HI Everyone,

Phil had a pretty good day today in-spite of all the company and the terrific migraine headache he had. He was able to walk up and down the hall with the walker with the P.T. behind him most of the way. Everyone is so excited about his progress and abilities. It is the Lord and his work through your prayers, that has got him to this point. Dr. Brown the neurologist came in again today and talked with us. He said that 60% of the cerebellum of Phil's brain is dead but that gives him 40% to work with and Phil has a great brain so we figure that's all he will need. We just have to take tender care of what he has left. Dr. Brown is hopeful that he will be accepted tomorrow or early this week to the Good Sam Program He thinks that Phil is close to ready. Phil just needs to work hard when they evaluate him. They will work with him at Good Sam for 2-3 hours twice a day with very stringent therapy. He thinks Phil will be home in a month. I am so hopeful that he is right. He is the same Dr. that said he might be in intensive care for 4 weeks, hopes he will be able to walk with a walker maybe a cane just 11 days ago wasn't sure he would have coordination in his arms. Today he thinks Phil may be able to get around pretty good without a cane in time. He even thinks it's a good possibility he will be able to work a little in 6 or so months. I'm not sure he means working with the tools but could possibly be. He says most of the damage is going to show up in his right side and Phil won't be able to defend his right side very well in a basketball game (I'm sure that will break Phil's heart, he plays basket ball so much you know). But he will be there in the stands to watch Ben. Jacob and Jackson play. I am so thankful that God has given him back to me, back to all of us.
Today I made it my mission to make sure he ate well so he could get his strength up for tomorrow so I was there a pretty long day. He ate better than yesterday Sandy brought him Chili and oatmeal cookies Sam brought him a milkshake that was a great help. I stopped to get him a Jr. Whopper but they weren't open yet so I fixed up the hospital food the best I could with salt butter and pepper. We'll get him a burger or a fillet of fish tomorrow.
What a difference 2 weeks makes and the prayers of hundreds of people. Please continue to pray, asking God to use this in the lives of people who have given up on God. Pray that Phil will be able to handle the hard job before him of relearning how to walk and do daily tasks that used to be so easy for him. Pray that his memory will clear up all the way. He still talks about being in the hospital to give his brother a kidney at times when he is on pain meds he worries about him. I remind him that his brother Andy is doing well and its his brain that is wounded. Please keep him before the Lord. God doesn't waste anything we look forward to how he will use this experience.
Thank you all for the various ways you have loved us and encouraged us. I feel like there are pillows all around us holding us up so protected. Such a difference than the awful feelings of that first night it is so good to be able to sleep. Such a gift.

Love Donna & (Phil)
Josh & Laura, SAM & Meaghan
and Matthew