Better and Better

More than a few people have commented on the photo of Chico and Chester in a graveyard...What up with that?  I guess it seems inappropriate.

Chico's father, Garland Estes Martin III, died last month at home in Las Cruces, NM.  Garland served in the Merchant Marines during WWII.  His Honor Guard was held at his burial site which is Fort Bayard National Cemetary.  There he joins my mother-in-law, Eleanor Connery Martin.  Our family tradition is to oversee the burial through the last shovel full of dirt and the seeding of grass.  That takes awhile, so there is plenty of time for photo ops in that beautiful setting. 

Chico is doing well this morning.  He watched the Red Sox last night, we all slept pretty well-I think Chester is still sleeping.  (Our hotel room is a 5 minute walk away room to room.)  We were given some very clear direction about next steps, time.  It sounds like Chico will have surgery this weekend and after a minimum of 3 days would be moved to a local rehab facility.  The surgery is still contingent on how the soft tissue around the fractures is progressing at that time.  If the surgery is postponed, that means more time will likely yield a better outcome.  The surgeons would like to see him a week after surgery and we won't be leaving the area before that. 

Our spirits are high at the moment.  I think we all believe this is critical to optimal healing. Sometimes it takes a little self talk or a little odd joke to remind each other and ourselves of that but mostly we are optimistic. Chico has many odd jokes.

The care here is outstanding.  The doctors and nursing staff have all been skilled, kind and respectful. 

We remain buoyed by your support, your emails, your calls, your comments.  Visitation is a little tricky for now.  Please know that visits when we are back home, particularly when I am back at work, are probably going to be a lifeline for us.  And that period is likely to last for about two months, I'm told. 

Please never think your reaching out to interrupt the illusion that we are alone in this is unwelcome.  We love hearing from you. Good Medicine.