Variable scope

[Karl DeSaulniers <karl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Can anyone explain this to me.

function sendEmail($uname,$subjField,$firstname,$lastname,$email, 
$reply,$e_cc,$e_bcc,$comments,$ip,$Date,$time){

    $uname = trim($uname);
    $subjField = trim($subjField);
    $firstname = trim($firstname);
    $lastname = trim($lastname);
    $email = trim($email);
    $reply = trim($reply);
    $e_cc = trim($e_cc);
    $e_bcc = trim($e_bcc);
    $comments = trim($comments);
    $ip = trim($ip);
    $Date = trim($Date);
    $time = trim($time);

//If I trace here email, reply and the CCs are ok

	if(($firstname && strlen($firstname = trim($firstname)) > 2) &&  
($lastname && strlen($lastname = trim($lastname)) > 2)) {
	$fullname = $firstname." ".$lastname;
	} else {
	$fullname = "Member";
	}
	$fullname = trim($fullname);
	$To = "";
	$from = "";
	$headerTXT = "";
	$bounce_email = CO_NAME." <".BOUNCE_ADDR.">";
	$subject = $subjectField;
	$bulk = false;
    //What kind of email is being sent
    //Email exists, no Cc or Bcc
    if(!empty($email) && empty($_email_cc) && empty($_email_bcc)) {
    	$To = $fullname." <".$email.">";
		$from = "Member <".$reply.">";
		$headerTXT = "New message from ".CO_NAME." member ".$uname;
		$bulk = false;
	}
    //Email empty, Cc exists no Bcc
    else if(empty($email) && !empty($e_cc) && empty($e_bcc)) {
		$To = $bounce_email;
		$from = "Member <".$reply.">";
		$headerTXT = "New message from ".CO_NAME." member ".$uname;
		$bulk = true;
	}
...

//If I trace here $To, $from have everything except the "<(anything  
between)>", so for instance..
$To = John Doe ;
$from = Member ;

not

$To = John Doe <jdoe@xxxxxxxxx> ;
$from = Member <member@xxxxxxxxxxx>;

So $email and $reply are loosing their value/scope

But the ".CO_NAME." and ".BOUNCE_ADDR." are working!?!?
This is also in a page with many other email functions just like this  
one and they work.
Only difference is the $To and $from are not inside an if() { statement.
How did my variables loose scope???

One other note, if I put..
$To = htmlspecialchars($fullname." <".$email.">");
then $To is correct when I trace..
$To = John Doe <jdoe@xxxxxxxxx> ;
but it wont send because the smtp mail will not send to
$To = John Doe &lt;jdoe@xxxxxxxxx&gt;

I MUST be doing something wrong.
Also, I did read about using Name <email@xxxxxxxxx> but the other  
email functions work fine with those, so I'm not sure what's going on.
TIA,
Best,

Karl DeSaulniers
Design Drumm
http://designdrumm.com