Date sent: 09/30/99 01:56 PM
Subject: More on Dan...

Hi! Today's news is that Dan has been up in a chair several times yesterday and today. His speech is continuing to improve and he is more awake and cognizant more of the time. He has had 2 sessions with the physical therapists. Both times they have noticed some voluntary tension on Dan's part, but he still doesn't notice it. For example, when he was moving to a chair today his left foot got stuck and he said "Ow that hurt", and his leg moved some... The therapist said that is not exactly the same as if he had done it intentionallly, but is definately a good sign.

The current plans are that he will stay here (at Brigham and Womens) until the end of this week, and then be transferred to an acute rehabilitation facility (pending insurance approval, of course) here in Boston. As far as we know today, we will still be able to come home to YS on October 9th. Our hope is to get to bring him home, and continue rehabilitation from there, but we may need to go to another rehabilitation facility in Dayton. We won't know that until we get closer.

Again we continue to be assured from all fronts ... surgeon, PTs, social worker from the rehab ... that they have seen this many times and that he will be able to recover. The swelling is still the biggest issue. Right now he is reading out loud, which is supposed to help his speech.

We enjoy getting your replies, which I have been reading to Dan, so if you have anything you want him to know, I will be able to read it to him.

Take care, and more in a couple of days.

Love, Abi and Dan