A little info on the "bad" news of yesterday.

I did a little research about the ominous sounding "ruptured eardrum" and it's apparently not as bad as I first thought. Here's what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it:

A ruptured eardrum is a tear or a hole in your eardrum (tympanic membrane), the thin membrane that separates your ear canal from your middle ear. This membrane vibrates when sound waves strike it, starting the process of converting sound waves into nerve impulses that travel to your brain. A ruptured eardrum (also called a perforated eardrum)interrupts the hearing process and may impair your hearing.

The eardrum also acts as a barrier to keep outside material, such as bacteria, from entering your middle ear. When you have a ruptured eardrum, bacteria can more easily reach your middle ear and cause infection.

A variety of factors can cause a ruptured eardrum. These include a prior infection, injury and noise. Most ruptured eardrums heal within a few weeks without treatment. If the tear or hole in your eardrum doesn't heal by itself, you may need treatment.

So, it looks like, with a little rest and some luck, it will heal without any further treatment. This is good news! As a hearing problem for anyone is a serious thing, but for an actor I would have thought it could be a huge problem, especially on stage. Let's hope Gale's injuries all heal fully... and quickly!

As I said yesterday, he must have really given his head a bashing when he came off that bike! The more I hear about this accident, the more I realise exactly how lucky our boy has been! And how lucky we are to still have him around!

You're still in our thoughts and prayers, Gale. Get well soon!

Oh, and the photo (from the lovely LazyShades' site Fan-Girl.net) was inspired by a discussion, about Gale's nipple hair of all things, on Gale's IMDb Message Board. Very nice isn't it? The photo I mean... okay, AND the nipple hair! ;)