HOMECOMING!!!!!!

Well, today Gary went home!! After 4 months and 4 days (127 days), he finally got to go home. I just finished talking with Mia and Gary and he was eating lunch and feeding the dogs about every other bite! She said both of the dogs have not left his side since he'd been home. Once they even got in the bed with him and he had to yell for her to get them down.

Mia said that the nurse would be out soon to do an assessment on how much care he would need at home and they'll arrange for someone to be with him. However, Mia said that Rosie will also be helping her. Mia had already transferred Gary from the chair to bed and back about four times and had made it fine.

Gary was sitting by his huge aquarium with salt water fish and enjoying it. Mia and the boys had gotten it for him for his birthday in April and he didn't get to enjoy it very long before he got sick. It'll be an enjoyment for him now for sure.

I just want all of you to know how much we appreciate all your prayers, letters, e-mails, and concern during these past four months. God has heard us and given Gary back to us. We just praise Him for that and we all know that Gary is here for a reason. Let's just pray that God will show Gary what it is and that Gary will recognize it.

Don't stop praying! Gary still has a long way to go to be back to his old self.

Much love and thanks to all of you!

Nancy and Bill

I talked with Mia today and she said that Gary is improving everyday and will be transferred to another type of rehabilitation facility next week. On Tuesday, Mia toured one in Northridge which is a little closer to their home and was very impressed with the program there. She said the area of the hospital where Gary will be is a 36 bed facility and he would have a roommate. She was hoping for another private room for him, but in this place he will be kept in therapy for a large amount of the day anyway, so the room situation won't be so important.

Mia does plan to return to her job next week and will not be with Gary during the better part of every day as she has been for the entire time that Gary has been hospitalized. She plans to try to arrange her schedule so that she can go in to work early and leave early enough to get to Gary by late afternoon and evening. Of course her boys will be home then and she's going to be trying to burn candles at both ends. Please pray for her that things will work out for this transition.

Bill and I have told her that we would be glad to come out and help again for a while if she needs us. All she has to do is say the word.

We appreciate all of you who have continued to pray for Gary and show concern for both him and Mia, as well as all of our family here in Arkansas. God has answered so many of our prayers and we thank Him so much.

With love,

Bill and Nancy