I seriously don’t know where the last three days went. I don’t think I was in a Mexican prison or anything, but it seems like I’ve lost the time since we visited Gina at the hospital — Wednesday night! And what a great visit it was! In previous visits, we’ve not been fortunate to catch Billy in his better times. Gina has told us how he’d communicate, and how expressive he could be, but we’d just really not seen it ourselves. Wednesday, we got a chance to see Billy on a good day. He clearly understood what was said to him – smiled when jokes were told, frowned when he had to get a shot, puckered up for a kiss when Gina said she was going downstairs with Leah to get something to eat. Billy and I watched home improvement shows on DIY network. It was a real blessing, and I really intended to rush home and write about it; but there was choir, and then it was late, and then work, and Leah’s car had to be taken to the shop, and then picked up, and…. BOOM!!! Saturday!!!
So we called Gina this morning — I had spoken with her Thursday, and everything was going fine — they were still waiting to hear about whether Billy would be going to Fort Sanders — and for the first time since Billy went into the hospital, Gina was really down. Billy had been moved to St. Mary’s Friday evening, not Fort Sanders; and he had developed some complications. He had blood clots developing in his legs and his lungs, and had developed pneumonia. What’s more, as a result of the complications they were talking about sending him BACK to UT! Leah and I got done a few things that we needed to do this morning, and headed that way after lunch; by the time we got there, things were much better. The doctor had been in to explain that the blood clots were being treated with blood thinner, and by that time it would have had time to virtually eliminate the problem. Also, they are NOT moving him back to UT, and are planning to have the physical therapist come Monday for an evaluation. All-in-all, things are looking much better this evening than they were this morning.
The pneumonia is a real concern, though, and insurance hassles continue as well. Pray that God will heal the pneumonia give Gina the strength for this trying time. Also, it would be great if anyone can pay them a visit. Billy’s in room 470 (go to the Central Elevators, fourth floor, and turn left off the elevators, then ask someone at the desk for further directions). It’s still a good idea to call before you go, to make sure it’s a good time, if you can.
For those who may have missed it in a previous post, if you’d like to receive updates by email so you don’t have to check back here so often, please send me an email at pattyupdate@yahoo.com, and I’ll add you to the list.
Thank you all for your faithfulness in prayer.
-joe
PS — I want to thank those of you who prayed for us and our difficulty with our “young ‘un”. The situation is resolving very well at this point.
PPS — If you served our country in the armed forces; or if you waited at home for someone who did; or if you never got to know your father, uncle, grandfather or some other relative who made the ultimate sacrifice: thank you. There are some people — noisy noisy rascals, at that — who fail to recognize the value of your sacrifice, but most of us recognize it, appreciate it, and feel privileged to have an opportunity to honor it. Please accept my thanks.
