update
Just a quick update on my dad. He's been home for a week now--it's hard to believe it's been two weeks since the accident. He is getting somewhat used to life with one arm in a sling. The surgeon isn't even going to look at it for another month and a half. Hopefully, when he does there will be significant bone regrowth. On Wednesday, he went to the Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons and they took the packing out of his ear and examined it. They said his hearing won't be damaged at all. The ear canal was damaged by the shrapnel, so they are going to repair that this coming Wednesday. After that heals, they're going to start rebuilding the outside of his ear. It's going to be a long process, though, as they have to grow the skin that they'll use to remake the ear. On the weird side, the surgery team is all very excited about the fact that it's the lower part of his ear that needs to be rebuilt--apparently it's a rare injury, usually it's the top part that needs to be fixed. Surgeons are odd. I guess I could understand, though, it's like a unique stage setting or character that you know will take just that much more effort to accomplish. Still, being excited about a weird plastic surgery task is slightly out of my normal range. :) At any rate, we're all doing well. Frankly, we're pretty much amazed at how well Dad is doing. For various reasons, we're all amazed that my dad is still alive. There's still alot of road to go, and many decisions about money and legal actions, etc. Dad wants to make the right decisions and it's a complicated situation. My uncle has really stepped up to the plate on it all and has the connections to get us the information and help we need to make the right decisions. Just keep praying for it all.