Wednesday, April 14, 2004 2:30am CDT

 

Stevie’s situation and condition are little changed.  Here lucidity comes and goes with short term memory tentative at best. Hip pain and the leg brace battles continue unrelenting.

 

Stevie clearly loved having Jean, Henry (my parents), Spenser and Stacey here this weekend.  But overt excitement had to wait for Roland (boyfriend) and Sam’s visit on Sunday.

 

Tuesday a new pic line* replaced the one she pulled out last Friday. White count is normal suggesting the infection is under control but the antibiotic regimen will continue for several more weeks.  Her back hip incision is still draining causing Susan and me but not the orthopedist concern. 

 

If she is accepted, Stevie will move to the Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta.  Shepherd is by most accounts the best rehabilitation center in the southeast with programs that focus on the young (most of UAB’s rehab clients are elderly).  Her medical records have been sent to Shepherd with a Shepherd evaluator hopefully coming today or Thursday. 

 

We continue to be kept strong by your love, thoughts and prayers!

 

         --steve

 

* pic line - semi-permanent IV with internal catheter running from the arm to a ventricle of the heart, allowing long term intravenous antibiotics