(December 13, 2007)
Dear Family and Friends,
Good news. The pulmonologist said that John will move out of ICU tomorrow, Friday, December 14. A real milestone for us on the way to
getting home. We had a week of crisis in Nepal, a week of plateau our first week in India. Starting Sunday, we began a week of John
getting better. Even the chest x-rays show the infection subsiding. John is breathing easier, though still on oxygen for a while longer.
The doctor thinks it will be about 10 days more after that. We don’t quite know how John gets from breathing easy in bed with oxygen to
finding the air to walk and get on an airplane, but we are practicing patience and trusting the healing and treatment process. Since I
can’t read to Antonio, I read to John while he is on the Bi-Pap ventilator, which is supposed to help clear his lungs down to the
tiniest capillaries. It’s a book about climbing Mt. Everest. John is on his own climb out of the hospital to health and home.
The move out of ICU to a hospital room means that I can move out of the guest house and into the room with John as his “attendant.” I
will have a sofa bed to sleep on and they will deliver both our meals to the room. That will make life easier.
The hospital continues to be very helpful, including arranging a visa extension, faxing insurance forms, and arranging a complimentary ride home to the guest house each night.
Thanks to all of you for your emails, prayers, and love. The e-library is my escape and way of being connected. Sundays I print the
emails for John to read. Each communication is savored and gives us strength and reminds that we are held in a great circle of love.
Sandy Sorensen said the prayer troops were out in force. Keep praying that we make it home for Christmas.
Love,
Barbara and John
