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, this is Rose with a quick update. I want to share an exchange I heard between Sue and Chris. Most of you probably know Sue doesn't care much for dogs and that Chris and Shelly love dogs and have two of them. Sue, Den, and I were going somewhere the other day. Sue was in the backseat where she thought she found a dog hair. In mock anger, she said she thought she would just call Chris, and she did. This was their exchange:

Sue: Chris, this is your mama. I think I found a dog hair in the back seat of my car.

Chris: So, why are you calling me, Mama?

Sue: You're the only one who uses my car who has dogs.

Chris: Can't be my dogs' hair. They ride in the front seat.

This is exactly the kind of thing Sue would say!

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Things are quiet here these days. There is a routine in place for seeing that Den gets to his therapy appointments, usually three days per week for six hours each day, and to his various physician appointments. This morning Sue and Aaron have taken Den to see a nephrologist and a psychiatrist--all a part of the evaluation for a possible liver transplant. If the surgeon who will do the transplant is available, they will meet with him today also.

Kim has been sick with the flu so Aaron has filled in with driving for her. Chris and I pick up and help out where Kim and Aaron can't. Some of Den's siblings are pitching in with visits, goodies that Den likes, movies, and the like. Lori, Den's sister, will help with the transportation when she can.

Serious illness alone is enough to contend with. Tack on all the expense, the logistics, the worry, and the responsibility--the stress is something to behold. Den still gets confused, particularly about time, the days of the week, the appointments, etc., so everything about his care falls to Sue and his kids to manage. Of course, Sue is not well herself so this mess is awfully hard on her. Shirley, Chris, and I try to help as we can, but the lion's share of the problems and responsiblities fall squarely on Sue.

One happy note in the midst of everything is that Sue is walking better than she has in a year. She seldom uses a wheelchair and can pretty much go in and out of the extended care facility unaided unless she has a lot of stuff to carry. For this happy note, we are extremely grateful!

Please keep Sue and Den in your prayers.