May 7 6:15 pm

Good Afternoon, Neil has had a busy day. We have good news and bad news. The good news is Neil has not been nearly as nauseated today. Thank goodness!!! The bad news is there is a real problem with Neil's leg. During the surgery, the orthopedist opened the pin site thinking there was a problem with infection. In fact, Neil has compartment syndrome. This means the muscle died in his leg during the time he was in SICU and was so swollen. There is also a problem with his foot as there is nerve damage and Neil has no feeling in his foot. He does not think Neil's leg will be a functional limb and that Neil will have chronic problems with his leg. The orthopedist's recommendation is to amputate Neil's leg right below the knee. He says this stressing his concern about Neil and wanting Neil to have a normal life. After discussing this with the orthopedist and the doctor, the doctor is calling the Trauma Center at UAB and having Neil go there for a second opinion. We are hopeful this will happen within the next week. This is not a place we want to be but continue to be so thankful Neil is alive and is capable of understanding the options and making an informed decision. Please pray for Neil's lungs and his leg.

We saw Cindy Hornsby today. They were so worried about him having a serious infection. It seems he in fact had a serious virus. Yea!!!! Scott will probably be here a couple of days. Please continue to remember this sweet couple.

Please pray for the full recovery of Martha Jean Davis. She had carotid artery surgery today. She is in Dothan in the hospital.

We saw Tommie Lee today. Sue will be moved to John Knox nursing home tomorrow for a couple of weeks. She will complete her rehab and then GO HOME to John Knox Assisted Living. (She has her apartment there.)

We so appreciate your prayers, love and concern.

May 6 8:30 pm

Good Afternoon, Neil had surgery on his foot. The doctor put pins in to hold the 3rd and 4th metatarsals (toes) in place. Also, he put a metal plate in Neil's foot to hold the arch. The last thing the doctor did was to open the pin site. This site is thought to be one of the problems with the infection in the foot. It is not healing as it should. The doctor as many concerns about this. He is going to consult with others and will bring all that information to us. Neil is back from the surgery and is as comfortable as a man can be following surgery. Please pray for Neil's lungs and his leg.


Doggone it, Scott and Cindy Hornsby are back. Scott has been sick for the last several days. He is very dehydrated. Please pray for Scott's full recovery.


Penny Driggers, wife of Harry Driggers from Brantley, had four bypasses today. She is doing very well. Please pray for her full recovery.

We visited with Shanna and her family. Shanna had a good day. The physical therapists worked with her today and wore her out. Please continue to pray that Shanna will wake up.

Janice Strickland is having a good day. Her knee is not hurting quite so bad today. We continue to pray that Janice will soon be back on her feet and on the golf course.

Thanks so very much for your love and support. Please know I say that with all the genuineness I have as we could not have managed this without you. We look forward to tomorrow.

May 5 2008

Good Evening, Well, Neil is still here at Baptist South. The orthopedist came by and said everything was great and Neil was on his way to Health South. Within 10 minutes he was back saying after reviewing the x-rays one more time, he saw a break in a bone in Neil's foot. He thought this would require surgery and that Neil would stay here. He ordered a CAT Scan. Neil had that and later was told by a nurse that there was "dislocation of the 3rd and 4th metatarsal". The nurse has a call in to the doctor to determine if he is planning surgery for tomorrow. Other than this, Neil has had a very good day. Neil's spirits are good in that he does not want to go to Health South and have to return here. He wants to get there and go to work getting back his strength and regaining muscle mass. Since I started writing this, the doctor called Neil. He plans to do surgery tomorrow afternoon around 4ish. He will put pins in to hold the toes in place. The doctor did tell Neil his goal was for Neil to walk Augusta next year on this leg. We love the doctor's goal. This will make you smile. Neil can have breakfast in the morning so he has placed his order. You know he will get exactly what he has ordered. Please pray for Neil's lungs and his leg.

Stan, Shanna's dad, came by and visited with Neil and DeAnn. He said Shanna was having a good day. He indicated they were discussing options for Shanna. Please continue to pray for Shanna's full recovery.

Sue's daughters, Susan and Tommie Lee, came by after Neil did not show up at Health South. They are so sweet to us. We are going to start calling them Aunt Susan and Aunt Tommie Lee. Sue continues to make progress. Please remember her in your prayers.

Please pray for the full recovery of Bonnie Money's father. He was here today having tests.

Listen to this praise report. Bob Robertson, Dothan, got all his tests back following surgery and everything is grand. He will not have to have any further treatment. How can anyone doubt the power of prayer?

May 4 8:30pm

Hey Folks, I forgot to post these yesterday. You will see Janie and Neil before the haircut and after Janie has worked her magic with the shears. Janie, Thanks so very much!!!!! This made Neil feel much, much better.

