Light is gaining Dear all, The cool thing about light is that it always overcomes the darkness. Always. Imagine two rooms separated by a door. One room is light, the other dark. Now open the door. The room with the light does not become darker, but rather the room filled with darkness becomes light. So. Karl's breathing tube is out. He's doing great. He's breathing super on his own and the oxygen is exchanging as it should. Also, his food tube, which had been in his nose, has now been taken out, and a new tube has been inserted directly into his stomach. That means that his face is free. I get to kiss him all over. I had had a hunch that getting these tubes out of his way would improve his disposition, would help us get a better idea of what we are working with, and I was right. His ability to engage has dramatically improved. Even the doctors think so. In fact, yesterday one doctor said that they are optimists again, based on Karl's eye contact (he can now fairly regularly move his eyes back and forth), his body movements, and his strong basal functions. The physical therapist had him on a machine which allows him to stand with support. This will give his neck strength, and improve his stomach and chest muscles, allowing him to cough better. There seems to be a growing consensus that part of Karl's refusal to communicate is simply his reaction to the trauma of it all--tubes, strange room, strange people in green hats, masks, and yellow gowns, and pain. He still cannot swallow, and so we are tempting him to do just that by giving him chocolate, gummy bears, and ice cream. I have promised him that when he is better he can have all three for breakfast whenever he likes. I promise myself that I will never regret that! My good cousin Martha Preus has been here for almost two weeks, and is going home to Berlin tomorrow. God bless her for her help--we have dubbed her "St. Martha." On Wednesday, a new saint is arriving from the Twin Cities, my cousin Kris Haugen. God protect her in her travels. Of course, my parents are still here, and without their help I would never make it. God is good. Thank you again for your continued prayers. Peace, Anna P.S. Again, we have our website up and running, and it is http://homepage.mac.com/annabill/ . Please forward it, print it in bulletins, and so forth.