praying for Tom

our manring household has been distracted these past two weeks as we worry about Tom's health. The waiting and asking questions...its been a lot. on wednesday he underwent the big surgery. josh, eric and tyler and i were there through the 14 hours of waiting and 10 hours of surgery. we passed the time away that day pretty easily reading and watching tennis and going for walks and candy runs....but then after 8 hours we started to worry, why was it taking so long? we finally ended the day at 10:00pm with a visit from the main neurosurgeon. tyler documented all of the details on his dad's health on the website we created, www.checkinginontom.blogspot.com.

there is no way to explain the outpouring of support and love from all of you. eric and tyler are constantly fielding calls from co workers and fraternity brothers and the tennis community. not to mention constant updates to our immediate family through phone calls and texts. family wondering what they can do to help, where to send gifts, what they can do. it has been the most amazing thing to see how many people are praying and sending their positive messages to Tom and our family. his blog is full of sweet comments from people checking in on him. everywhere i turn... at the preschool, on facebook, on my phone...people from all over are checking in wondering how he is doing. hoping we are taking care of ourselves too amidst all of the uncertainty.  its incredible.  thank you for all of the ways you have shown concern.

and adding to the feeling of support and love...we spent the afternoon and evening together with lita and her boys. felt better being together, talking together over the kitchen counter and feeling happiness seeing the four cousins laugh and play. lita and i will continue to worry as we hold down the forts this weekend while all three boys stay at the hospital. i can only imagine how hard it is for tyler and josh and eric to see their dad in this weak state of recovery. i had the chance to quickly say hello through ICHAT earlier today and seeing Tom the way he looks now was hard. but i am reassured with how determined and strong he is. i just know each day he will get healthier and stronger. praying that everything goes smooth with his recovery.