicago we went to the Polo store in Chicago, on Michigan Avenue. It was comically expensive. $24 to park for three hours. A fur throw for your bed....$8000. a marble card table....$14000. Shelly like one leather skirt in particular...$1500. Anyway, it seems when you charge that much, you can also afford an entire staff of highboobed women. And sure enough the entire staff was either young hot high boobed women or gay guys. It seems that really cuts down on interoffice dating.
Also Auntie is always going on and on about how tough it is to park around her condo. I have always poohpoohed that notion as I have never had a problem. Until Friday night. We drove around for 1 hour and 7 minutes until we came up with a spot that was still some 7 blocks from her condo. We could have paid $12 to park in Aunties parking garage, but after paying $24 to park during the day, I was feeling even cheaper than usual. So instead we drove around for hours.
We drove back on Saturday, but first brought Starbucks to mama and then stopped by Denny's apartment to pick up the mail. I really don't drink much these days, but that never stopped Denny from accusing me of drinking his beer (an accusation that had lots of truth to it seven or eight years ago). It gave me great pride in stealing his last beers. Shelly and I made great time on the way home despite the fact that I drove.
I stopped by the hospital to see Denny on Sunday. I couldn't stay long, and just wanted to see what he needed. Dale, denny's brother, was there visiting. Denny was lamenting that in his current state, he couldn't even tie a fishhook. I told him he was just going to have to use swivels. ( to further explain, swivels are the devils instruments to denny. "weakest part of your line, don't you know"). It is the equivalent of a computer guy such as myself using AOL. In fact Auntie paid me a great compliment this weekend when she was on my laptop and called it the first computer she has ever seen without AOL.
Anyway it looks like we will be getting all of Denny's stuff from his apartment this weekend...probably a friday and/or saturday trip. Email me at dingspreitler@hotmail.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. Doug is going to need some help with the heavy stuff.

More Later,

Ding

Sue's phone number at St. Francis Hospital: 847 316-4296. Just a quick update. Sue is doing well. In fact, were it not for the medications she is getting, she could come home. As it is, she will probably be released Tuesday or even early Wednesday. She had a good night, continues to walk when she is untethered, and is eating well. She and I plan to go to the noon Mass in the hospital chapel. Sue talked with Den this morning. He is settled in, is very tired, and actually likes the food. When Sue relayed to me the bit about liking the food, she added, "He must be a lot sicker than I thought."

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Sue's phone number in St. Francis is: 847 316-4296

There are places in St. Francis Hospital that I can connect to the internet wirelessly and others where no such connection is available. I am back at the apartment now. This is the latest news:

Sue is doing well. She walked a lot today, ate well, and when I left was midway through her second immuno-globulin infusion. Kim called early in the evening to report that Den made the trip from Lebanon, NH, to St. Louis just fine today. He was very, very tired, and it was a trip that would tire a well traveler--three hours by car, two hours waiting at the airport, three hours inflight, and another hour getting from the St. Louis Airport to the physical rehab center at St. Mary's. Needless to say, Den was exhausted. He is settled in now. Kim says his intensive threrapy will begin on Monday, and visitors can come when things settle down some. In the meantime, anyone wishing to inquire about Den should contact Kim. She is acting as the caring go-between until Den can do so for himself. Both Kim and Aaron deserve purple hearts for the courage and perserverance they have shown in helping their Dad through these last two-plus weeks.

Sue was tethered to her IV so could not go to a part of the hospital where she could call Den. As a substitute, she had son Chris call Den's nurse, get an up-to-date report and call her back with it. Sue is much relieved to have Den safely housed where he can get the intensive help he will need to be back on his feet. She herself sees two therapist every (normal) week at St. Mary's for her own physical therapy and so knows just how excellent the facility is and how caring are the therapists.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It's Rose again, correcting some of my omissions. There are so many people who have called, offered help and prayers, and would spring into action at a moment's notice--Mark, Margaret Anne and Norman, Stephanie, Sabrina, Jack Delaney, Melba Scott, and others I'm sure I've forgotten. Additionally, Catrina has answered many, many insurance questions, and insurance is a field as complicated as medicine. We are taking Sabrina and Margaret up on their offer of Thanksgiving. That is a day we are looking forward to! We are surely praying that Jalen will be able to come with Scott, Sherry, and Brayden.

