Whoops! I guess I spoke too soon about my health. I started to feel much better after completing my antibiotic on Friday of last week and I still felt good through the weekend except on Monday, I began to feel sick again. I started taking the antibiotic again immediately thinking that my UTI had returned. I went to the lab and gave them blood and urine specimens to find out exactly what was going on. The results came back negative, and the doctors were scratching their heads. I have been having problems with low blood pressure since the beginning of my injury, and it has always created a problem for me with flulike symptoms,weakness, dizziness and nausea. We have tried to address my low blood pressure in the past with some temporary relief. The doctors want me to take a pill, which may remedy this problem whenever my blood pressure drops below a certain level. I am now becoming more familiar with the symptoms of a UTI, but it is difficult to detect early. Some good news is that when I was feeling ill I had spasms in my torso and core area. These are new sensations for me, although it was uncomfortable, these feelings are good news. When I concentrate deeply on contracting the muscles in my upper legs, I can feel some movement with my muscles. This is exactly the type of progress we are looking for with slow but steady improvements as the paralysis lessons from my injury site and moves downward.

This past weekend on Saturday evening, my friends and neighbors at and around the Villages of Urbana held a cocktail party and silent auction on my behalf. Lisa and I showed up at the party room pool house and it was filled to capacity with people from the villages and surrounding areas. I was friends with or had met some of the people in attendance, but the majority of these folks I had never met before. The mood was festive and everybody was having a great time The party was done extremely well, first class all the way. The organizers did an unbelievable job, and the volunteers made it a complete success. They raised funds for our family and once again we were overwhelmed and very grateful by the generosity everyone displayed. Lisa and I talked over and over again about the great sense of community and how much people care enough to come out and support us during these tough times.

I will continue to improve and demonstrate to everyone that their kindness and generosity is not forgotten as I plow through every temporary setback on my way to the ultimate goal of walking again. Please keep my family in your prayers as we will do the same for all of you wonderful people that have become part of our circle of friends and family.

COURAGE-FIGT-WIN