Ferrie Gene Blackmon
The doctors are waiting on MRI results to determine what treatment is appropriate. Ferrie Gene is feeling okay. Please continue to pray.
Dukes Update Written by Dr. Jimmy Dukes
Well, when I agreed to write an update, my purpose was to express thanks to all of you who have been so thoughtful, generous, and persistent in praying for us and supporting us. We will be eternally grateful to you. I certainly cannot even remember who all to thank, so please allow me to just say thanks to all of you for all you have done.
One thing we have learned about God in this experience is that he is still God and he has a lot of people out there who are being the church in their daily lives. Thanks to you for your faithfulnes
s and obedience. I certainly would not like to go through this again, but so many good things have come out of it that I must express my thanks to God for his goodness.
My family has been so supportive. I have told them that they have behaved in this exactly as I expected them to. I am thankful for that.
Retia had a great birthday yesterday. Thanks to all of you who visited and all of you who sent her greetings on Caring Bridge. I will read those to her when we get there this afternoon.
We are looking forward to attending a meeting tomorrow morning of all those who are caring for her. We will give you an update after we hear the results of that meeting.
Today has been a good day for me. I went to the orthopedist this morning and he told me both my legs, my wrist, and my elbow are healing well. The best news is he allowed me to take off the fracture boot and wear regular shoes on my left foot for the first time in almost three months. If you are not familiar with a fracture boot, let me tell you it is heavy and cumbersome. It is designed to keep the leg stable, but it has a rounded sole and is not easy to walk in. Now, since I can put full weight on both legs, I can take it off and get used to walking in regular shoes again. In addition, I was able to remove the platform from my walker. That platform is designed to allow the left elbow to carry some of the weight I have not been able to bear on my left leg. It makes walking on the walker much easier.
However, the best news for me is that I can begin to transition from the walker to a cane. (I think it will be a fast transition. In fact, I am going to get one today). All of this means that I am several steps closer to normal walking. I forgot to ask him if I could drive. I am sure he would have said OK, so if I can convince Erik and Jason, I will try that too.
We still do not have any solid information on when we will be able to return to Orlando. We hope to know more this week. I assure you we will let you know as soon as we know. In fact, you may hear us from here when that happens.
I want to say thanks again to all of you. Your response to us has been overwhelming. We will never forget it. My hope is that it will make us more aware of the needs of others and more willing to be involved in their lives as you have been in ours.
Please continue to pray for us and for Justin, Jennifer, and Caroline Taylor. Check out Jason’s blog, jasoncdukes.com, for some pictures, Mary Caroline Taylor’s Caring Bridge page address, and a video of Gracyn DenBesten singing at FBC Orlando.
Love you all.
blessings
jdukes
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