And rumor has it that Mark Goldman, that sterling teacher, budding novelist, and moving man, is gathering a team of folk to travel to Chicago to move Den out of his apartment there.

I just came in from a bike ride along Lake Michigan. It is a cold, blustery day so the ride was a short one. Sue and I will report in from the hospital a little later on.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


SUE'S HOSPITAL NUMBER IS: (847) 316-4296


Chris and Shelly just left the apartment this morning. They will pick up goodies at Starbuck's, spend some time with Sue, then drive on home to St. Charles.

Last night Sue began the infusion of the immuno-globulin. When I talked with her just now, it was still dripping. We are praying this treatment--very expensive and complicated--will help her neuropathy. Let's all storm heaven with prayer. Surely a great clamor will arouse a great response.

Aaron and Den should be on an airplane that will leave Boston in a few minutes. When I talked with Aaron last night, everything was at the ready. I told him he surely had a big task on his shoulders and wished I could be there with him. He said, "Well, Aunt Rose, it's not a big task because, after all, he is my dad." Aaron and Kim have surely been wonderful through this ordeal. And, of course, Chris and Shelly and Scott equally have risen to the occasion. I'm thinking of filing adoption papers for the whole bunch.

Sue got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Doug and Suzanne yesterday. When I handed her the card from them, she quietly wept.

Sue had a visit from the hospital social worker, Marge, yesterday afternoon. Turns out someone at Blue Cross and Blue Shield had put it together that Den is in a New Hampshire hospital and Sue in a Chicago hospital. The essential question: Just where is your residence? Sue assured her their residence is St. Louis but that both she and Den, especially Den, do a whole lot of moving around. When Marge began to understand the events of the past two-plus weeks, she shook her head in utter disbelief and displayed the same empathic response as Dr. Costas. Later on, she was the person I appealed to to get Den's driver's license copied and faxed. It helped that she already understood the situation.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


We experienced an amazing coincidence this week that I thought I would share. Shirley's friend Barbara is the woman who gave us the name of the person who sat overnight with Sue two nights this week in the hospital. Yesterday morning Barbara's own sister was admitted to the same intensive care unit Sue was in, three doors away. Now, Folks, in a metropolitan area of 10 million people what are the odds of such an occurence?

There was another interesting event that I'm still shaking my head over. Sue had kept Den's driver's license when we left New Hampshire last Sunday for safe-keeping and with the expectation Den would need it for the security check at the airport when they returned to St. Louis. After Sue landed in the hospital, Kim remembered the license and had us Fed Ex it to Den at the hospital yesterday. The Fed Ex package never arrived. Kim called today in a panic. Last spring Den lost his driver's license and had to get a replacement. Later on I found the lost one in Sue's car and stuck it in my wallet to give to him but never did. Today it came in mighty handy. We were able to fax a copy of it to Aaron at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and he had a physician's statement added to the fax--the only acceptable alternative identification the airline would accept.

SUE'S HOSPITAL PHONE NUMBER: (847) 316-4296.

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL ADDRESS: Room 4001, 355 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202


DEN'S HOSPITAL PHONE NUMBER: (603) 650-2180

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Sabrina sent Sue an e-mail entitled "Levity" this morning. If humor is medicine, this is one strong elixer that is worth sharing:

"Hi Auntie!

Just a note to tell you that I am thinking of you and praying for you. I also want to make sure you got the message that you and your family are invited to Thanksgiving at my house. What size turkey does one buy for 30 something people? I had a similar discussion with my Momma yesterday. I wanted to make sure she was still planning to come over and help me on Thanksgiving morning, as she has for the past 3 Thanksgivings (a tradition now). I'm not sure if she was testing me or not when she asked what she should bring.

I said "HELL-LO? What do you always bring?"

She said. "Oh, the pies."

I said, "Well, yes, and what else?"

She said "Oh, the bread."

I finally said,"Margaret, what about that big ugly thing?"

She said "Your Dad?"

I said, "No, Margaret, the turkey."

