Marcia's brother Mike

Our scheduled return to Manila has met with a timing challenge. One of my brothers, Michael Blaylock, has endured Multiple Sclerosis for many years, and has spent the last several years as a quadriplegic. He is currently in his last battle, having gone into Hospice care after the latest medical crisis could not be reversed. Mike is an incredible man, showing an inner strength far beyond what most of us would display in his circumstances. He has retained his strong faith and joy in living, loves to have family and friends around him, and has invented adaptations to assistive equipment which will bless those who follow him. It was always a joy to receive his emails which he wrote using some of those adaptations. He could actually move his wheel chair and write emails by puffing or sipping on an air tube!

We have discussed the situation with Northwest Airlines – now Delta – and may be able to use their bereavement policy to flex our return date to Manila. We are awaiting developments in Mike’s status before making our decisions and possibly changing plans.

We are including a picture of my family taken in 2005. I am in the front row along with Mike and my father, who passed away two years ago. My other four sisters and five brothers are in the back row.

Marcia

P.S. Mike passed away 2:30 AM Central Daylight Time (3:30 PM Philippine Time) today, August 13, just 12 hours after Marcia wrote this.