Good Evening

It's going to be difficult to beat the news from this morning so we'll just say that Tom has continued to be alert and answer our questions today.  It's just so exciting - it's difficult for me to stay out of his room.  Fortunately the nurses in the CCU have allowed us to visit outside the normal visiting hours.  I have a feeling he thinks I have overreacted since all of the family is here but he doesn't yet know how critical his condition is.  We've only told him that he has a really, really bad infection and a hernia.  We didn't meet with the doctor directly but one of his very kind nurses took the time to provide the following information:  his kidney function is improving, his liver enzymes are still high, but decreasing.  The have taken him off of the diuretic so we'll see how the kidneys function on their own.  They are gradually lowering the dose of medicine that's pushing his blood pressure up.  All the other levels are coming down as well.  One of the things he asked for was water!  They are allowing him to have water as he can tolerate it.  On my last visit, I walked in and said "I'm back".  His response was "I'm back". 

We are eating like kings and queens here and have managed to feed others in the waiting room.  Some of my Sunday School class members greeted us this morning with a hot breakfast!  It was superb!  A couple of my girlfriends from Memphis drove all the way here to visit for a few hours and then headed home.  I am not surprised really but it's such a wonderful, and generous gift. 

This may be it for tonight unless something monumental happens that I just have to share.  God bless you all for your thoughts and prayers . . . oh, and if you can pray that we have "quiet time" in the waiting room tonight.