Tiffany Update: Happy New Year 2009
Well, we have now been living in Dubai for 2 1/2 weeks. I drive Tiffany's Jeep Wrangler all over the United Arab Emirates. Yesterday we took a day off and drove Shane, our son who ends his Christmas visit today, to Hatta and over the border to Oman. Living and driving here is quite the learning experience. I don't believe there could be a more diverse city in the world than Dubai. It has grown from just over 50,000 in 1969 to over a million now. Even cab drivers say that from day to day it is difficult to keep up with it. The more you travel here, the more you see the tremendous development. I've learned to just get in the "rush" and go for it. Otherwise, you will get run over. The worst thing you can do here in traffic is stop. You just keep moving and you will be o.k.
We still don't know how much longer we will be here. Tiffany's company, Depa International, is doing a great job but the insurance company, which specializes in international businesses, is a letter of the law kind of company. They have a clause that no treatment will take place in the U.S. but Tiff's boss, a lawyer named Robert St. Jacques, is working to get the company to see that the U.S. might be as reasonable as treatment center as say, Switzerland. That means that as of this writing, we are still waiting and Tiff is still in the hospital. She is doing about an hour of therapy each day. She can pull herself up on a tall walker and transfer herself into her wheelchair. At therapy she works out with weights on her upper body, she pulls herself up a big ladder and stretches herself out. While hanging, she can move her legs from side to side by lifting from her hips. She has movement in her hips down to her knees. Some good news is that there is slightly more tingling in her lower legs, feet and some toes. It is very encouraging. Our hope and faith is directed toward her regaining use of her legs so that she will be able to walk , and hopefully, without crutches. That's the goal!

A matter of prayer for now is that the business side of things is moving very slowly. Much of that is caused by the Holidays. Executives in Europe are not in the office and they are the ones who make the decisions. We are expecting to hear any day now the word to get her to a rehab hospital. It could be Europe or the U.S. That's our situation. We are getting up every morning and spending the day at the hospital until bed time, helping her and waiting to hear. We are not spending the night with her as we were the first week or so. The frustration is that it is important that she get into rehab soon. Until that happens, physical progress is very limited. Teresa and I are fine but pretty exhausted in body and mind. We do feel your prayers, concern and love. The Body of Christ and our connection is a reality. Thank you for all you are doing. God is faithful!

Love and Blessings!
L. A. and Teresa