Shirley and I just returned from Barnes-Jewish Hospital West where all the Abbott Clan plus are gathered. The news about Norman is not good. He suffered a massive stroke this morning. There were plans in place twice to airlift him to Barnes-Jewish Hospital downtown for surgery to remove the clot in his brain. However, twice he suffered cardiac arrest. The six-hour window in which treatment of the stroke would have been possible is now closed. He is on life support, is heavily sedated, possibly unconscious from the stroke, and is in intensive care. The physicians are telling the family it will be 24 to 48 hours before they can adequately assess his condition.