Update Monday night 9/19

Dale's "Performance Day" went fairly well.  He was tired from all the inactivity (!) of Sunday and thus did not perform to his best capabilities, but the therapists have all seen him work hard and know he is well able to go home.  Everyone here has asked us to please come back for visits so that they can reconnect with us and see just how much Dale has improved.

We are scheduled to leave Good Sam around noon tomorrow and head home.  Can you feel my smile zinging through the computer?  We hope to spend tomorrow morning "doing the rounds" and saying goodbye to everyone, staff and patients alike.  Then, it's out the door to breathe free air!!!  Of course, I'm exaggerating just a little, but it certainly is wonderful to know that we are leaving the hospital because Dale is well enough to go home.  Isn't God amazing?

Tonight, I got home just in time to see the finished product of a church family's imagination and love.  They bought a whole bunch of pink flamingos and had fun decorating our house and lawn with them!  I just know Dale will smile BIG when he sees them.

We won't stop updating this blog just because Dale will be leaving the hospital.  I know there are countless people who have been reading these updates and crying and praying right along with us.  We want you to be able to continue rejoicing over God's ongoing miraculous healing of our son just as we will.  Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the thoughts, prayers, love, meals, gifts, money, and more that have been so generously and consistently sent our way by so many.  You are as much a part of this miracle as those we see every day.  And, lest I seem remiss, I want to say a big, heartfelt "thank you" to each doctor, each nurse, every theraptist, every aide, and all who have been a part of Dale's recovery.  Without you, we would have been at a loss to know what to do to help Dale gain this much ground.  I believe God put you all right where we needed you so that you, too, could be part of His incredible work in our son.  God bless you all over and over.

Luke 15: 22 - 24  "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry."