Saturday 22 July 2006

We decided to start this blog so that we could keep everyone updated on Johnny and Daddy. We are overwhelmed by the kindness, love, thoughts and prayers you all have given to our family and we appreciate this so much. We will start from the beginning for those of you have not heard everything. June 6 Daddy was admitted to the hospital in Meridian, Ms with double pneumonia. His condition did not improve so he was taken to UAB in Birmingham on Father's Day. The following Thursday it was discovered that he needed exploratory surgery and they found a hole in his intestine. He now has a colostomy which can be reversed in several months. He has had quite a few setbacks which included last Tuesday when we were all called to Birmingham. By the time we arrived he was doing better and we all agreed that Johnny should keep his appointment at Mayo in Rochester on Thursday morning. He had been fitted for a leg brace for his RSD in June and he was going back to get his leg brace and have a physical. Johnny flew back to Gulfport in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday and then caught his flight to Rochester, Mn at 6am. He called us at one of the stops to check on Daddy and was informed that he was doing better. The next call we got was when the 2nd nightmare began. One of the first respoders to the crash site was given our office number by Johnny who asked that he please call and let us know what had happened. Some members of our family flew to La Crosse on Wednesday afternoon to be with him. They were able to see him in i.c.u. that evening. He sustained right rib injuries, a closed head injury, right shoulder blade fracture, and fractures to his upper neck. He has overall been doing very well. He is in stable condition. He has undergone surgery for the neck fractures and currently has a "halo" brace to help stablize his neck. He has been sedated, but when the sedation is decreased, he opens his eyes and follows commands appropriately. He has been doing very well. The doctors anticipate a full recovery but will take some time due to his multiple injuries. They hope that once he is further recovered, he will be getting closer to home hopefully within the next couple of weeks. Robert Paulk, Johnny's friend who was also on the plane seems to be improving. Please keep him and his family in your prayers too. Both of the pilots will be buried this week and our hearts and prayers go out to them. We will keep updating as we get information. Miracles are happening. Thanks be to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.