June 8

Gene has made enough improvement to be moved out of the ICU and into an Intermediate Care Section of Erlanger. He is on the 6th floor and is now much more able to have visitors.

If you should wish to visit Gene, you must before you enter the room.
1. Disinfect your hands.
2. Put on a disposable gown, available at the door
3. Put on gloves.
4. Plan to only stay for 5 or 6 minutes

At this point in time, infection is the primary concern and it is easy for any of us to bring it in without being aware of it.

We have had a long but very productive day. Brothers Russ and Steve with his wife Pat, Mom, and Alan and Lynn spent the day at the hospital. We were able to have face to face meetings with Dr. Shome, the hospital critical care pulmonologist; Dr. Kern, the neurosurgeon; and Dr. Hoffman, the rehabilitation specialist. We all felt like we have a better sense of what is going on and the direction we should be moving.

Dr. Shome is very pleased with Dad's recovery from the pneumonia. It has certainly been a set back in getting rehabilitation started, but at this point things are looking much better. Dr. Kern tells us that as soon as the cardiologists and pulmonologists can give the go ahead, Dad can begin having the rehabilitation. Finally, Dr. Hoffman said that he believes that Dad's best chance for a good recovery would be to go to the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta.

Tomorrow we have an appointment with a liason for the Shepherd Center. If things go well, it may be possible for us to have Gene admitted by the end of the week. He will be able to have both the rehabilitation therapy he needs as well as the respiratory therapy to get off the ventilator. When we spoke with him about this possibility, he mouthed "discharge me tomorrow". We are very excited about the possibilities for recovery that this option holds.

Visitors today include:
Emily, Russ, Steve and Pat, Alan and Lynn, and Dr. Carver

Prayer Requests:
Please pray that Dad's respiratory strength will continue to grow, and that if this decision to move to Shepherd will give him hopes for a strong recovery that he will be admitted.

Thanks to all of you who continue to pray for him and offer your support to both Emily and Gene in so many ways. We read cards to him every day, and he is very uplifted to know that so many people are holding him in their prayers.