Here's the most recent e-mail from Mia:

Hello"Just a quick email to let you know that Gary passed the evaluation and was accepted into Northridge Rehab Center. He was transferred last night. Still getting settled in at Northridge but will write again with additional info, room and updates. Overall, looks like he will be busy from 8-4pm every day except Sundays. Visiting hours are from 12-8pm but as noted will be in various therapies until 4pm. More to follow in the next update.-Mia

Note from Nancy -

Please pray hard for Gary this week during this transition. Sometimes he doesn't fully understand what's taking place with all the changes and this upsets him. Pray that he'll have understanding therapists working with him who have lots of patience. Also, pray for his muscle strength as they prepare him for standing and walking.

Thanks to all of you, Nancy and Bill

Just talked with Mia a little while ago and she and Gary were sitting outside again. He talked with me some and told me that it was hot and they were sitting outside today. He was having a better day today than yesterday. Mia said he only has one tube left and that's a feeding tube in the stomach which is very short, but he keeps trying to get it out! Therefore, he has to wear the mitts on his hands and that frustrates him and then he gets mad! (I can't say that I blame him!) Mia is trying to get the docs to remove that last tube but they want to make sure he's tolerating solid foods well enough before they take it out. They said maybe in a few days it'll be out, too.

He sounded really good and told me he loved me when he hung up. However, earlier in the conversation, I was talking away and he got tired of listening to me and just gave the phone to Mia. lol Mia says he's reading a lot and seems to comprehend all that he reads. He's still having some problems identifying some items on the cards that the therapist gives him to look at.

Please keep praying for him to get the tube out and also for strength for him to get up from a chair when he's seated at a table. He is very weak from being in bed for over two months and it's going to take some time and patience, but we all know he can do it with the Lord's help.

Thanks to everyone!

Love, Bill and Nancy

Bill and I just returned from seeing Gary. The tracheotomy went well. They didn't do the feeding tube this morning, but will do it at a later time. The surgeon did the tracheotomy at bedside instead of in surgery. Gary was free of fever and the antibiotics are working on the infection that he has. However, he is still isolated and we have to gown down when we go in to see him. He had been given more sedation for the procedure so he slept the whole time we were there. It's sure hard to kiss him with a mask on! He is stable; good blood pressure, etc. so we may try to get a flight out tomorrow or Friday and go home. There are several things that we need to take care of and we can always come back if needed here.

I'll try to update again when Mia comes in tonight with more news.

Love and thanks to all, Nancy and Bill