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 e-mail link is also on this page.

It has been some time since we've provided an update here. Last Wednesday Den did indeed have the biopsy, but we have no results yet. On Thursday Den saw his neurologist at the Rehabilitation Institution of St. Louis which is a cooperative enterprise between Washington University and Healthsouth. The neurologist, Dr. Corbetta, spent about an hour with us, most of which was focused on examining Den, both for his physical and his mental states. At the end of the examination we learned that Den will be a subject in a NIH financed study (NIH is the National Institute of Health). The study has its goal in finding what happens to people as they recover from strokes and other brain damage. Dr. Corbetta explained that Den will have extensive testing which will be gratis and then will be followed over a period of time in an attempt to assess just what happens in his brain as he progresses after this stroke.

Dr. Corbetta also wants Den to take part in an intensive physical rehabilitation program at the Institute. After a waiting period of about a month, Den will be taken several times a week for six-hour days of therapy. This can only be good for Den. Obviously, Dr. Corbetta still thinks Den can make additional substantial recovery from the stroke.

As for Den's other problem, tomorrow is the day-long evaluation by the liver transplant team at St. Louis University Hospital. Aaron will take Den to the hospital early in the morning. Rose and I will go there later to relieve Aaron so he can go to work. Perhaps tomorrow we will learn more about the biopsy results as well as what to expect in the future.

As for me, Dr. Dooley did indeed call as promised. He had told me last Wednesday that he needed some time to think about further immuno-globulin infusions. Well, he has thought about it. His recommendation is that I wait for at least two more months to see how much more progress I make. His ideas is that he doesn't want to 'mess with success.' I, on the other hand, believe that one treatment has been so effective, why not do more? Right now Dooley and I are on entirely different wavelengths. I don't know quite what I will do. Change neurologists? Call upon Dr. Frank once again? Or go with Dooley's recommendation? I am very happy with the progress I've made over the past few weeks. Except for my hands, I can see much improvement.

There was an interesting article in today's POST DISPATCH about researchers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison who have successfully grown nerve cells using stem cell. This is precisely the kind of research that could help people like me who have suffered damage to nerves. I remain extremely optimistic about progress for diseases like mine. Look how quickly the medical world stopped the ravages of AIDS. Another encouragement is the beauty and dedication we are seeing in people we've met through Den's and my medical problems. There is some miraculous work being done these days.

On a lighter note, I spent the weekend with my beloved son Christopher and then with the Astonishing Abbotts. We had a wonderful time. Catrina and Margaret called for me at the facility where Chris has dropped me off after he and I took Rose to the airport and had breakfast together at our hangout, the St. Louis Bread Company. Margaret cooked a meal beyond description Saturday night. Catrina and family and Sabrina and her boys joined us for dinner. Afterwards, we played Trivial Pursuit. We laid low on Sunday, and I got a ton of good rest.

On Monday, Margaret and Norm took me by the Oakland House then to the facility. Chris called for Shirley at the airport in the afternoon, then he called for me. Shirley and I had a order-in dinner which was good but not Margaret-quality. Today Chris picked Rose up at the airport, so we are all home again together.

Tomorrow it is busy, busy, busy again. We'll report more after our meetings with the St. Louis University Hospital Transplant Team.

When Brother Joe, David, Lisa, and Lydia came to pick up the Pontiac a couple of weeks ago, they stopped enroute at the cemetery in Marshfield and took pictures. Lisa sent a photo which shows the Christmas wreath that Donald and Vita had placed there this Christmas as they do every year. With any luck, we'll successfully reproduce the photo on this blog.

Pete called Saturday from Vera Cruz, Mexico. He and Janet were 750 miles into Mexico and were having a good, good trip. They had visited ruins, shopped, gone to the beach, and done general sight seeing. Pete's message was, "Weather is here, wish you were beautiful."