A Gerry update ...

Several people have asked us for updates on Gerry's condition. Frankly, there hasn't been a lot to say, but here's an excerpt of the latest update my sister, Gina, sent out to family and others via email:

After an evaluation on Tuesday from the hospital in Corona, it was decided that although Gerry was able to qualify for a move to Corona, his needs would better be served by Kindred Hospital in West Covina. Lori (Gerry's wife) then spent much of the day negotiating with the insurance company and the hospital to allow Gerry to be moved to Kindred's Ontario facility instead, which is closer to home. The closer he is to home, the more time family will be able to be with him, which is essential to Gerry's progress. Tuesday night, Gerry was moved to the ICU at Kindred Hospital in Ontario (address 550 N. Monterey Ave. Ontario, CA 91764). We thank God for this answer to prayer! Although this facility is about twice as far as the Riverside hospital, we are so grateful not to have to go as far as L.A., and it is where he needs to be right now. Kindred is a rehabilitation hospital with step down units and special doctors and specialists to offer the care that he needs like follow up care for his facial reconstruction surgery and dislocated shoulder, etc. They also have rehab specialists who will work with him on coma arousal therapy where they will try to stimulate his five senses. ... We've met and talked to his new doctors, nurses and therapists, and are very encouraged by their commitment and care. We heard again today that it is the norm for an injury like Gerry's to take a long time for rehabilitation, and that it rarely happens like in the movies where a person wakes up fully recovered.

We continue to see baby steps of improvement. Gerry's eyes continue to open and blink at different times. It is the times when his eyes will actually connect with one of us that are considered the very short periods of alert times that we need to grab onto and work with him with the simple commands I mentioned earlier. His facial movements have increased greatly. And, in the past couple of days, Gerry moved his feet when we scratched or tickled them with our nails!

Lori said it seems that Gerry may stay in this hospital for a couple of months or so, and then may be moved to the Corona hospital. Of course, things can change from day to day, so we continue to pray and ask your prayers also for the quality of care that Gerry is receiving at this new hospital and prayers for his care givers as well. Also prayers for guidance for all the decisions that Lori needs to face currently regarding Gerry's day to day care and in the future.

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