Dear Friends, Greetings from Pittsburgh where I have spent the last week with our daughter, Eva, and her family. Thank you for your emails, cards, calls, thoughts, prayers and lit candles since her 12/30 stroke--we are so grateful for all of these expressions of love and concern, and we are riding on all of them. So here's a Sunday update on Eva... Eva continues to improve each day: strength, mobility, stamina and use of left side of her body. Her leg is fully functional, just a slight balance issue. Her arm, hand and fingers still have some numbness, and function is continuing to improve. The left side of her face has a slight asymetry and some words are still slightly slurred. All in all, however, she has had an amazing recovery. Her first physical and speech therapy sessions were Friday, and she did well in both. Earlier in the week she met with the neurosurgeon who was pleased with her progress and rescheduled her surgery (endoarterectomy--unclogging 99% blocked right carotid artery) for Wednesday, January 22. Eva is able to do a number of things around the house now and sees the activity as a form of physical therapy. We went grocery shopping yesterday and today we will go to church. She just goes slower and needs more rest to help her body heal. But what a difference from two weeks ago! Next week she has a consultation with the stroke dr and has physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions. I return to St Louis Monday 1/13 for a week and then fly back to Pittsburgh Monday 1/20 before her surgery and stay for another week. Post surgery she will be in ICU a day or two and then return home for a 4-6 weeks' recovery time. We will feel better after this surgery is successfully completed. This surgery is necessary to prevent another stroke. So, we invite your continued prayers and emails, all of which I have read to her. Some have asked about cards--they may be sent to Eva at her home address: 446 Union Avenue; Pittsburgh, PA. 15205. Will keep you updated after surgery. Grace and peace,blessings and love, Elinor/Ellie/ EJ :)