Well, hopefully I'm back now. I've had a rough week of trying to get myself better. Thanks for your patience.

I had a long talk with Mia today and she said he was probably about the same, showing a few progressive changes toward maybe following a command. She said he was agitated a lot of the time that he was sitting up for 3 hours and wasn't in a chair that had a front protective tray. Therefore, he kept falling any way that he could and she was afraid that he would fall forward and hit on his head so she had the staff bring him a tray chair and he did better. Last Monday, he did sort of the same thing (became agitated) and she wondered if it might have been too much stimulation to the brain with a lot of company, etc. However, when they put him back in bed, he settled down pretty quickly.

His brother, Rick, called him today and Mia put the phone up to Gary's ear. Rick and Gary have had different political views for quite some time and so Rick chose his conversation to his (Rick's) advantage since Gary couldn't talk back! Rick's voice carries really well and he was quite dogmatic in telling Gary to get out of the bed! Mia said it was interesting to watch Gary become agitated and even moved his lips as if trying to talk to Rick. I think his other brother, Danny, will try next to see how big bro listens to him!

PT and other therapists are working with Gary daily trying to wake up that good brain of his. I think it may be sooner than we think (when they get the trach out).

Please keep up your prayers. Let's not let God down now; He's done such a good job thus far, as has Gary and Mia. Pray also for Brandon and Leah at this difficult time in their lives.

Our love to all of you, Bill and Nancy

Gary had another good day today. Mia got to talk with a few of his doctors and felt good about what they plan for Gary. They want to observe him a day or two while he is being given some physical therapy. (Today, Mia said he had THREE pretty brunettes working on him at once!) She told him he ought to wake up and enjoy that treatment. The doctors want to ensure that he has adequate oxygen to the brain before beginning to wean him off the ventilator.

He sat in the chair for a two hour period this morning and Mia even sent me a picture of him in the chair via her phone. He looks really good - maybe losing a little weight, but he could stand that. She said that he smiled at her again and is following people with his eyes. She's very encouraged with the care he's getting there.

She has his music going most of the time and she said they lucked out because his roommate likes music, too. She took the drumsticks today, but hadn't had a chance to try him with them when she called.

His white count is up a little still and they are continuing the antibiotics. He is coughing and clearing his lungs which is good.

I asked Mia today about the e-mails to him. The hospital is not set up to receive them, but told her they would look into that since it would be a positive thing for the patients as well as the families. Mia wants any of you who might like to continue sending e-mails to send them to Gary's regular e-mail which is gselliott@aol.com. She will print them out each night and take them in the next morning. She said the e-mails help her to hear other people's thoughts and she can share them with Gary.

I'll post again tomorrow when I hear from Mia.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and concerns, Nancy and Bill