June 1, 2008

When someone you know and care deeply for is enduring a severe trial, you feel that trial in your own life as well. When you can empathize with them because, like them, you have touched the bowels of death and returned to continue a passionate life, you feel their trial a bit more intensely. When that person is a young person, just starting their journey of life, you agonize over what they may not get to experience and the pain you know their family is enduring. And when they overcome the trial, through medical treatment, personal effort, and, most of all, God's direct divine intervention, you rejoice with and for them and their family in a way that is deeply personal. So it is as we have learned that our friend, Kevin Whitley, has been declared free of the cancer that has threatened his life for many months. To him and his family, we say "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" and to God, we say "Thanks! We knew you could and would."

Becky is continuing to recuperate from her most recent surgery. Stiffness, soreness, and being very tired are the most notable conditions she feels most of the time. Regardless of that, Becky has maintained a positive outlook and works diligently to overcome the difficulties with her hips and legs. Becky's doctor has told us that Becky's entire skeletal structure is deformed due to the accident. Now she is working to overcome the deformities. She lost a lot of muscle in her left inner thigh when the left hip was replaced in February. The softball-sized bone mass that had to be removed from her left femur encompassed a lot of muscle. Of course, that muscle had already been destroyed, but we didn't comprehend the loss or realize its impact until the bone was removed. The full impact only became clear after the second hip replacement in May. A long term heavy exercise regimen will hopefully rebuild and develop the muscle that was lost. The surgeon told us that Becky will still be recovering from the left hip surgery, done in February, long after she has fully recovered from May's right hip surgery.

Becky has a tremendous amount of work to do to recover from her injuries and surgeries. We appreciate the prayers and encouragement that many people have given. Please continue to pray that Becky will have the strength, stamina, patience, and courage to do the work she must do to see this through. Also, please pray that I, and the rest of the family, will have what we need to help Becky through the rest of this process. Most importantly, please pray that God will hold Becky in His hands and carry her to full recovery in as short of a time as possible. We rely on Him.

Thanks again to all of you!

Love to all,

Dennis & Becky Bounds