April 20, 2000

Dear Family,

It is Thursday afternoon at the hospital. Skylar continues to do a little better 
each day, thanks be to God!

This morning when we arrived I dropped Pam off to go up to Skylar's room while I 
hunted for an almost unattainably scarce parking spot (the parking situation here 
is so horrible I would have to devote an entire letter to do it justice). God has 
often been gracious even in such small things as being able to find a place in the 
parking garage.

When I arrived at his room, I washed my hands and then Skylar and I spent some time 
together. "Can I turn off the TV and visit with you?" (He was watching "Aladdin" the 
animated movie). "Yes" his head nodded.

We took one of our "morning walks", remembering how at Nana and Papa's house each 
morning we would go out the front door to see the new day that God had made for us.

"Who made that big tree, Skylar?" I watch his mouth form the word "God". "That's 
right, God did." Then we walk down the porch in our imagination to where a big fruit 
spider sits in the center of his web. "Look at that big spider! He's waiting to catch 
a bug that flies into his net. Who made him?"

(Skylar, silently)"God".

"Good, let's walk down the driveway." In our imagination we continue down Nana and 
Papa's driveway and look at the apricot tree, the plum tree, the tangerine tree. We 
pick some fruit and put it into Papa's pocket for breakfast. Then we walk across the 
street and visit Honey, the little dog that God made. Afterwards we go back in the 
house for breakfast. Papa sings some Psalms for Skylar, Psalm 5 and Psalm 116. Then 
I sing a couple of his song choices.

Skylar's vent settings are a little bit improved today; we are still waiting for some 
definitive word as to when he might be able to get off of the ventilator.

Yesterday's high points were some fun and games with Skylar. During one game we played, 
each time Skylar would wink his left eye I would raise my right hand; when he winked his 
right eye, I would raise my left hand. After a few rounds of this, he began blinking both 
eyes at the same time; OK, no problem, I raised both hands. But then the little mischief 
began blinking both eyes at an alarming rate, forcing my hands up and down as fast as I 
could move them! He had me laughing out loud!

I got to return the favor with another game. I took down the drawing that Skylar's 
brother Chris and I had made a week or two ago and said, "Skylar, if you can touch Coco 
the dog in this drawing, I will make a very silly face for you". With great difficulty, 
Skylar slowly raised his hand toward Coco in the drawing. After much effort (and a little 
adjustment on my part) he managed to touch the drawing of Coco. "Great!" I said, and so I 
set the picture down and ducked below the level of the bed to "put on" my silly face.

When I raised my head back into Skylar's line of sight, I had my glasses on upside-down 
and my tongue stuck out and off to one side. My reward was that Skylar laughed! (silently, 
of course; but I could tell by his eyes and the shape of his mouth that he was laughing). 
What a fine reward!

I thank and praise our Lord for these precious times of real interaction with my 
grandson. Yesterday and today we "thumb-wrestled", and I was amazed at the effort and 
enthusiasm Skylar put into it. Today I tried to arm-wrestle with him, and was again 
amazed at his effort! Please continue to pray for increased strength and health for 
this dear child.

Thank you for your continued love and support.

Your brother in Christ,

Dann (for Pam as well)