She said "Oh, that's right, well you better get a big one this year."

Note: I only call her Margaret when I need her full attention.

I better get to work now. I love you truly, and I sure hope to see you next week.

Love, Sabrina"


Hmmm, perhaps it's a good thing that Margaret is the computer guru in the Abbott Household.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It's Rose with a morning update. Sue continues to improve. She is still emerging from the drug-induced state of Tuesday and Wednesday. At times yesterday, she acted like one delightful drunk. For example, her day nurse's name was 'Lucky.' Sue told her she didn't care if she was 'lucky,' that she would rather she were 'fast' and would call her that. When Dr. O'Brien answered many of our questions with "I just don't know," Sue told him that for a well-educated doctor, he sure didn't seem to know very much. Both Lucky and O'Brien fell into the spirit of Sue's comments, and we all did a lot of laughing.

It is about 8:00 am here. Chris, Shelly, and I stayed at the apartment overnight. Shelly has gone off to the hospital this morning and will call with a morning report in a few minutes. When she does, I'll update again with her assessment and anything Sue wants to add. Meanwhile, this is where things stand:

Sue was moved to a regular room last evening. The first attempts to start the IV for the immuno globulin failed, but I think it was the nurse who failed. She was one ill-tempered woman; it was her first time at St. Francis; and she was not happy to be there. We gathered that she is more comfortable is an up-scale hospital, something St. Francis is not. We were not pleased. I hated to go off and leave Sue in her 'care.' This is the first time we've run across someone like her through this ordeal. A regular Nurse Ratched.

Dr. O'Brien says Sue definitely does not have Mad Cow Disease. She has not had a stroke, has no infection they can find, and her EEG and MRI results are normal. O'Brien is repeating the EEG today. If Chris Costas didn't take the time to translate O'Brien's mumbo-jumbo, we wouldn't know a thing.

Dr. Costas came in while Chris and Shelly were with Sue and sat and talked with them. Chris and Shelly were struck by the level of empathy he has for Sue's stress level. Shelly said she wished she had taken notes because he was so informative. He wants Sue back here in two weeks for a follow-up exam to see if the immuno-globulin has helped her neuropathy. Of course, we'll do what Costas says.

Aaron has arrived at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center to be with Den until the two of them go to St. Louis. He told me he found Den much better than when he left him a week ago last Sunday. Aaron will talk with Den's doctor this morning then call to give us the latest news from there.

Chris and Shelly brought dinner from their favorite Chicago restaurant to Sue's room. We had a real feast, and Sue ate better than she has for days. Having her baby son (her description) and his caring wife around is pure medicine. Besides food, they brought puzzles, movies, magazines, and flowers for Sue. I can see Sue improving by the hour. Chris thought Sue might have had some 'truth serum' because of all the things she told them.

I know a lot of people are praying for Sue and Den and anxiously awaiting news about them. The 'hits' on this Blob have increased dramatically. If you want to see the statistics, simply click over the symbol just to the right of the latest entry, and it will take you to the site meter.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130 Just a quick add-on: I talked with Sue. She had a fairly good night in spite of all the "beeps, buzzers, the air mattress that keeps humming as it adjust to her movements" Yesterday she said the Intensive Care Unit should be renamed the "Detensive Care Unit" because of the lack of attention. [In fact, while Sue was so ill on Tuesday and Wednesday, the nurses hovered. When she was so improved, they were hovering where more needed.] Just now she told me she had transfered from 'a critical care unit to a piss-poor care unit.' You can see she is healing. Shelly was there with goodies from Starbucks. Chris and I will go up later, and we'll spread out our visits today so Sue isn't so alone.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130

It’s Rose, reporting from Sue’s hospital room. Sue is much, much better today. She had some problems overnight–nightmares, confusion, and upset. We had a woman, Irena, sit with her overnight just in case she needed something and a nurse was not available. When I came in this morning, Sue thought Irena was a hospital employee and was irate about her behavior. She told me, "That woman did nothing all night; she just sat reading. You should mark the page so you can see she does nothing but read!" We explained that Irena was NOT a hospital employee and that her job WAS to read all night. That satisfied Sue, and she has been better ever since.

