Update on Bill:
 
          I went to see Bill today and want to update those of you who
          get to read your e-mail before you leave for Canada.  There
          is much to be thankful for:  Bill's spine and pelvis are
          fine and most of his body injuries will heal.  They did
          surgery on his foot on Friday and needed to graft skin from
          his thigh to close the wound.  It appears there was some
          muscle damage and so rehabilitation will be necessary.  But
          his toes can move and so they hope they have avoided nerve
          damage.
 
          He has one broken rib which is the floating rib and there is
          some fluid in one lung.  But as they listen to the fluid
          they think it is getting better and should heal (or whatever
          the proper term is) without intervention but they have him
          on antibiotics.
 
          His collarbone is injured and is swollen but they cannot
          repair it at this time without surgery that would push in
          back.  Because some major arteries are directly behind it
          they don't want to do anything now and will watch and see if
          it repairs itself.
 
          He is full of bruises and cuts and is generally
          uncomfortable but healing.
 
          He is VERY disoriented.  He has a closed head injury in a
          part of his brain that affects cognitive thought process and
          short term memory.  He knew who I was and made one or two
          comments about the conference but in other respects his
          conversation was, well, abstract even for him.  The recovery
          process will be slow and the doctors cannot or will not
          commit to whether full recovery is to be expected.  They
          will do rehabilitation with him and I think they expect him
          to regain most or all of his brain function.  But it will be
          slow.  He will not be able to teach in the fall and spring
          is a question.  He won't be able to tolerate loud noise (and
          now is bothered by the phone ringing so, again, Monica asks
          that you not call until they get him home.)
 
          Monica hopes to move him back to Texas as soon as possible
          but that is complicated.  He isn't physically able to move
          well enough yet for commercial airlines and he does get
          disoriented and upset so they are looking into air
          ambulance.
 
          This may be more than some of you want to know but Monica
          preferred the honesty.  Please send cards or notes or e-mail
          to him.  You can e-mail to Texas and she'll read them to him
          when they return.  The computer may be their best link for
          awhile.  I don't think he can read at this point (hard to
          concentrate and his glasses are lost...) but he can eat,
          watch films, and laugh.  So send the smiles and good
          thoughts...they can use them.
 
          Travel safely!
          Nancy Hauserman