Thursday, January 28

Hello all,

I haven't blogged in a while because we have pretty much settled back in to our old routine--I go to work and John does what he does. It was difficult getting back into the old routine, but we have managed to get through it. John is great about helping around the house: doing laundry, having supper ready, doing the dishes, fixing coffee. I'm getting a little spoiled and, I must admit, am enjoying it quite a bit.

We are headed back to Chicago tomorrow for a final follow-up visit with Dr. Akst, the vocal cord doctor, before he transfers to John Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Akst told John he was welcome to come to Baltimore to see him. It is so amazing and miraculous that God led John to Loyola. This doctor said he is the only one who can do the vocal cord injection the way he does it. He said the doctors who are replacing him can do it, but they have to do it surgically whereas he is able to do it in his office without putting John under.

We are going to spend Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night with Bucky and Melody and then going on to
John's sisters in Streator on Sunday. We will spend Sunday night with them and leave early Monday morning for St. Louis where he has an appointment with Dr. Gable, the eye doctor. His eye is still giving him quite a bit of trouble. We are hopeful that the surgery scheduled for February 9 will be beneficial and really help. Hopefully, it will at least stop the cornea from getting any worse. John has done research on this procedure and, I believe, feels it is the best thing for him at this time. The procedure will at the very least, treat the eye and not just the symptom. His eye is still partially sewn shut and I know he will be so glad to have it opened again, although we're not sure when that will happen.

For all of you that continue to check, thanks. I haven't been very faithful about blooging, but will let you know as new developments come up. I will try and let you know about tomorrow's doctor's appointment and Monday's as well. Thanks, again, for all of your support.

Love,

John and Cath