Hi friends! 

I just wanted to share the good news that today I was released from the hospital.  On Sunday morning the medical staff told me that since the blood cultures had not found a systemic infection that was causing my high fevers, it could mean contamination in my trifusion catheter. So, they immediately scheduled me to have the central line removed, and down to interventional radiology I went! 

Not long after, I was on the operating table and they were yanking the line out (literally--I was only under local anesthetic) and it worked! I already began to feel better by Sunday night, and on Monday I got to go outside for a walk around the grounds with René, as my temperature gradually declined into an acceptable range. By this morning, rapidly improving blood counts, a normal temperature, and my obviously better energy convinced them to let me be discharged, for which I am incredibly grateful. The co-incidence is not lost on me that the medical staff made the decision to remove the port on Sunday as one of our congregations was meeting for worship, and it was removed as our other church was worshiping. I am extremely grateful for all of your prayers! 

We are back at Tom and Nancy's place, our home away from home, and after traveling to St. Luke's nineteen days in a row, René is elated that we don't have to go in tomorrow. We do on Thursday, if all goes well and my blood counts continue to recover, we only have fiifteen more days of isolation here until we can return to our home in McCall. 

That's our good news for today! And here, for your entertainment, are pictures of Mad Max, Popeye, and Mr. Clean which René took as she shaved me, since I could no longer stand being covered in clumps of my own hair! Hope they make you smile. 

Joy in Jesus, 

Kirk