Toni Bilkey here.  Thought I would update you on the status regarding my pastor-husband, Bruce ...

Bruce continues to make strides in his recovery, but he is still in a great deal of pain.  He sleeps a lot because they have him on heavy doses of morphine and other pain killers (given by IV's or shots).  He will probably remain in the hospital at least another week, week and a half, according to Dr. Mermentau, who is his attending physician here.  He will then continue his recovery at home.

We went to the emergency meeting at church yesterday, regarding the attacks.  The police still continue to comb the area for any sign of the teenagers who attacked Bruce, but so far, nothing.  The teens remain at large.  It's very frustrating because you never know whom they might attack next.  They could attack other members of our church.  A good deal of the congregants are scared and shaken; I wouldn't be surprised if the church didn't have as many people coming today for this morning's services.

We usually have services tonight, but because of the Fourth of July holiday, they have been canccelled (plus the attack on my husband certainly didn't help matters any).  A lot of the congrgegants will probably go out of town tonight or to one of the many celebrations/festivals around the area to hear music or watch fireworks.  Hopefully the weather will hold when the fireworks go off; there's a forty to fifty percent chance of thunderstorms today, tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night.  

While everyone else is having fun celebrating our nation's birthday, I will be here at the hospital with Bruce, so I can keep his mind off what happened (that won't be easy, seeing he is in a great deal of pain!) and so he won't be alone.  I am home now as I write this, but I spoke to Dr. Mermentau this morning, and he said Bruce had a good night's rest.  He's holding his own, he told me.  I will leave for the hospital within the hour and probably be there all day.

Well, the phone is ringing, so I'd best answer it.  I will write in here again in a few days with another update.  Hopefully Bruce will continue to do well, and hopefully the police will have captured the kids responsible for his injuries; I pray that they are found and punished accordingly.  Please keep those prayers coming; they really are appreciated! 

~To be continued.~