He's HOME!!

Apologies for the lack of updates. Neil was discharged from the Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in mid-February and went back to Mt. Vernon to continue his rehab. Today, he was discharged from Mt. Vernon. It's been a long, tough road but he is home for the first time in 4 months. He will be home for 3 weeks and will probably go back to Columbia for another intensive month of rehab. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers through these tough months. We ask that you continue praying for Neil and his family through his long recovery.

Yet another hospital-borne illness...

Hello there! Neil has been making very slow progress up in Columbia as he has contracted another hospital-borne infection. This one affects his digestive system and is wreaking havoc. Neil was moved to his own room while he's got this infection. All the treatments were not working, but they found a drug that seems to have helped. It looks like he may have turned a corner and is in the process of recovering. He has had his clam-shell brace removed and he doesn't have to wear the boots on his feet while he's laying in bed. The program at this hospital is like a 9-5 job in that the patient is expected to be up and dressed by 9am. Then the day is filled with physical therapy, occupational therapy and classes. It's an intensive program designed to get the patient as independent as possible in 30 days. He may have to come back from time to time for more intensive work, and they expect it to take a full year of rehab to really get the patient fully self-sufficient (dependent on the individual's physical limitations). The intestinal infection has slowed down his ability to do therapy, but hopefully he will be able to get back into full swing soon. Neil still speaks in only a hoarse whisper, but there is no damage to his vocal cords. His muscles are tightening too much when he tries to speak, but we're hopeful that through speech therapy the problem will be fixed. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Neil @ Mizzou

Neil was discharged on Tuesday, January 9, from Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon and moved to Howard A. Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia. (Please see sidebar for address, phone and room number.) Neil had his staples removed from his back from his surgery and so far no infection has occurred. Elaine is with Neil now and will be staying with him most of the time.

Off to Mizzou...

Hello everyone! Last week Neil was completely weaned off the ventilator and the trach tube was removed. He was accepted for rehab at the Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, MO (http://www.ruskrehab.com) and is moving there today (01/09/07). Provided that he is in a private room, Elaine will be moving in with him most of the time. It's a long way from home, but he will get the best care to help him become much more independent. Please keep him and Elaine in your prayers.

Happy New Year!

I'm sorry for the super late report. Most of you probably know that Neil was moved to the Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon (please see the sidebar for the address, phone number and visiting hours). He is off the feeding tube and is able to eat, but doesn't have much of an appetite. He is slowly being weaned off the ventilator, and has daily physical therapy to strengthen and tone his muscles that have largely been unused since the accident. The nurses have been able to get him into a wheelchair and wheel him around for a change of scenery. We're not sure how long he will be in Mt. Vernon, but he will most likely be moving to Columbia to the university hospital there in a few weeks. Please continue to pray for healing and strength during this tough time of rehabilitation.