April 2 6:00 pm

Sorry this is late. We were able to stay a bit longer with Neil. Yea!!!! He is "chest tubeless". The chest tubes from the right lung were removed. Neil said it was fairly uncomfortable but is better. (I simply cannot imagine.) He was able to sit in the "big boy chair" for about 45 minutes. This is very, very hard as it restricts his breath. My goodness, we are so proud of Neil's effort. Wow. When he is in pain or exerting any effort his breathing is much too quick. He concentrates very hard. We were able to see him after he was back in bed. What a workout!!!!! Please pray for Neil's lungs.


Please pray for Sue, Shannon and our other friends. There is a concern that Sue may have some internal bleeding. She is down in Nuclear Med having the dye test to determine if there is a problem. Please lift a quick prayer that this has resolved itself. She so needs a good Wednesday.


Please send your love and support to Mike Andress and his family.

April 2 1:50 pm

Just visited Neil. The doctor said both chest tubes can come out. Yea!!!!! This should be done by the time we see him next. Neil wanted a sock and shoe on his left foot. He thinks this will give his foot some support. (It sure looks good.) Neil is coughing a lot and that makes his breathing quicker and his blood pressure go up some. He has not had to have any additional blood pressure in several days. We cannot wait to see him at 5:30. Please pray for Neil's lungs

Please pray for Sue, Shannon and our other friends here. It seems everyone is having a Wonderful Wednesday!!!

Thanks so very much for your love and support.

April 2 10:30 am

Just visited Neil. Oh my goodness, this is a better day. The doctor has adjusted some medication and Neil is much more comfortable. Neil apologized to the doctor and the nurses for feeling so bad yesterday. The doctor said yesterday was their fault due to medication that did not work for Neil. Neil is exercising his arms and legs. The doctor hopes to take the chest tubes out of the right lung. The x-ray has indicated that one is ready to come out and it seems the other may be ready. The nurse is waiting for the doctor to review the x-rays to determine if both tubes can be taken out. These tubes are causing much pain and Neil is very hopeful today will be the day. The doctor said that maybe tomorrow he will try the trach collar for an hour or so. Later on today, the nurses will put Neil in the chair for a hour or so. Neil wants a sock and shoe for his left foot. He thinks this will add some support. Please pray for Neil's lungs.

Today is Wednesday and the past two Wednesdays have been terrible for Sue. We are celebrating a Wonderful Wedneday. Sue is not real, real perky but is feeling so much better. She is ready to go home right now. Her daughters are sooooo proud of her.

Please pray for the full recovery of Sue, Shannon and our other friends here.

We have smiled this morning as we thought of several things which indicate you have been in the SICU waiting room too long. One is when the waitress at Chappy's fills your order before you place it. One other is when the shuttle bus driver stops to ask about Neil. Hope this makes you all smile. There are so many more nice people in the world than not nice. We are blessed with all of you.

April 1 9:00 pm

Just visited Neil. He has had a long day. His breathing was some slower off and on today. We hope and pray his "chilling" day will have great results for him tomorrow. We cannot wait to see Neil in the morning. Please pray for Neil's lungs.


Please continue to pray for the full recovery of Sue and Shannon. Shannon's parents and other family and friends are here with us. They are encouraged by her progress and love her so much. We see the same love and support from Sue's family. We all get to celebrate the baby steps our loved ones make. Honestly, this experience is life changing for most of us. We have been so blessed we have had little contact with the medical system in the past and are learning as we go. I think if you put us all together, we may be a neurosurgeon. (Yeah, right!!!)


We frequently hear from people saying they check this blog several times a day and always pray as they check on Neil's progress. Those prayers are worth more than all the money in the world. We cannot tell you how much they mean and how humbled we are that Neil, Sue, Shannon and our other friends are in your hearts and prayers everyday.

April 1 6:00 pm

Just visited Neil"pray for Neil's lungs. He is feeling better this afternoon. Yea!!!! So, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is the two chest tubes on the right lung have become very painful. The good news is that this indicates the lung is fully inflated. The bone stimulator is here and Neil's fractures have been "stimulated" for the first time. We are certainly hoping this will provide a jump start to the healing. Please pray for Neil's lungs.

Please pray for the full recovery of Sue, Shannon and our other friends here. We cannot wait to see what new tricks Sue has up her sleeve after she surprised us by being in the "big girl" chair. You know her daughter calls her "Queen". She sure looked like she was leading a Mardi Gras parade. Listen to this, Sue was in this chair for FOUR hours and the nurses made her get out. Doesn't that make you smile.

Christine Paulk is in a room and is doing well. It seems she will be discharged from here straight to home. You will remember she is getting married May 31.

Please remember Mathew Dyess. He is from Troy and was in a wreck January 5, 2008. He has been home and has had to come back for another surgery. He is in a room and is recovering. We certainly hope and pray this is his last surgery. His family is so supportive of him.

We continue to receive love and support from the Andress family and keep them in our hearts and prayers.

April 1 1:30 pm

Just visited Neil. He is still restless but is trying so hard. The nurses are discussing various medications to change. They sure know more about this than we do. Neil continues to breath too quickly. We are hoping a day of chilling will make this easier for him. DeAnn is meeting the the representative for the bone stimulator. That should be in place this afternoon. Please pray for Neil.


Please continue to pray for Sue, Shannon and our other friends here. Sue is having a better day. Yea!!! Oh my goodness, we saw Sue in the "big girl" chair. You go, girl. The doctor is very encouraging to her daughters.


I sure want to share our gratitude to all our employers and say how much we appreciate their cooperation . We have to tell Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc., Sanbuck, First Financial, Alabama State Department of Rehabilitation Services, First Financial, Troy University and the Alabama State Department of Human Resources thank you so very much

April 1 10:00 am

Just visited Neil. We saw the doctor. He said Neil would need a day of rest today. The doctor said Neil will be here through all of this week and the move to Jackson will be discussed next week. Neil is very restless. They are changing Neil's medication and this may have something to do with Neil's restlessness. Neil is breathing much too quickly. So all of that to say, today will be a day for Neil to "chill" (words from my nephew). Please pray for Neil's lungs.

Please pray for the full recovery of Sue Shelton, Shannon Jones and our other friends here.

Today is five weeks since the accident. We are so very blessed to be here with Neil. We are very aware of the many miracles to save Neil's life and the medical skill which has sustained him. To say we are grateful is such an understatement. Your prayers and love get us up in the morning and keep a smile on our face during the day. We are sending our love to each of you.

Please continue to love and support the Andress family.