March 19, 2000

Dear Family,

Greetings from Stanford.

Thank you for your continuing prayers and praises.  Once more today we
are thankful that Skylar is just a little bit better.  They were able
to reduce his PEEP (a ventilator pressure setting) a little bit more
today.  They also reduced another ventilator parameter, "tidal volume"
somewhat - but later had to move it back up just a little bit.

Skylar's other grandparents were back this morning along with Christopher,
Skye's brother.  We telephoned from our hotel room this morning and got
an encouraging update, so Pam and Chris and I went out for brunch and
arrived here at the hospital around 2:00 PM.

Thank you for all the scripture references you have sent for our
encouragement.  I have been reading the surrounding contexts and also
finding other passages to sustain us.  The words of God are so
encouraging to me!  Your kind words as well!

Skylar's face looks a little better today - slightly less swollen around
the eyelids.  I only went in for a minute to say "good morning" and to
sing him Psalm 5 - then I came out to spend some time with little Christopher.

He and Uncle Chris and I took a walk in the rooftop garden.  Please pray
for little Chris - I am concerned that he understand the centrality of
the written Word of God in spite of other doctrinal influences in his life.

Skylar's urine output continues to be good, for which I thank and praise
our God!  This seems to indicate to me some improvement in his Venous Occlusive
Disease problem, and also should be helping eliminate the excess fluid in his
lungs.  His ventilator pressures still need to come down a lot before they
can think about taking him off the ventilator, so please pray fervently that
this may come to pass.

Please pray for wisdom and good judgement for me as to if and when it will be
possible for me to leave for home to go back to work - I will have missed a
week of work as of tomorrow (Monday) and am concerned about getting necessary
work done.  The people I work with have been very good about supporting my
need to be absent.  However, the thought of leaving while Skylar is still
in danger is very troubling.

Thank you again for your ongoing prayers and encouragement.

Love,

-Dann (for us all)