One neurologist, a lovely young woman, came in to examine Sue a while ago.. She noted how much better Sue is–something quite obvious to Sue and me. She told us that every single test Sue has had has come up negative, that Sue’s illness is extremely puzzling. She didn’t feel qualified to speculate since so many fine, fine neurologists have said they don’t know. However, she was going off to do research and would talk over any findings with Dr. O’Brien, Sue’s chief neurologist.

Stephanie called early this morning to check on Sue. In our conversation Stef mentioned Mad Cow Disease as a possible cause for all Sue’s symptoms. We asked the neurologist about it while she was here. She said Sue’s symptoms were atypical for Mad Cow Disease, but it might be an intriguing idea. She will take up the topic with Dr. O’Brien and suggested we do also.

Father Bill came in for a nice visit. He is a lovely, caring man. Four weeks ago when Sue was a patient here, Sue, Shirley, Loretta, and I went to his Sunday Mass. He gave a homily about his prayerful, pious grandmother. Afterwards, we chatted with him, and Sue asked about his other grandmother. Father Bill told us she was the very opposite type–fun-loving and full of live. Sue told him, "Next time I’m here, I want to hear a homily about her." That interaction caused Father Bill to remember us, so yesterday he told us about that grandmother.

Interesting how many people do remember Sue from four weeks ago–the EEG technician, the people in MRI, and, of course, O’Brien and a couple of resident docs.

Last night around 6:00 pm Drs O’Brien and Costas came in to examine Sue and confer. They have decided to treat her with a five-day intravenous infusion of immuno-globulin. That will begin today and means she will be here for five more days. The earliest she will be released, it appears, is Monday.

Kim called this morning to give us a report on Den. He is improving, and all plans are go for moving him to St. Mary’s Rehab in Clayton on Saturday. There is much to take care off–getting him an internist, a gastroenterologist, a neurologist, and, of course, all the travel arrangements for the move.

This is Sue’s dictation for the Blog:

"I talked with Kim this morning. She told me people at the hospital told her Den can be released to fly back if he is able to make the journey with only one other person. Aaron will be the one person. Kim will be waiting for Aaron and Den at the St. Louis aiport on Saturday to take Den to the SSM Physical Rehab facility.. I won’t get to St. Louis now until Monday. Den will need a couple days of rest after this ordeal, so check with Kim to see if he is up to having visitors. Kim’s number is (636) 207-9404.

I feel ‘goosy’ and helpless today. Rose tells me the ‘goosy’ is a huge hangover from lots of meds. The helpless is about not being able to do what Den needs and not being able to do a lot even for myself.

Chris and Shelly are here, and Scott is standing by. We are still planning a big Thanksgiving Gathering. We just don’t know where. Sabrina, that angel, has invited us to her house. She and Margaret have decided simply to buy the biggest turkey they can find since they don’t know whether they will host 20 or more than 30!"

We’ll update again after we see the Big Medicine Men.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It’s Rose again with an update. Sue is still in the intensive care unit here at St. Francis. She has had a pretty good day today–much better than yesterday. This morning she started getting solid food. The physician ordered some kind of test that meant her urine had to be collected over a period of 24 hours. That collection ended at 2:00 pm today. Shortly after that, she got rid of the catheter that had been plaguing her. She also had an MRI today. We have yet to hear the results of that. Sue had a tranquilizer for the MRI, and it has yet to wear off. She has slept the good part of today.

So far, all of the tests have revealed nothing. The neurologist, Dr. O’Brien, was in and said so many intelligent things that we didn’t understand a word. We expect Sue will be moved to a regular room soon and released in a few days. However, Dr. Costas, our answer/medicine man, hasn’t come in yet. We’ll know more after we talk with him. He’s good at explaining things other physicians can’t.

Shirley went to St. Louis today to greet her friends, Dena, Tim, Jamil, and Layla, when they arrive tomorrow. She will keep the children while Dena and Tim go to Jefferson City then Iowa City for music gigs.

Chris and Shelly are driving here. We expect them any time now. Sue and I have talked to lots of people today–Stephanie, Sabrina, Scott, Shirley, Kim, Aaron. Also today, Sue and Den were able to talk by phone. Den’s plan is to transfer to SSM Rehab in Clayton on Saturday. Kim and Aaron are traveling to New Hampshire to help him with the transfer.

