I have received two updates from Wayne and Connie since my last post. I have just come home so here they are. FYI......I have edited out some stuff that was directed at me, so if they appear a little disjointed, that is why. I think you will see what great friends Wayne and Connie are to our dear friend, and what a blessing he and Karen are to them. I am leaving in Connie's description of how Pat and Karen fit into their lives, as it was through Catspaw that we came to know them. I put the updates on Catspaw at the beginning instead of the end where Connie had them, so that those of you who only want to read 'Spaw's current conditon can.

As of last night, Pat is still in ICU and we expect him to be there a while. They changed his pain meds to morphine. That should give you a good idea of where he is. He did "wake up" for a moment last night when Karen was with him and tried to tell her something which she did not understand and then he was out again. Karen went home for the night and was to be back at the hospital by 7am to see the Dr. To our knowledge they have not followed up yet on what is going on with his kidneys. They have taken the tubes out of his nose--which should make him a little more comfortable.NOTE FROM MICK: This came this afternoon.Karen just called they are putting Pat on a vent.

NOTE FROM MICK: I asked how they wanted to handle updates to all of you, email, and if we could have an address for flowers, notes, etc. The next section addresses that.Let's go with the idea that we will e-mail you and you take care of posting and fielding from the 'catters. After this weekend, it will be fine to have people send get well messages/encouragement which we will print and give to Pat and Karen. We have the free e-mail no file attachments technology at this point so folks know ahead of time that we can't receive e-mail cards. Of course snail mail to the hospital will be good, too. Here is the address of the hospital:

Mount Carmel East Hospital
6001 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43213

Patrick Patterson ~ ICU

If he has to be transferred it would be to Mt Carmel Medical Center (downtown). I will give you the address for that if necessary.

I just checked with the hospital and the do allow card and small arrangements of flowers in ICU. Very unusual for around here.

Karen's mom was able to fly up from Atlanta to help out with the boys--since we will be gone or tied up with Wayne's graduation this weekend. Emotionally, this is something like giving birth to twins where one is healthy and the other has congenital challenges. For example, I can see the LORD's hand all over the past 3 years. At most of the critical junctures in Wayne's schooling something at the top of the stress scales has occurred...but every time the LORD has given Wayne an extra measure of focus, dedication, and determination.

But for all of those "in the skin" things we have needed HE has given us Pat and Karen. They are tremendous encouragers. They see needs and attend to them--no strings attached. They have provided us childcare even though we were not in a position to monetarily compensate; a year and a half ago (after Pat's bypass surgery) he saved up his cigarette money and took us to Roscoe Village (a restored canal town near where he and Wayne (and I, too, for that matter) grew up) for the weekend --just because we were totally fried; ran me around to Dr. appointments last spring when I had a blood clot, as well as provided meals and comic relief; is our ear and our opinion-giver anytime day or night....I could go on and on but I think you already have a good sense of how loyal, caring, sensitive, trustworthy, honorable, take-action-on-your-convictions kind of character this man is. The hardest part of being his friend is that alot of folks don't get to know Pat like we do... but then he's a bit choosy about who his friends are...requiring loyalty, honesty, character, conviction, and a little creativity on the edges is even better! I've noticed there are not alot of folks who fill that bill. Editorial comment from Mick: Connie, hang around the Mudcat a bit and you will find a lot of them. What an honor it is to be counted among their friends.

The good news is: Wayne had to take a 6 hr. final exam on the computer yesterday in order to graduate--and he PASSED! half of the class did not. He said the test was not like what they were prepped for. Dr. Lim was a bit disappointed but also agreed that the test was extremely difficult and harder than the board questions which he has seen previously. Wayne will not sit for his certification exam until Oct. He has 10 weeks of internship May-July, then he is considered board eligible.

I will pass on your message to Pat and Karen and let them know that the 'catters are concerned and thinking about them.

Keep praying
~Connie