Good evening to all, Neil has had a very good day. He is ready to go to Health South tomorrow. We starting packing up various things deciding what goes home and what goes with Neil. It is hard to believe that Tuesday marks 10 weeks since this started. The way we frame this is that this was a horrible accident no one could have ever predicted. In a blink of an eye many lives were changed forever. There have been many miracles and blessings along the way and we strongly believe we all will reap blessings from this the rest of our lives. Neil still has much work ahead of him and at a minimum one more surgery to close his abdomen and do away with the ostemy. The doctor anticipates this surgery will be several months away and will require a 5-7 day hospital stay. Prior to the surgery a skin graft will be placed over his abdomen. This should happen in about another month. Neil is up for the challenges he faces and continues to have many cheerleaders with all of you included. We all anticipate being back at work at our various offices later this week. All of us are humbled by your love and support. We can never thank each of you enough for your prayers which provided the miracles for Neil. Also, your prayers have blessed many people that have crossed our paths since being here. We cannot wait until tomorrow. Please continue to pray for Neil's lungs and his leg.

Susan visited us today and said Sue is making sound progress. Susan and Tommie Lee will be at Health South tomorrow when Neil gets there. This family has certainly been a blessing to us.

Shanna had a good day and was able to sit on the side of the bed with assistance today. You go, Shanna!!!!! My goodness, the Talleys have also blessed us in so many ways. Please continue to pray for the full recovery of Sue, Shanna, Ms. Cox and our other friends here.

Please continue to surround the Andress family with your love.

May 3 8:45 pm

Hello Folks, This has indeed been a good day at Baptist South. Neil's PICC line was removed today. Also, Janie came up and cut his hair. Neil said this is grand. He was able to sit in a chair for about two hours today. All in all, a very good day. We cannot wait until tomorrow. Please pray for Neil's lungs and his leg.

Please continue to pray for the full recovery of Sue, Shanna, Ms. Cox and our other friends here. We saw Shanna's family and she has had a good day. We sure hope and pray Nelson is doing well in Birmingham. Janice is home and has begun her recovery. Let's all cheer her on. You go, girl!!!!

Thanks to each of you for your love and support. Please continue to surround the Andress family with your love.

May 2, 8:30pm

Hello everyone, This should be Neil's last Friday night in Baptist South. The plan continues to be for him to go to Health South Monday. He has had a good day. He was up in the chair for about 4 hours. Also, he took 3-4 steps getting there. The infectious disease doctor came by and said he wanted Neil on Zyvox for 6 weeks. The orthopedist came by and will x-ray Neil's leg Sunday. The orthopedist said he continues to be concerned about the infection in Neil's leg. He did say Neil was "winning" right now. We love the fact that Neil is winninig. Please pray for Neil's lungs and leg. I did not include Neil's breathing as you all have prayed Neil breathing into great shape.

We saw Shanna (I have been spelling her name incorrectly) and her family. Her mom said the doctors think Shanna should go to a nursing home to continue waking up. The rationale is that Shanna would not reap all the benefits from Spain until she is consistently able to respond to commands. They have family who works in a nursing home here in Montgomery and will consider this as well as other options. Please continue to pray for the full recovery of Shanna.

Please pray for the full recovery of Jayme Gardner. She is from Troy and is here having some tests. Her sweet family loves her so much.

Thanks so very much for your love and support. Happy Friday to all!!!!

May 1, 8:00 pm

Hello to all, This is another Banner Day. They pulled Neil's trach this morning and he is doing excellent. He is breathing all on his own. He took off the oxygen support and has not put it back on. The wound care folks came and dressed his abdomen. They are very pleased with the way the wound looks. They will consult with the folks at Health South as the nurses there will change the dressing when Neil moves. Neil was up in the chair for 3 1/2 hours today. My goodness, Neil has come a million miles and we are so pleased. Please continue to pray for lungs, leg and his breathing on his own.

Bob Robertson's (Bob is Marjorie's husband, she works with the United Methodist Children's Home in Dothan ) surgery went well and the doctor is very optimistic that everything is good. They will receive a report later in the week. Susan and Tommie Lee (Sue's daughters) came by to visit Neil and to give him the scoop on Health South. Sue is doing very well. They told Neil how the system works and he is looking forward to going. We are so blessed to have made such dear friends. I have not seen Shannon's mom today. I will do my best to check in with her tomorrow. Please continue to pray for the full recovery of Sue, Shannon, Daisy, Bob and our other friends here.

Janice is to be released from the hospital tomorrow. Please pray for Janice's full recovery.

Thank you all for your love and support.