I received this yesterday:
_____________________________ _______________________
I just had a long conversation with Didi Foss (it's 1620 Pacific Time on 30 October). Here's the update:
Joe is still considered critical, the only "life support" gear left on him is a feeding tube.
The doctors have cleared him for "medevac" to Phoenix and, depending on who lays on a medical-type aircraft, he should be moved Monday or Tuesday. The Marines might come through, but a private company is ready to go when Joe is cleared for takeoff. (I gather it's one kind of red tape to fly a liver, as in John Ripley's case, and another to move a whole person via Marine Air.).
Joe has been reliably responding to at least one voice command, "Joe, open your eyes." I didn't ask about responses to other stimuli, but even the one is a major indicator regarding his brain function.
Didi assures me that the doctors have assured her that Joe did not have a stroke or an aneurysm, but they also don't know what brought him to this state. They have gone so far as tell Didi that, all other things being
equal, he could very well be restored to full health, but only after a lot of rehab.
Didi sounds fine. She assures me that she is eating properly and is sleeping at least six hours a night, though she does not feel rested. She is well aware of the good wishes news going around, and she okayed my sending this email to provide accurate, up-to-the minute news. She just received a hand-signed note from President Bush.
Feel free to pass this along, but please don't embellish as Didi is quite concerned that innaccuracies abound.
Eric Hammel
