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 had his appointment with Dr. Bacon, the gastroenterologist, on Tuesday afternoon. Bacon is very pleased with Den's progress in recovering from the stroke. Things are in motion for Den to be on the transplant list as early as May. He will see Bacon again in early May for another check-up, have a cat scan on April 15, and he sees his nephrologist on April 29. Additionally, he is having dental work done in anticipation of the liver transplant. He continues his physical therapy at the Rehab Institute, usually three days per week. All things considered, we are encouraged.

I say my neurologist, Dr. Dooley, yesterday. He is delighted with my progress and is agreeing that I should have more immuno-globulin treatment since that treatment seems to have effected so much improvement in my condition. So, on April 13 I will go into St. Luke's Hospital for a 23 hour stay to get the first two infusions. The next morning, Thursday, I will walk across the street from the hospital to Dr. Dooley's office where his nurse will administer the third infusion. The whole deal should take a full two days and one night. Please pray that it works. It has taken Dooley a while to come around to this decision, something I have wanted since early January.

Shirley's sister, Loretta, also has neuropathy. She has a similar IGIV treatment on a monthly basis, but just recently has to be in hospital to receive it. The IGIV helps her, although the logistics of it are difficult for her.

Tomorrow Mark has his surgery. We talked with him at length about his problem on Sunday when we were gathered at the Abbotts. He will have a portion of his colon removed from his right side and should return to normal once he recovers from this surgery. I plan to be at Missouri Baptist Hospital in vigil while he is in the operating room. Please pray for Mark!

Shirley left for Chicago yesterday. Rose will go Saturday morning. Scott and children will arrive Saturday some time during the night. I plan to stay at the Abbotts, then go to the Smith's on Sunday with the children. Brayden and Jalen think the Smith household is a entertainment heaven. Jalen loves Alex and Brett, and Brayden loves Lucy, the dog. The only persons Brayden will really know well after Scott departs are Jalen me, so I expect to get a lot of shy baby time. Once Shirley and Rose return, that will end. Poor little lucky guy has about seven grandmothers.

We are cooking up a plan to go the the Lake the last weekend in April. After Den is officially on the transplant list, he will not be able to travel more than an hour's distance from the St. Louis University Hospital. This will probably the only trip trip he makes there for some months. He is eager to fish. I am eager to see the progress on various projects at the house. The roof should be on, the siding and swim dock repairs complete, and the inside finished. When I sent an e-mail to Suzanne (of Suzanne and Doug), her immediate response was they could go that weekend and help out with getting Den there. Hopefully, Chris and Shelly, Mark Goldman, Derrington, and Maddog will be able to make it, too.

Joe, Rose, and I had a discussion about 'the good old days,' that ended with a question for our Dear Readers: Where were the three stores mother had in Marshfield and when? Rose and Joe think the third location was on the square. I think it was next to the Johnny Adndrews Cafe. Please weigh in on this important topic.

As for the cow, Joe concedes that Pete did milk the cow a lot, especially while Joe was in Verona one spring picking strawberries. Rose asked Joe how it was being away from home for those three weeks or so when he was so young. Joe's response: "I didn't go back the next year." Also, Joe told us the cow manure went onto the garden and made for great strawberries. I am sure we have already heard more about this cow (as Bernie calls it, "the damned cow") than anybody wanted to hear!