I just got this email this morning from Chris Juckett & knew all Howard's friends would want to share in the good news.Subject: A Christmas Gift For Howard

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Dearest Friends,

I am happy and scared to report that Howard received a perfect new heart yesterday. He is doing well but it's much more touch and go than I was prepared for. Because of his history of radiation treatment and subsequent damage, his aorta was basically a wreck. His own heart proved very difficult to remove... one of the surgeons told me, "my God, that thing was hard to pry out of there!" Because of this, he has also received part of the donor's aorta. He was taken to surgery at about 3:15 in the afternoon of 12-23 and I was able to see him and pat him at 1:15 AM on Christmas eve. He's woken up since then but is back under sedation... wish I was too! He is scheduled to go back to surgery this morning to completely close his chest.

He will be thrilled when he learns that his donor was 18 years old and from the Houston area. That is all we know and may ever know. I ask that all of you that have been praying so hard for us to please take a moment today and honor this very special gift from this very special person and family.

Howard is currently in the most critical care unit there is and visiting is very limited. If all goes well, we expect that he may be relocated in a day or two to an intensive care unit that is a little less scary and would be there another few days. Then on to the transplant floor. I'm expecting that we're looking at two weeks at the shortest duration. I'll feel better when I actually am able to talk to him. Hopefully that may happen later today.

My cell phone availability is limited because the waiting rooms are deep in the hospital. It's been hard to make and receive calls since I've been here. Be patient if you don't hear from me for big stretches of time. Let's all hope no news is good news. Email is the best way to communicate for now.

That's all for now. Three hours of sleep was not exactly enough for me! Hope tonight may be better.

Keep praying... hard.

Love to all,
Chris and the "Newly Rebuilt" Howie
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