I can definitely say now that there is no earthly force that can cancel out Sue’s sense of humor. At one point today, I said to her, "Look at you, your ass is hanging out. For Shame!" Quick as a wink and with that dry way of hers, she responded, "The shame is noone is looking."
This is Sue’s message for the day:

"Keep those cards and letters coming. I’m going to be moved from critical to less-critical care. If things go well, I’ll go to an ordinary floor. One of the side effects of some medication is that I’ve been having nightmares today, well, maybe ‘daymares.’ Sometimes I’m awake; sometimes asleep.

I have had my Nancy Hafla rosary with me through all this. Today Father Bill came in to visit. I had him bless the rosary, something I’ve wanted since I got it. Father Bill also anointed me, gave me communion and did some praying with Rose and me."

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Hello, it's Rose from Chicago with not good news. This morning about 3:00 am Sue became ill, had a seizure, and we couldn't communicate with her afterwards. Shirley and I called Dr. Costas immediately who had us get her to St. Francis by ambulance. Before we arrived at the hospital, Sue had three more seizures. Long story short, she has been admitted, once again, to St. Francis and is in the intensive care unit there. Today she has been heavily sedated to reduce the risk of any more seizures, and she has had a myriad of tests. No conclusions yet. I left her about 7:00 pm to come here to the apartment to do a few things then will return to St. Francis. Shirley is with her right now.

Sue began to 'come out of it' around 2:00 pm but is still very sleepy and groggy. Dr. Costas and Dr. O'Brien, the neurologist, say her state is mainly the result of the medications.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast, Den continues to improve. He had his best day yet today. Kim and Aaron have taken over all the thinking and doing that is required to get him into a St. Louis Rehab facility. It is looking like Den will be able to travel to St. Louis on Saturday. Both Kim and Aaron say there are many details to be worked out, but that is the plan right now.

I talked with Den and told him about Sue. And, of course, I reported back to Sue about Den. Tomorrow we will try to work out a way for them to talk directly. Neither hospital will allow cell phones, and today Sue was just too sick to do much communicating.

Chris and Shelly will drive here tomorrow, and Scott will come later on in the week if we need him.

Folks, no fiction writer could have written this script. Sabrina suggested we should rename this blog "General Hospital" or "As the World Turns." And that was before Sue entered this last bout of hospitalization. I know your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to both Sue and Den.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Kim left for St. Louis today after seeing Den this morning. Den was on his way to have his ultrasound. Later in the day his physician called me here in Chicago to tell me the ultrasound showed that his shunt is working fine. The swelling, his back-up of fluids, is part of the symptoms of his condition. The treatment is difficult because there is a need to keep Den's blood pressure up to insure adequate flow of blood to the brain while medication for the swelling tends to lower the blood pressure. It's a delicate balance to maintain.

Rose and I met with Den's colleague, Ron, today in Chicago. Ron is going to have one of the company executives in England, where Den's company is headquartered, call me on Wednesday morning to review company policy and answer any questions I have about benefits as well as give him a detailed report on Den's condition and prognosis. Of course, noone really can see far into the future. The crystal ball is extremely dark right now.

Rose and I will return to New Hampshire tomorrow. Shirley will go to St. Louis where Chris will call for her at the airport. We all agree that a 'cab' ride with Chris is like a shot of medicine. And the young man is extremely responsive to the needs of us three old ladies. Chris will fly to New Hampshire on Thursday to be with me since Rose has to return to St. Louis. We don't yet know when Den will be able to transfer to a St. Louis facility for physical rehabilitation. Perhaps tomorrow we'll learn more about that schedule.

Today Den was moved from the neurological critical care unit to a more 'normal' hospital setting. His room number now is 151.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


We came to Chicago early yesterday morning on a nonstop SWA flight from Manchester, NH. We peeked in at Den before we left. He has yet to have the ultrasound to determine how well the shunt is working. He is to have that this morning. He has been moved out of the critical care facility into a different room, probably because someone sicker needed that space.

