Home Makeover connection

First of all, Liza had a relatively good day. She stayed home from church this morning to sleep but found it difficult until just before we all got home. Everyone did take a good nap though and then the kids and my family played outside for a while. Liza did catch a good nap and is going to bed for the night right now. Her pain has been manageable today and she was able to enjoy the kids and her side of the family that visited tonight. Baby Zander, Liza's new nephew, has a lovely way of brightening her day. Her hair is growing rapidly and the incision on the back of her head is looking much better, in my opinion. The strangest thing lately is a shooting pain that comes when she walks on her heels, we postulate it sends a shock pressure up her legs and into her spine. It's not too bad though - she just walks on the balls of her feet, which she is very used to doing - demi-point. Overall I would say that Liza is encouraged and making slow (painful) progress.

Oddly enough, tonight as we gathered with the Staines family to celebrate Jacob's birthday, we turn on one of our favorite shows, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and what do we see? The family that was getting the makeover, the Carter's, was struggling through their own Arnold-Chiari malformations. I didn't watch it all, but they had three daughters and I believe two of them, if not all three, had already gone through surgeries, and had more to go. They live in Wyoming so don't have access to the superb medical facilities that we have in Houston, but their story was touching, sobering, and way too close to home. The pictures they showed of scars and hospital beds left us all a little speechless as we watched. We think it's good that more people are becoming aware of this condition, which means more doctors and more hospitals will come up to speed on properly treating it.

So, mom Pollok is back at home now, which leaves just us four. While we really hated to see her go (she was absolutely brilliant these past two weeks), we are a bit excited to at least try out normal life around here. But I have to admit we've already made some calls for pinch hitters in case we need to tap out. The help and support that our friends and church family have shown us in this time has been beyond what I ever dreamed. It is a truly beautiful thing to see it all happen (and humbling on the receiving end).

We also have some great news about the benefit concert for Liza - November 9 at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. Our new and great friend Larry Dalton, a world renown concert pianist, will be coming to perform at the concert. He is a wonderful man and we're so happy that his schedule allowed him time to join us. A dance company that Liza used to be a part of, Dance Ad Deum, is also trying to work their schedule out to be there, and things might be looking better. But whatever happens, Liza's professional company, Ballet Excelsior, will be there performing some brand-new choreography that Liza put together and created before the operation. All who attend will be amazed at the talent of my gorgeous wife and the dancers she has assembled in her company. Although I will unfortunately be out of town, Liza hopes to come and see many of you there (I will be speaking in California, a commitment I made long before this whole thing happened).

Again, many blessings and many thanks for all you have done and are doing for my lovely wife and my family (and me). We love you.