My wife, Bonnie, and I spent a half-hour on the phone with Barry last night. I had assumed that his computer had died when he did not reply to my last e-mail. Sandy & Caroline Paton told me he was ill during my visit with them yesterday.

I can only echo what Big Mick wrote above. Barry is stable physically, in-line for a transplant and has a nice view of the Charles River from his hotel hospital room. I used to live a few blocks away from MGH (I'm now 240 miles away) and I feel sorry that I can't stop by and chew the fat with him. Barry was in good spirits and wondering whether last night (Saturday night) would bring him a new liver... and, yes, Barry has never been a big drinker.

Barry has a portable CD player in his room. If you don't have a spare CD to send him, send batteries instead. I'm sure the player is getting one helluva workout!

Thanks, Sandy, for letting me know and for getting "Irish in America" off to him.

All the best,
Dan Milner