Kim is with him and will return home today. I'll be in touch with her and with the nurses' station and with Den off and on. Rose and I fly back to Manchester tomorrow afternoon. The report this morning is that Den is still pretty swollen. We'll know more later in the day. I surely hope we can move Den to St. Louis later this week.

I am having lunch with Den's Chicago colleage today to discuss his job, benefits, etc. Yesterday Rose and I went over to Schaumberg where Den's apartment is and picked up some things. We were only lost three times during that trip. Traveling from Rose and Shirley's apartment over to Schaumberg is sort of like going from St. Louis to Columbia time wise, although the distance isn't that great. TRAFFIC! Right now the plan is to rally some volunteers to empty Den's apartment over Thanksgiving weekend.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Hi, it's Rose with an update, Saturday at 6:00 pm. Kim and Sue are with Den. He is doing o.k. He has some swelling which his primary care physician, Dr. Merrens, says is pretty normal given his health problems. He has had to have two blood transfusions today, and they should help his overall condition. He was scheduled for an ultrasound to assess the condition of his blood flow through the liver shunt, and we haven't heard yet the results.

Dr. Merrens thinks Den will be able to travel some time next week. When he can fly, Sue (calling on help from her various sons) will arrange for his trip to St. Louis to an inpatient physical rehab center, SSM in Clayton she hopes. Den is in for a period of intensive physical therapy and a long-term balancing of his blood problems and his liver problems. Dr. Merrens explained a lot of this to Kim, Sue, Mike, and me today. Merrens has been really great for communicating and explaining all that is going on. Den will get a primary care physician in St. Louis who will find a gastroenterologist specialist to oversee his ongoing treatment. Mike is familiar with many specialists in the St. Louis area and will review the Blue Cross & Blue Shield provider list to help Sue select one.

Merrens told us the noninvasive treatment Den had yesterday was at one time done with major surgery, a surgery that Den could not have survived because of the stroke he suffered. He still has trouble finding the words he wants, and he has limited use of his left arm and hand. With help from physical therapy, he has tried walking but has trouble right now with strength and balance.

Kim and Mike arrived last night around 9:30 pm and came in again early this morning to be here to talk with Dr. Merrens. Mike has to leave tomorrow, and Kim will stay until Monday. Sue and I travel to Chicago early in the morning and will return here on Tuesday.

It is cold, cold, cold here. There is snow to the south. This is beautiful country, and this hospital is in a particularly beautiful setting--a woods of oak and pine set high on a hill (mountain?). Last night Sue and I went to dinner and got lost. We ended up in Vermont, we think. After wandering for a time, we went back to a restaurant we had already been to and had a good meal. You know how it is with hospitals: the only thing to look forward to is the meals.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


The procedure is over now. The surgeons went back in through the vein in his neck to enlarge the metal shunt they inserted through Den's liver on Wednesday. They also inserted coils in the varices (bulging veins in his stomach which were the source of the bleeding last week) in his stomach to cut off the flow of blood and force it through the shunt instead.

Rose and I saw him immediately after the procedure in the recovery area. He was groggy but very relieved that the whole thing was over. Den will have an ultrasound tomorrow in order to check the blood flow and establish a baseline level for future reference. He will have to have regular ultrasounds for some time just to make sure the shunt is open and doing its job. One surgeon who came into the recovery area to remove the catheter in his neck spent some time explaining everything. One thing he told us is that diet will be very important for Den so that he doesn't put undue stress on his damaged liver.

Kim and Mike called from Midway. They are enroute and will arrive here at the hospital some late tonight.

Rose and I once again have the dorm room. The Social Worker has assured us we won't get an eviction notice. It is surely convenient to be staying just two floors below Den's hospital room. Much less fuss and bother about coming in and out, and it's very cold outside. There is a promise of snow tonight.

Now we are headed back up to Den's room. Later we'll go out to dinner then await Kim and Mike's arrival.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


I have been sitting with Den since 7:30 am, waiting for him to go for this procedure. Just now we were told he won't have the procedure until this afternoon. Meanwhile, he can have nothing by mouth and he is very thirsty and cranky. He is anxious about the procedure and wants it over with. He had a rough night. An occupational therpaist, speech therapist, and physical therapist are in the process of evaluating him to assess the level of rehabilitation and care he will need once released from this hospital.

