April 24, 2000

Good Evening, Family,

Now that we are on the verge of coming home for a while, I have found a quieter 
more convenient place to use a computer terminal...

There is a medical library downstairs in the hospital with an access encoded door. 
Inside are two computers hooked up to the internet. It is about 8:30 PM and I am the 
only person here right now. I asked for the access code today (simply followed 
instructions posted on the library door) and was given the code when I told them that 
I was the grandparent of a patient here. I surely wish that I had discovered this sooner!

In any case, I am thankful for it now and will file this information in case of future 
need.

I did not have a chance to send any mail yesterday (Sunday) because the playroom was 
closed due to an Easter Egg hunt in the roof garden. We had a good day with Skylar; I 
told him the story of Jesus and his two friends on the road to Emmaeus from the last 
chapter of Luke. I tried to explain to Skylar how his friends didn't recognize Jesus.

"Skylar, you know what Papa looks like, don't you? If you saw me anywhere, you would 
know it was me, wouldn't you? Pretend you were walking along with your friend Dillon, 
and I joined you - but you didn't know it was me!"

When we got to the part where the two hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples 
what had happened, and then Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of them, I told Skye 
that Jesus' friends thought he was a ghost! Skylar's eyes got a little bit bigger. Then 
I explained how Jesus proved that he wasn't a ghost by letting Skylar take and feel my 
hand. "That's what Jesus did, Skylar - his friends could feel his hand and his bones 
and so they knew that he wasn't a ghost. He also ate some fish for more proof."

Skylar had a good day today; this morning I sang him a few Psalms as usual and we 
talked about Psalm 116 a little bit. I told him that he had been very sick and that 
God had saved him and helped him to get better. We talked a bit about the things that 
God made that we could see outside the window.

Later in the day, after working a while, I spotted a ladybug climbing up a window. I 
caught it and put it in an empty bottle. I took it in to Skylar's room to show him. 
He looked at it for a bit. "Who made that ladybug, Skylar?" I asked. "God" Skylar 
mouthed silently. "That's right" I replied.

There was no "care conference" today, so we don't have any definitive word about 
plans for Skylar. However, the latest word we heard was that they may take the vent 
tube out on Wednesday. Please pray that this event would be entirely successful. Pray 
for strength and endurance for Skylar's lungs and for a rapid adjustment to breathing 
on his own again. Also please pray for a rapid rehabilitation of Skylar's muscles so 
that he will be able to quickly learn to walk around.

We are hoping to leave for home tomorrow night. It has been a struggle to think about 
leaving; my greatest concern is that Skylar not loose heart at the news that we are 
leaving for a while. Please pray that he will be strong and courageous and that he 
will understand that Nana (and perhaps a bit later, Papa) will be back to see him 
as soon as possible.

Thanks for your continuing prayers and support.

In Christ,

-Dann (for Pam as well)