Yesterday we visited Dr. Lee in Murfreesboro to set up radiation plans. Dr. Lee is so nice, very soft spoken and seems to care. Radiation will start Thursday and we'll go through Saturday this week, then will be Mon - Fri. for 30 treatments. It will be hard going back and forth to Murfreesboro every day, and hour there and an hour back, but it's an easy drive on the interstate which will help.

Micah has changed his work schedule and is working LONG days so he can come home from Knoxville more and help out (as well as spend time with his Dad). Phil can't express himself in words, but still uses those left hand signals to be a "passenger" seat driver. It's great to have Micah drive so he gets the "help" instead of me.

Phil continues to be more alert and more mobile since the steroids were increased. Ever the dare devil, he made a jump from the recliner to his wheel chair last night that gave Micah and me quite a scare. He made it, but we really fussed at him, he and just smiled. Some things never change.....

We're rejoicing today! After only 2 days of taking the chemo, Phil is much better. His speech has improved, (still not great, but better), he's more alert, and moving better. He used his right hand this morning to turn the right wheel of his wheel chair about an inch. Sounds like little, but it's great strides for us. I asked him if he was ready to go shopping with me and he actually agreed he was ready. Of course that will change if I actually start getting ready to go, but we may try a little trip to Lowe's later which is one place he enjoys. My song today is - (and the words are probably not all right, but I sing it the way I want to):

Ah, Lord God, Thou has made the heavens and the earth by thy great power,
Ah, Lord God, Thou has made the heavens and the earth by thy mighty power.
Nothing is too difficult for Thee!
Nothing is too difficult for Thee!
Great and Mighty God, great in battle and mighty in peace,
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing,
Nothing is too difficult for Thee!

Now, if we could just sing it all together, what a noise that would make! Thank you for loving us.

Today has been a good day. Monday the radiation doctor increased Phil's steroids, and today has shown an improvement in his mood and speech. Still can't say much, but seems to comprehend better and speaking more. We've had a peaceful "almost" normal day which is truly a gift, and we're thankful. Haven't started radiation or chemo yet, but coming up soon. I'm thankful for each good day.

We've had a good weekend, lots of family visiting which is always nice. Melissa and Ella are home from Italy, Phillip will be transferred to Washington DC in October. As they are expecting another little girl, Melissa needed to travel now, so Phillip is left in Italy making all the moving arrangements. We're sorry for him, but happy to have Melissa and Ella here. Ella is a sweetheart, just watching her play is entertainment enough for us.

Micah has been here all weekend and Saturday Phil's brothers, Roy and Stephen visited along with their wives Sherry and Jada. Two cousins, Miles and Linda, were here also, and we had a great afternoon.

Today we start radiation. We'll be traveling to Murfreesboro 5 days a week for 6-8 weeks, as well as starting the chemo pills. We were told this is not a cure, but should shrink the tumor some. I'm praying for relief of headaches and speech! Even a few days of speaking would be wonderful. Phil still says a few simple phrases, the main one is "I love you", and he's told that to all of us over and over. Pray for our strength and endurance over the next few weeks.

We're home! Phil said it well when he laid down on our bed for the first time and said, "um, um,
um, um, um! So nice to be back. And we're about settled into a routine. Phil sleeps quite a bit and spends the rest of the time in his wheelchair. I finally convinced him to sit in his recliner for a little while tonight, but he didn't stay long, he wanted back in the wheel chair. We rolled out to get the mail and sat outside for a while until he was ready to come in. Communicating is very hard as he now gets "yes" and "no" confused. I have all the time in the world though, if I don't get it the first time, I will the second!

Tomorrow Phillip's wife Melissa and Ella are coming along with Micah and Phil's two brothers Roy and Stephen and their wives. We'll have a good time being together. Phillip will be returning to the states in October! We thank God that worked out.

We're going home tomorrow! I'm very excited and hope that Phil will perk up a little at home. We can continue working on balance and strength at home, and maybe he will walk, but for now we have a cool little burgandy wheel chair with a cup holder on the side. A great place for his coffee when we sit on the porch in the mornings. And the weather has cooperated wonderfully by cooling off. Phil has pretty severe headaches at times, so please call before visiting. It will be an adventure going home after being away so long!

Today was a routine day in rehab. Phil works hard, the right side of his body still doesn't realize fully that it's connected to his brain (or something like that). We're going home Friday, we've been away long enough, and we can continue to work at home. Oh, HOME sounds so good!

We got out over the weekend and went to the barbeque supper at Goshen Church Saturday night. Got to see many friends and had a delicious meal. Phil swooned a little over the warm peach cobbler. Thank you for your prayers. We have a long way to go.

We went home for a little while yesterday!!! We were strolling the hospital, Phil
in his wheelchair, and so bored, so our friend Kathy who is the director here
suggested we take a ride or even go home for awhile. I was first afraid Phil would dig his heels in and not want to leave, but then I decided to take the risk. We picked up our favorite meals from Rafaels and went home for dinner. Phil was so pleased with the changes, he had me roll him into each room so he could look at everything. Then we went to the table for our dinner, it had been so long since we'd done that. We've been gone from home a month now. After I set out all of Phil's food, he reached out his left hand, so I put a bread stick in it. He laid it on his plate and reached out again, so I gave him another bread stick, then he put his hand out again and I put the third (and last!) bread stick there thinking he's going to eat them all! When he put his hand out again I finally realized what he wanted. I put my hand in his and we bowed our heads and he asked the blessing. He couldn't say much but God knew and I knew what a memorable moment that was.