Rose and I have ducked out to update the Blog, make some phone calls, and have a breakfast/lunch. Kim and Mike will arrive this evening.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Den has had a bit of a setback. The procedure he underwent yesterday to improve the flow of blood to his stomach and liver has to be redone. It seems the piece the surgeon inserted has itself developed some kind of blockage.

Dr. Merrens came in to explain all this to Rose and me. He stressed the seriousness of Den's condition but said he could expect to live a long time once he gets beyond this crisis. He said many people would have died under similar circumstances, so Den is lucky in some ways. Merrens doesn't believe Den will be ready to move until some time next week, and then he may be able to travel to St. Louis. The social worker here is checking into physical rehab places in St. Louis and coordinating all treatment with the insurance company. We are leaning toward St Mary's where I go for therapy because we know what an excellent facility it is.

Another social worker came in to tell us about local lodging but said we could continue staying in the hospital dorm unless a backlog of people needing that space develops. She made a reservation for me at a local hostel, beginning next Wednesday, with handicap access. The people here at Dartmouth-Hitchcock are very thoughtful and thorough.

Rose and I drove to Manchester today, a distance of about 85 miles, to gather Den's things from the hospital and from the Holiday Inn. Sue will update Den's daughter by phone, and she will talk to Aaron. We'll return some other calls then go out to get some dinner. Kim and Mike will arrive tomorrow, and Kim can stay over on Monday if need be.

Rose and I plan to fly to Chicago on Sunday and return here on Tuesday. We'll take care of things at Den's apartment, do some laundry, and Rose will work on Monday.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Rose and I are about to drive to Manchester to collect Den's things from the Holiday Inn and Eliot Hospital. We peaked in at Den this morning. He was sleepy so we only stayed a minute.

We'll report in later today.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Den came through the procedure this morning just fine. It took over four hours rather than the two the doctors said it would take. And they put him in surgery recovery rather than in the recovery room for regular angioplasty patients. All that worried us mightily, but now things look just fine.

A group of neurologists were in a while ago, nodding and clucking, speaking in unknown tongues. The head guy said Den was doing well and could be released to rehab as soon as Friday. Of course, he is speaking only about Den from the neck up. The other physicians have yet to weigh in on a release date.

Rose and I are about to go eat dinner. We left Den sitting up in a chair in his room, surrounded by two lovely nurses who were hovering over him attentively. There also is a male nurse, good-looking, who Den doesn't want to hover too closely.

Rose has discovered in her walks and hikes that this place is set in the middle of a beautiful pine forest with hiking trails and nature areas all about. It is cold, brrr, here. Right now 32 degrees F. God only knows how cold it will get tonight. Last night when we went to dinner we nearly froze off our proverbial what-nots.

All plans are subject to change and revision at this point. We'll clue you Dear Readers in when we are less clueless ourselves. Once again we are staying in the hospital dorm area. We anticipate eviction at any moment but have decided it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. I learned that from my kids.

It's been another intense day of communications. We've talked with Margaret, Catrina, Norman, Kim, Aaron, Scott, Chris, Shirley, Brian Madden, and my old friend from work, Melba Jean.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


As we write, Den is having the procedure to increase the flow of blood to his stomach and liver. He went in at 9:00 am and the procedure will take about two hours. After that he will be in recovery for a while then will return to his room. We haven't talked with any of his doctors today. He was groggy and sleepy this morning, but he may have been sedated for the trip to angio.

Rose and I managed to keep our dormitory room for one more night. It is dark as night in there, and we sleep like babies. The arrangement is several guest rooms, simple and clean, around a cluster of three bathrooms. Nearby is a small kitchen, and three small lounging rooms where family members can gather. For two days only Rose and I have gathered here. This is the location of the computer.

Many of Den's clients and colleagues have checked in through Ron Lindy, a fellow Electra Rep in Chicago. Mark Goldman sent us love and prayers and wishes by e-mail along with the same from Derrington who is in Afghanistan. Pete wrote to say they are travelling this week and expect to have some fun as they motor south through Nevada. That's even farther from Turnbo than we are.

