Injured Yemen worker recovering well,
joking with wife, doctor says

By Manda Roten

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Don Caswell, the International Mission Board worker who survived the Dec. 30 shootings at the Baptist hospital in Jibla, Yemen, is resting with his family and expected to recover fully from his injuries, according to Judy Williams, his attending physician.

Bullets from his attacker's pistol hit Caswell's right and left sides. Though Caswell remembers being shot three times, Williams thinks he probably felt the impact of a bullet entering and exiting his left side and actually was shot twice.

Caswell's injuries could have been much more severe, but the bullets did not enter his abdominal cavity, said Williams, another IMB representative who has worked in Yemen since 1999.

The Caswell family is staying in an undisclosed location until he has recuperated from his injuries.

Caswell, 49, is well on his way to recovery, Williams said. He is now able to walk completely upright and is joking with his wife, Terry -- a sure sign he's getting back to normal.

The pharmacist, who has served at the Jibla hospital since July 2001, is expected to have no long-term complications from his injuries.

According to Williams, the family is sleeping late, taking walks and enjoying being together.

"Terry wanted to 'get her little chicks under her wing again and be able to nest a little bit,'" Williams said. "She's been able to do that here."

In the meantime, Caswell's older son, Thomas, 11, constantly asks Williams about his dad's condition, while the younger boy, Caleb, 5, is fascinated with the wounds.

Within two to three weeks, Caswell should be ready to resume normal activities, though it will be a couple of months before his endurance returns to normal. No information has been released about where Caswell will go after his recuperation.

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