He has endured trials unimaginable. That day or so immobilized on the floor did a lot of damage. I have been told he has been able to sit up, which indicates two things: he's not paralyzed, and he's not a vegetable. His mind is intact to an unknown degree, because he cannot speak, and it is difficult to ascertain at the best of times to what degree any of us have competent minds through our speech. Determining what damage he has suffered is complicated by the damage his speech centers have undergone, and this slows therapy that will be necessary to effect such recovery as he can undertake.

I have some challenges I must dedicate myself to presently, cannot sit at his side in the big city hospital, and thus must await news of his condition from his family. I am undertaking to care for Bear, which is a far larger challenge than one would expect. Bear is an English Spaniel, which are extremely active, high energy, intelligent working dogs. Tom was a softie. He didn't like telling Bear what to do, and didn't establish boundaries most of us would consider essential for Bear.

As a result, taking Bear for a walk is like chaining yourself to a hurricane. He's only 20 kilos or so, but it's all muscle, and he's used to dragging Tom to whatever he wants to smell or pee on. Curbing this dragging technique he has learned and teaching him he'll get to smell or pee on things if he just waits while I dawdle on over to them is going to take a few days, at best. Given my markedly fragile condition, it is far more challenging than I expected it would be, and training dogs has been in the past.

While I'd also like to make some repairs on Tom's home, which needs much, I presently am hopeful to delay paid work I was in process of completing for folks while I heal myself, and not to lose that. I'm unlikely to be able to fit Tom's home into that schedule this winter, as I'll be lucky to keep the several jobs already being delayed. Neither do I know if Tom will return home.

He hasn't been able to walk yet, and I don't know if he's going to return to independent living.

I hope he will, as you note.

Your kind words for strangers are deeply touching. Thank you very much.