Time to reflect . . .

Walter and the family are settling into something resembling a routine. It's certainly not what we would have called a routine a couple of months ago, but much about life is now different. Visitation, even by family, is limited to between 4 and 9 on weekdays, which is understandable considering the therapy schedule that Walter is on. So, life is somewhat less frenetic for the time being. Less physical and time stress, perhaps, but with the freer time comes time to think, which, while good, has its own challenges.

One good thing about it, though, is more leisure to slow down, remember and thank. The last five or six weeks have been a whirlwind, with grace timely sufficient for each day. That grace has manifested itself in many ways—the incredible endurance of Jessica, Mom and Dad; the delicious food prepared by the "Act 3 girls" and folks in the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Choir, which allowed Lyn and Pat, Walter's sisters, time both to care for family and take shifts with Walter at the hospital; prayer meetings at Quitman First Baptist Church; prayers from countless people extending from family in Anchorage, Alaska, to a priest in California to faithful friends in Budapest, Hungary; and thoughts and concern from loving friends who, while not believing in prayer as I speak of it, have sought to encourage and minister.

The path, in retrospect, was laid out, with the right people strategically placed. For example, Bill Dodd, Jessica's brother-in-law and the president and CEO of Direcpath, Jessica's employer, doggedly pushed the health insurance company to agree to cover the medivac move from Thomasville to Emory and then the move to the Shepherd Clinic. The insurance company approved coverage of Shepherd only after Bill worked the phones through to the president of the company. Shortly after that discussion, the medical director of the insurance company called Emory and spoke with Walter's doctor. The doctor stayed on the phone for at least thirty minutes, finally convincing the medical director that Walter needed to go to Shepherd and that the insurance company should approve it. Bill was strategically placed, and determined, to see that the insurance company did the right thing. We are grateful for that, as we are for the expertise and persistence of Dr. Owen Samuels, Dr. Adam Webb and the entire Emory staff. The initial contact with Dr. Samuels was through Jeff Levy, Bill's business partner. Shortly after Walter's stroke, Bill called Jeff, who promptly called his neighbor Dr. Samuels. That introduction ultimately led to Walter's move to Emory.

To all – thank you.

As for Walter, his therapists each Friday write reports detailing his status and setting goals for the upcoming week. The reports describe where he is in various aspects of his rehab with numbers from 1 to 7. They want him at least at 3 on everything when he leaves the facility. As of this past Friday, he was a 1 on everything, reminding us that he has a ways to go. At the same time, we are encouraged by things like the increasing movement of especially his right side, which had weakened; his laughing—or at least chuckling—at things people say; and the continuing improvement in the tracking and focus of his eyes. Overall, a sense of increased relaxation and comfort.