We talked with both Lizzie and Catrina this morning. Lizzie assured us 'pneumonia doesn't hurt except for a sore throat.' Catrina says her little angel is mending and may go home tomorrow.

We are headed now to greet Den as he comes out of surgery.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


Hello, it's Rose, reporting in from Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Sue is with Den right now, and I left them to come update the blog. A group of neurologists came in this afternoon to give their assessment. They recommend Den be kept on the blood thinner and watched carefully. No surgery on the carotid artery is required now but may be later on should Den's condition worsen to such a degree that 'desperate measures are called for.' That is certainly not the case right now.

Tomorrow another group of specialists will tackle the problem that landed him in the hospital, his internal bleeding and bulging veins. The bleeding has stopped. His portal vein from the stomach to the liver is bulging. The procedure tomorrow is to place a shunt through this vein through his liver to allow the blood to flow normally.

Sue and I accompanied Den to physical therapy today. He has a very achy right knee, his good one, so he was in pain. The physical therapists showed us some exercises to help maintain mobility in his right arm and shoulder until he begins to regain the use of it.

The physicians now are saying that Den will have to spend a couple of weeks in intensive rehab once he is out of this hospital. Sue is hoping that means he can be moved to St. Louis to do the rehab. That is an open question right now and depends on the insurance coverage. Will it cover rehab in St. Louis IF Den is able to travel or will travel indicate he doesn't need rehab? These are questions that must be answered in the next several days.

In other family news, we learned this morning that Catrina's Lizzie was taken by ambulance to St. John's Hospital in St. Louis last night because she has pneumonia. Margaret tells us she is a very sick little girl. We'll post again when we get an update on Lizzie.

My luggage was lost until late this morning. My cell phone had run down, and the charger for it was in my suitcase. Now communications are restored. Whatever did we do before the days of the cell phone?

Den's daughter Kim and her husband Mike will come here this weekend. Both Scott and Chris are standing by to come if needed. All travel arrangements are pending the decisions about release from this hospital and location for rehab.

This part of the world is very beautiful. Sue and I drove about for a while just before dark. I guess the word we would use to describe it is 'quaint.' One thing for sure, it is a long, long way from Turnbo as brother Joe reminded us this day in an e-mail. The Dartmouth medical center is first rate. The staff couldn't be more responsive. It is a strange twist of fate that less than a month ago Den and I were visiting Sue in a far-from-home hospital! These twists of fate we can do without.

You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


It is Monday evening, at the hospital. We, Rose and I, just left Den for the evening. He said he was a 'whipped puppy.' We have not talked to the neurologist about the results of the angiogram, but the primary care physician told us that the carotid artery is completely blocked. He said at this time, unless Den's condition worsens, surgery is not indicated. Den's collateral arteries are taking care of supplying his brain with blood. The problem right now is the clot and the stroke that seems to have left some residual damage.

The doctors are treating him with heparin, a blood thinner, and are waiting to see the results of the intravenous injections of the heparin. They took the IV's off his hands and arms and have inserted a port in his neck that serves for the IV infusions of medicines and nutrients. He is now beginning clear liquids after almost a week of no food. They are starting him gradually, and so far so good. He is swallowing okay. His speech is halting but he is very lucid and alert--both good signs. His sense of humor is keen, but his anxiety level is high because he is aware of all that is going on and worried about it. Rightly so.

Today Den had the angiogram, he got the IV port in his neck, and this evening he had a stomach scan to check the condition of the bulging veins which was the problem that got him hospitalized. We have no results from that scan yet.

Rose got here early this evening. She was pleased to find Den as well as he is. She and Kim met at the Manchester Airport where Rose took over the rental van and then drove here. Kim should be arriving home about now. Rose and I plan to stay in the small dorm room that Kim and I have been sharing. We expect to be evicted but are taking advantage of it for now. Southwest Airlines lost Rose's luggage, but now has found it and will deliver it here to the hospital.

I am about to wear out the rosary bracelet that Nancy (Felin-Hafla) gave me. I pray the rosary constantly, and have a lot of time to do so.

We'll update again tomorrow after we confer with Den's doctors. Keep praying.