Dear Friends,

Some of you have had trouble seeing the blog, so I'm going to try reposting the last message from Monday (we've only updating every other day or so). I hope this does it. So here goes:

A quick line to let you know how Dad is doing. He had his ups and downs over the weekend. Mom has been there everyday, and (daughter) Christine and (son-in-law) Bill also went over for a visit. They are very impressed with the level of care Dad is receiving at Walnut Creek, and we are so thankful for such an attentive and knowledgeable staff.

Dad has been exercising his vocal muscles by whispering through the trach cap. He was also communicating by writing names on a piece of paper. They are hoping to get him weaned off the ventilator as soon as possible (especially because he sometimes tries to take it out on his own). 

This weekend he talked a lot about the people he knew in seminary at Mount Angel, Oregon, as well as asking Mom and Christine about what the various Cahill and Davis cousins were doing. He definitely has a few times when he gets confused and disoriented. And sometimes he is frustrated by his situation and wants to go home, but most of the time he understands that he needs to work hard to heal.

As my brother, Kevin, put it: Keep the Faith in Dad. He's a Cahill and a fighter!