Oh, the comments I'm receiving mean so much! Thank you. Phil can't read or comprehend the messages, but I tell him who they are from and he understands who the message is from. I've been blessed by my coworkers today and also by
friends who I've been told were installing a water heater for me. Last week some
of the National Guard guys built a ramp in the garage, then some of them came one day and helped move some furniture. I've appreciated everything including all the thoughts and prayers. Today has been a typical rehab day, Phil wants to go home so badly but I've told him he has to be able to walk first so we can get out on the front porch to drink our coffee. He understands that! He talks to Phillip and Micah each day on the telephone. If you'd like to come by, visiting
is evenings during the week, Sat. afternoon, and Sundays. The visits will probably need to be very short, 10-15 minutes at this time.

Thank you Lord for the blessings of this day. Our hope is totally in you.

We're back in Winchester!!! We were so happy to leave Nashville and St. Thomas behind. We hope to never go there again. Everyone was very nice, but! Micah stayed with Phil last night so I could go home. I woke up to a flooded garage and dripping water heater. I guess God knew I needed some hard work after all the sitting I've been doing. Got the mess cleaned up and will look into getting a water heater - tomorrow. Enough for today. Phil is working with physical therapy, he can stand with assistance, unable to walk at this time. His right arm is again very weak and he "forgets" it's there. Speech has become very
discouraging for him now, please pray with me that as the swelling in his brain decreases, speech will improve. You all know how Phil loves to talk! I think getting that back will help tremendously. We have high hopes for improvement
in Rehab. All of the therapists already love Phil from our earlier stay, so they're really determined to help him get back where he was.

Thanks for the comments! What a blessing to hear from each one of you. Cards can be sent to Inpatient Rehab, Southern TN Medical Center, 185 Hospital Road, Winchester, TN 37398 or to our home address 386 Oak Hill Drive, Estill Springs, TN 37330.

Pa was sitting up in a chair when I visited today in the ICU.This is his youngest son, Micah, who has been by his bed since Fri nite. Phillip, his oldest son, will be transferring from Italy to Washington very soon to be closer with his dad. They moved him out of ICU this afternoon and to a regular Nero room. TOMORROW he will be transferred back to STMC Rehab in Winchester !!!!! My girls have been going nuts to see him. I took a close up picture of all the new staples in his head just to show them, they've been very anxious to recount them, he has even more this time. I turned the camera around to show Phil the shot so he could see his head, He said, yep, they done that. His speech is understandable to the family (most of the time) but others are going to have a really hard time understanding. I just hope everyone goes along and maybe he will not get to frustrated. We are just so happy to have him talking to us again ! Christy

Micah and I are sitting with Phil today. He continues to improve, and is sooo anxious to get home! As I'm writing, he's eating his lunch, he does very well with his left hand and always eats everything on his plate. So eating is not a problem. He's remaining in the neuro ICU today because of some blood pressure problems during the night, but he's been told he'll move out to a room tomorrow. Talking is such a problem, we got quite a laugh a little while ago when he referred to Micah as "Miracle". He seems to get the first letter right, but the words get really strange sometimes. How we long for the day when we can go home! We'll probably be going back to Inpatient Rehab in Winchester first.

Today has gone well for Phil and Mom. Phil is still in ICU being weaned off the steroids. Maybe he'll get to go out to the floor tomorrow or Monday. PT came in to work with him today, unfortunately he's lost everything he learned to do while at STMC rehab. He is unable to walk once again. His speech is still improving, but gets twisted and he now is getting very frustrated again. But that ok, just means he's more alert of whats going on. He also is ready to go home, not sure yet what will happen as far as that goes. Mom went home today to spend the day reorganizing and cleaning the house since the workers are just about finished. She'll sleep in her own bed tonight with her kitties and Minnie !!! Phil's brother, Roy, is staying with Phil today and tonight. Mom will go back in the morning. Today was good ! ! Christy

Today is a day to rejoice! Yesterday Phil became less and less responsive and another MRI was
done which showed extensive swelling in his brain. The surgeon was very kind and actually
compassionate which scared me as much as anything else because he's usually arrogant and blunt.
He wasn't sure if Phil had had a stroke, the tumor had spread "tenicles"farther back in his brain
or if we were just seeing effects of severe swelling. He started some high dose steroids and said
we would have to wait and see. Phil couldn't talk to us, and I felt we were losing him. We joined
hands around the bed and Phil reached up his hand too, and we prayed for his recovery. Micah
spent the night by his Dad's bed, and was able to see him gradually wake up and begin moving
again and talking. He actually sat up, and fed himself breakfast! I believe we've truly witnessed
a miracle. The surgeon told Phil that we would like to have a "boring" day today so to keep the
excitement down.

Thank you Lord. Our peace is in you even when the world seems to be crashing down around us.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

Pa had to be transferred back to St. Thomas Sunday afternoon. He's got an infection inside the incision. His white count is critically high. They took him back to surgery Mon evening and opened him up, they removed the bone and found the infection had traveled past and had gotten to his brain. The surgeon cleaned out what he could and did not replace the bone due to the extent of infection. Pa is still in ICU today, having high fevers and sleeping most of the time. Mom is staying at the Inn, there in the hospital. They are going to move him out to a regular room as soon as one comes available. Mom is not only devastated, but very worn down. They both just want to go home. christy