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 update. Just today, we've had four people tell us in one way or another that it has been so long since we 'blogged' that they were getting worried.

Well, nothing to worry about. In fact, I was just thinking that when we began this Blog we called it "Sue's Journey to Health." And it has been quite a journey these past two years or so. Things are looking up. Sue saw her St. Louis Neurologist, Joe Dooley, in late October. [He is the one who sent Sue to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona a year ago in June.] This last appointment with Dooley was the most upbeat Sue has had in a long, long time. I think we can now breath a huge sigh of relief and say that, indeed, Sue IS journeying back to health. Because Sue has shown so much improvement in the past 8-10 months, Dooley now concludes that she does NOT have a motor neuron disease (MND),namely ALS, as the Mayo Clinic Docs and the Chicago neurologist thought. Her condition has improved far too much for such a dire diagnosis.

No one quite knows just what Sue has had and still suffers effects from. As she herself says, "Whatever you might call it, it is some awful thing." And with that I can certainly concur. Her hands are no better, but she is walking as well as ever and is enjoying a new-found hope and optimism. She drives quite a lot and even 'solo's' on occasion. On our recent rip to the Lake, she did all the driving just so she could know that she can do the trip on her own should a reason to do so arise.

Next Saturday, Sue is flying to Louisville for eight days with Scott and Family. She and Brayden will return on Sunday night, November 20 (by Southwest Airlines). This will be Brayden's first airline trip, which should be an interesting experience for both him and for Sue. Scott, Sherry, and Jalen will drive in for Thanksgiving, then all four will return to Louisville. Sue is looking forward to her trip to Louisville, or, as Brayden calls it, "Daddy's House." Scott, through his former mother-in-law, a nurse, has arranged for someone to come in each morning to help Sue since there are still things she can't handle on her own. One of the highlights of the visit will be going to Grandparent's day at Jalen's school with Jalen's other grandmother. Shirley and I are green with envy.

We had a great week at Sue's Lake House while Shirley's sister Loretta was here. Late October is a wonderful time to be at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we took full advantage of it. We also had Brayden for eight days in October. When he went home, we were absolutely lost for a few days. The little guy is such a love, and we enjoy him AND his brother immensely.