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Progress Report on Don Knies
Don
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Greetings to One and All. I am much better than I was earlier this year. Progress is slow but I try to remember the patience learned as a hitchhiker. I walk -- slowly round house and garden, only use my cane (stick to you Brits) on longer jaunts, can drive the car again (major improvement), am looked after impeccably by MoMo (who has just won the world's best wife contest for the 43rd year in a row). Been home since Feb. 8th after 2 1/2 months in 3 hospitals (the last one, in Shaftsbury, by far the best -- small, cozy, friendly, clean; even the food was edible). The operation last Nov. to repair heart valves was done by a renowned surgeon in Southampton Hospital, and evidently went well. But then I fell victim to one of the superbug infections which are the curse and disgrace of some British hospitals. All kinds of complications but luckily I don't remember much except vague, shadowy figures floating in and out, trying to decide if I was dreaming or awake, and vivid hallucinations of the Iroquois Nation on the warpath with wild scenes of scalping and burning during the French and Indian War. I was also convinced that a group of suave and elegant Italians were trying to kidnap me. I missed the whole Christmas season but was aware of and greatly enjoyed family visits -- daughter Holly twice from Belgium, daughter Tara from Egypt for a week after Christmas (they were a real help to their Mom), and brother Dick flew in from New York. Also the cards, letters, emails from friends and family were about all I was able to read for a month or so, and which cheered me immensely. To my relief a second operation was not necessary, and by the new year it was evident that I would not be joining the great jazz band in the sky. Since I had been flat on my back for so long, when I did get up I could hardly walk. Recovery continues. Plans for future: Tara and her 2 little pumpkins arrived from Cairo on June 10th and will be with us until early Aug. (Husband Sacha blackmailed by US AID and posted in Iraq from May 08 until May 09.) Mo has arranged a house down the street for them, and we went together to Cornwall for a week in a farm cottage and will go over to Belgium for 2 weeks with Holly and family. Before we go there, oldest grand daughter Amelie (aged 9) will fly to England (by herself, brave girl!) to visit us and English school friends for a week. We still hope to get back to California (possibly in Oct/Nov., more likely next spring), and there is a chance of a visit to Egypt. Inshallah. So thanks again for all your cheerful messages, and hope to see many of you when I hit the road later this year. Go Obama! Love, Don |