Thursday Evening, June 14th

What a loooooong day but what a great one. Allie cleared a huge hurdle on her road to recovery today.

It's 10:09 pm and I just left her in the 4th floor Neurotrauma ICA where she was previously. The day started with me arriving at the hospital around 11:50 am. I shut the practice early as she was shceduled to be brought to surgery around noon. When I enetered the room Allie greeted me with a big smile and turned to everyone and said clear as as bell - "It's my father", my heart jumped, she really did know me and she spoke. It was clear and intelligible and she didn't stop talking for the next hour and a half. Most of it was just chatter (not really making sense) but other parts of it were clear and rational and funny and just amazing. FULL RECOVERY - NEVER A DOUBT.

Dr. Gardner came in and told us there would be a delay in getting her into the operating room and said it would probably be aroung 4:00. Well that got the old nerves jittering. Faith, everything for a reason. They came and got Allie aroung 1:00pm and we all went to the pre-op area where we waited for about 2 hours - and they finally took her to the OR at 3:00. They said they would call in about 30 minutes, once Allie was put to sleep and the operation had begun. When we got no call after 50 minutes, I had the nurse call down and ask what was going on - getting a little nervous. They said she was under and the doctor was scrubbing up. The operation began around 4:15 and we were under the assuumption that it would only take 1 hour if all went well. 3 hours and many frazzled nerves later, Allie was in th recovery room. The doctor encountered just a little trouble with the original gortex layer he had to remove from her brain as it stuck in certain areas but in the end all was well. We went to the recovery area and Allie was awake and waved to us but she was very confused and under the effects of the anestesia. She really didn't wave to us, she was just kind of waving at everyone and she was crying a bit. We assured her that everything was over and that she was going to be fine and that appeased her for a moment but she continues to cry on and off. She will be just fine, No Doubt.

When Allie was in the preop area we called Matt on the cell phone and Allie actually spoke to him coherently and clearly. Matt said he would be here tomorrow and Allie said, Matt you should come now. Giys, this is huge progress and is definitely due to God hearing all of your prayers.

People as how I can stay so strong and positive during this time, continuing to work, minister, be here and start Full Recovery.net, its simple - huge and never waivering faith. Nancy and I sope earlier about this today and what has made this easy is turning it all over to God with all of your heart, fully knowing and believing that he has a plan and accepting it with every fibre of your being and then surrendering. One the first day we were here we gave Allie permission to go home and live with our holy father is that was what she needed to do, ungrudgingly anf with love, never thinking once about what we wanted but only what she wanted - unconditional love. Once we were willing to lose her, we got her back. Very much like the story of Abraham and Isaac. Once God saw Abrabah's willingness to surrender his child to God, he was spared and prospered.

At this point I don't know what to say except that I believe our faith, love and service has been noticed and rewarded. God has a plan in store for Allie and it is going to be a great one.

Once again, we are going full steam ahead with Full Recovery.net, a healing ministry, and we are still looking for your help and support. I wil have a web page up by saturday giving more info but for now please know that we are making t-shirts and silacone braceltes to help start the minestry and fund Allie's expenses. If you would like more info or would like to help by ordering a shirt or bracelet, please drop me an e-mail at drcagen@citcom.net or call me directly at (828) 553-2139. An e-mail would be earier on me, then we could call you back. For those of you that e-mailed me and wanted to order, many of you did not leave you phone numbers - so please re-email.

One day at a time we are going to create a healing revolution.

Your in love and honor,
Allies Dad