Gary seems to be improving a little every day with more strength in his legs. He can stand for a short period of time now (with assistance) which is very helpful when transferring him from a chair to bed or into a car or wheelchair. Mia rented a wheelchair van this weekend to check out the convenience of it to Gary's needs and it seemed to be working for them. She took Gary out to he harbor where his boat is located and she said he seemed to enjoy that. They also went to Venice beach and took his son, Brandon, to his apartment and then to visit a friend who lives down in Hollywood. Mia is pretty certain that she'll purchase a van soon so that she can get Gary out more.

Today is Gary and Mia's wedding anniversary so if you'd like, send them an e-mail. Send it to gselliott@aol.com. I know this is a different one for them, but at least they are together and that's what counts!

Bill and I will be leaving later this week driving to visit them. We'll be there about 2 weeks so we'll have a first hand report when we get back. We'll also try to blog while we are there. We are looking forward to seeing them and getting to spend some time with Gary.

In the meantime, please keep praying for all of them, but especially that Gary's memory will restore itself and that God will see fit to heal him completely.

Thanks to all of you,

Bill and Nancy

Gary seems to be adjusting to home life again. He has had one bout of low blood pressure which Mia recognized and checked quickly. She was able to get it back to normal in a short time and he was fine. We called to remind him and Mia about the Razorback game on Saturday, but we haven't thought to ask him if he watched it. We called today and his therapist was there working with him so we only talked to Rosie who was there to help Mia a little while.

We are planning a trip out there in October but haven't decided on a date yet. We're anxious to get to spend some time with all of them. We'll try to keep you updated every few days.

Again, thanks so much for your prayers and concerns during this time.

Love, Bill and Nancy

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'm sorry to be so long in posting, but I don't talk to Mia every day now that she's so busy. However, she did call us last night and put the phone on speaker and we got to talk with her and Gary. Gary seemed to be doing much better and his speech has improved a lot. They now have a "go-home" date (remember before we only had a goal date) which is next Thursday, 9/17/2009. How many of us never thought that day would come?? It will be four months tomorrow since he had the heart attack. That's a long time to be in hospitals!

Please be in prayer for the whole family as they make yet another transition. Preparing the home for Gary will be an undertaking, since they have a two-story house. However, they do have one bedroom downstairs for him until Mia gets a lift for the stairs. There's a nice large patio for Gary which is wheelchair accessible (with assistance) and he loves being out there. He is reading now and working some games, etc. on his laptop. Also, being at home, he can have a cell phone with him to use when he wants.

God has been good to Gary and all of us. We just praise Him for what He's done! Pray that Gary will soon realize that, too.

Much love to all and thanks for your continued prayers,

Nancy and Bill

A note from Mia today indicated that after meeting with doctors and staff, Gary may get to go home before the 17th of September. Mia said the hospital will send a team to evaluate the home for suggestions to make life easier for Gary and the family. She will know more later in the week and will let us know. Bill and I are still on standby to go and help when she gives the word. So, please pray for all of us as this miracle unfolds. We all have prayed and waited for the day that he could go home and now it's becoming a reality. Praise God for giving Gary back to us!

Much love, Nancy and Bill

Gary is still improving every day, but has setbacks from confusion and frustration. He will more than likely go home sometime in September so Mia is preparing the house for his homecoming. She seems to think that he'll improve more in the home setting than in the rehab. He doesn't seem to be able to get a good night's sleep there due to so much going on and so many lights on. He continually asks to go home now and that's a good sign that he's ready.

He will have home therapy three times a week and someone will be with him all of the time. He can do a lot for himself now (he even clipped his own fingernails yesterday!) so his coordination is improving. He hasn't mastered standing or walking yet, so keep praying for that to take place.

Bill and I are getting ready for church so we'll send more information later. Please keep up the prayers and cards. He appreciated the cards and pics of his high school reunion, Mia said and likes to look at them. Thanks so much to all of you who took part in that.

Much love and thanks to God and all of you for bringing him back to us,

Nancy and Bill

I'm sorry to be so lax in posting to the blog, but I've been rather busy lately and I do intend to do better.

Gary is still improving every day and is becoming more aware (at times) of what happened to him. When he does realize the seriousness of what happened, he becomes very emotional and sometimes gets very upset that he can't get up and go home. He asked Mia the other evening when she started to leave why he couldn't go home, too. It breaks her heart to have to be at work all day and only get to see him from 4:30 until 8:00 p.m. She does get to help him with his evening meal and he does recognize her as his wife (by correct name) now and I think that makes her feel much better.

She misses getting to know the day nurses, therapists, etc. who work with him since she's not there when they are on duty. She has gotten to know the evening personnel, though, and that helps a lot.

The recent tests that Gary had have all come back good and that's very encouraging. The docs have set a go-home goal of September 17, but that's ONLY a goal and can change as they work with him and try to get him back on his feet. They encourage the family members to let him do as much as he can on his own and not do things for him. Mia says that it's probably good that she's not there during the day because he depended on her for a lot of things when she was with him every day all during the day.

Please continue to pray for Gary that he'll cooperate with the therapists and continue to fight and try to do what they tell him to do. Pray for Mia that she'll be healed of her allergies/asthma which have taken a hold on her and won't let go. She's being treated by her allergy specialist, but she doesn't seem to be responding to the treatment.

Pray for Bill and me as we're sort of on standby until Mia gives the word that she needs us to come out again.

We thank you all for your continued prayers and love for Gary and his family,

Nancy and Bill

P.S. God is continuing to work and we thank Him so much!!!