Hi, All,
Just wanted to update you on Gary's progress. I visited him this last
weekend and was pleased to see him improving, slowly. He was admitted
to a Rehab hospital in El Paso on the first floor, however, the routine
was a little too intense (3 hrs of therapy per day)for him so he was
moved to the lower level of SCCI Hospital. SSCI provides 3 to 5 hours
of therapy per week. He had a kidney infection and fought that off,
has a urinary infection we're working on, a nose tube he's pulled out
about 6 times!! and, yesterday, had a stomach tube inserted so that he
can have the nose tube pulled permanently. He's moving his toes, knee
and ankle on the right side!!!! Praise God!!! He can even twitch the
side of his face, but the left eye doesn't open by itself, yet. We
slid his vanity tray with lunch in front of him and he held the fork
and forked in a huge mouthful of potatoes and gravy, but held it in his
mouth and didn't swallow. We finally figured out that it tastes
horrible and he wasn't going to swallow it!! So he spit that out and
used a spoon and with someone holding onto the yogurt container, he ate
almost a whole carton of yogurt! He even brushed his hair by himself.
He's still weak, not talking clearly and sleeps alot, but is more aware
of what's going on around him. Hopefully, soon, they'll be able to
move him back upstairs to the intense rehab area.

Mom flew down from Kansas to Albuquerque and I drove her to El Paso.
I'd taken some digital pictures of Gary and a short movie so that she
could prepare herself. She was pleasantly surprised to see how good he
looked and how he trys to communicate. He knows what he's saying, but
we don't make it all out! I'm sure that, too, will come in time. He
is definately learning a lesson on patience.

I hung a huge plastic bumble bee at the end of his bed while he was
asleep and taped a note to it that said "Float like a butterfly, fight
like a bee!" He smiled when he woke up and noticed it! He has many
cards and letters and flowers from all his friends. He continues to
enjoy the emails. We're saving each one in a notebook for him to read
when he's able.

I know Gary appreciates all the support you continue you provide for
each other and for him. Keep on keeping on! Thanks, again!!

Gary's Sister, Janet (JD970@...)