FR. TONY UPDATE:

Saturday, November 24th:

Our Tony's settled in nicely in the Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU). Having thrown my back out, and being in great pain, I opted to rest as much as possible before heading to hospital. Morgantown had been in the process of a mass invasion all morning, with the 3:30pm feetsball game coming. Parking lots were filling up around town, and traffic was building. It seems even the bitter cold doesn't keep fans away. From what I'm told, this was a "big game" for WVU, but... it seems this is the case with EVERY game, if you ask a WVU fan.

I had every intention of getting to hospital as soon as I could, to avoid feetsball traffic, but Jeep #2 had other plans. I got a couple blocks from the house and had a funny feeling something wasn't right, so I stopped, walked around the car..... low and behold, back right tire was flat as a pancake. Turned the Jeep around and slowly headed back home where I tried unsuccessfully to get the Jeep up in the air. Fortunately sympathetic neighbor man was out walking his grandkids and offered to help.

He too struggled with the small jack, then decided to go home and get "the big jack". Finally got the Jeep lifted up... and wouldn't you know it... a couple of the nuts on the tire rim would not budge a bit! ARRRGGG!!! The dear man tried to come up with other options, but we were at a loss. I told him I'd brush the pine needles off our other car and take it. "You have another car"? he inquired with surprise. Grin.....

"Other car" (Toyota) didn't have current tags on it, but that didn't stop me. My concern was, would it start! I suppose I could have walked a few blocks and tried to get Jeep #1 going. Got Toyota started, (YAY!) put plate/tag from Jeep on it, and headed to hospital. Yes, I know.... illegal and all that, but the way I saw it, every cop and highway patrolman would be SO busy with feetsball traffic, they'd hardly notice the tag or no inspection sticker. very bad girl!

Because of the 3:30pm game, I had to park in the small parking garage set aside for patient visitors. Below are images of what the rest of the hospital parking lot looks like, early on a game day. Madness, I tell you!

Click on any of the images below to see larger image. If you look closely, you'll be able to see the legions of Winnebago type mobile home/campers filling the parking lots in the distance. Also, keep in mind, this is simply a view of the hospital parking lot. There are far more lots scattered within a mile that look the same.

MONDAY IS HOMECOMING DAY!!!

Arrived at Tony's room to find him resting comfortably. The chest tubes had been withdrawn a bit earlier in the day. Dr. Craig came to visit and after checking Tony over, agreed he should be released on Monday. Looks like after a very long month, and a near death experience, our Tony will finally be coming home!

Soon after hearing the good news I left hospital, managed the traffic well enough to make my way up to WalMart to purchase cleaning supplies. Spent evening on pain killers for my back, and slept well into Sunday morning. The back isn't hurting quite as badly, so it's time to do some major swabbing of the decks and disinfecting. Not my most favorite thing in the world to do, but must make house as germ free as possible.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. I think we're mightily blessed to have our Tony coming home, after such a horrid experience. PLEASE do add The Reverend Alice Thornton to your daily prayers. You may recall me mentioning another priest who attended the same clergy conference as Tony, over in the eastern part of WV.... 2-3 weeks before the pneumonia hit. Well, she too came down with pneumonia, was sent directly to the Intensive Care Unit of her local hospital. She's now at Ruby Memorial and not doing very well at all. Ruby is in contact with John Hopkins and the family has been told that there's nothing more they can do, short of a lung transplant! CAN YOU IMAGINE? This poor dear woman and her family!

If you'd like to send well wishes, which I'm sure would be greatly appreciated and might help lift her spirits... mail them to:

The Reverend Alice Thornton,
c/o Ruby Memorial Hospital,
PO Box 8059,
Morgantown, WV, 26506

Will have to look into making sure she's getting her spiritual needs met, in light of the difficulty we had with the same, regarding our Tony. Might also have to stay in touch with her and her family. Goodness knows one needs as much moral and advocate support as one can get, while in hospital.

Must get to cleaning.
Again... our thanks to you all for keeping us in your prayers. I don't know what we'd have done without you.