MONDAY MORNING AUGUST 29

Went down to Augusta to visit Marvin and Cathie yesterday after Church. Marvin is getting settled into his "new" surroundings and this time is in a ground floor room with lots of windows looking out over the Medical School complex. When I arrived he was up in a wheel chair and looked much better than when I last saw him. His skin color was much improved and so was his spirits. He is once again in a 4 bed ward, but it is really large and he is lucky to have the window bed. I really think it is a blessing to have room mates who he can talk to and also they can summon the nurses if his blow tube does not work for some reason. Since he is probably going to be in this bed for awhile now I am going to include his mailing address. Marvin really appreciates cards and pictures and due to the transfer he has not gotten a card in about a week. Anyway I think we can correct that, his address is Marvin S. Mardaugh, Veterans Hospital SCIU, att. 1GF-101-3 ,1 Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30904 . Marvin has improved enoughto be back on solid food and still is getting nurishment through the stomach tube. Last night I feed him his dinner and while he did eat a great deal we managed to get down some fried Pork Chop, turnip greens, fried hashbrowns, milkshake, peach yougart, peach jelly, tea( can't you tell he is in Georgia and Augusta). Anyway I told him that if he continues to eat more each day he will start gaining back the 40+ pounds he has lost. He still has a long way to go so lets keep the prayers coming for his continued recovery ( especially breathing and nausea). Marvin has also been plagued with cramps in his legs and arms, and he said, you just don't realize how bad a charlie horse can be until you can't move your leg to stop the cramp. This is caused by the loss of nerve transmission down the spine. Marvin did say that he is getting more and more return of sensation but the main one that is returning is pain. All I could think of was to tell him I would have to get him one of my sons tee shirts that say "NO PAIN NO GAIN" . Big Dog liked that. Will close for now and get this posted on the Blog along with a picture I took yesterday.