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Post by ssncob on Jan 26, 2016 16:19:24 GMT
Last night Slowmotion - Richard Watts - was hospitalized after suffering a fairly serious heart attack. He is currently heavily sedated but stable. I will update as his condition progresses. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts.
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Wheels
The Parking Lot
Posts: 573
Bike Year / Level: '14" Candy Red with Hannigan Trike Kit
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Post by Wheels on Jan 26, 2016 20:40:29 GMT
Very sorry to hear this news. Prayers from our home to his.
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Post by ssncob on Jan 28, 2016 14:39:13 GMT
Richard is steadily improving. Doc's will be implanting a defib over the next few days. He's still sedated, but they are slowly weaning off the drugs and his mind is trying to wake up. But he's a cantankerous old coot and he's not waking up as a happy camper so they're doing a slooow wakeup. His wife is very appreciative of the kind thoughts and prayers y'all are sending.
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Wheels
The Parking Lot
Posts: 573
Bike Year / Level: '14" Candy Red with Hannigan Trike Kit
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Post by Wheels on Jan 28, 2016 16:26:37 GMT
Thanks for the update buddy.
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Post by ssncob on Jan 30, 2016 1:46:01 GMT
1-29-16 No real change - doc's wanted this to be basically a rest day for him. They did an angioplasty on his legs to improve blood flow to reduce the workload on his heart. The heart area itself looks good with no blockages. They expect to remove his ventilator tomorrow.
Your well wishes are appreciated.
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Post by ssncob on Feb 3, 2016 1:30:58 GMT
Richard a bit of a setback last night, was fighting the intubation so this morning they removed it and put in a larger diameter tube to improve his airflow. Has pneumonia in one lung, so they're keeping him on a ventilator for another 2-3 days and see how he stabilizes/improves. His wife appreciates the prayers and well wishes.
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Wheels
The Parking Lot
Posts: 573
Bike Year / Level: '14" Candy Red with Hannigan Trike Kit
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Post by Wheels on Feb 3, 2016 12:56:15 GMT
Sorry to hear about the set back.
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Post by ssncob on Feb 4, 2016 19:51:15 GMT
2-4-16 Richard's had a bit of a setback. They tried to remove his respirator and have him breathe on his own - no luck. He's back on it, and if he still needs to be on it by next Monday they're going to do a tracheotomy. The hospital staff has been really kind to his wife who is practically living there. When they partially removed his sedation, he was able to follow some simple commands from the doctor so they're encouraged by that.
Due to his at-work accident earlier he had been put on short term disability. He received a letter from his company telling him since he was on disability they were dropping his health coverage. He had his heart attack shortly after reading the letter. Some companies just suck. They are paying for COBRA at the moment, not sure how long that will last so do some follow-up regarding this issue.
As before, the family appreciates all your kind words.
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Post by ssncob on Feb 11, 2016 23:47:09 GMT
2-11-16 Been a bit since last update, was waiting for some positive news. Richard's breathing tube was still causing problems, but he also wasn't able to breathe on his own without difficulty. So they did a tracheotomy to remove the breathing tube in his mouth to allow him to start working on breathing on his own, and to be able to wean him off the sedation meds.
His pneumonia is getting better, his sedation meds are down by half, and was able to squeeze the nurses hands on demand (he just likes them nurses ) Still not out of the night-night meds yet, but appears to be slowly improving. Wife says to say she's sorry they probably won't make the Tennessee Lunch Run this year.
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Post by ssncob on Feb 15, 2016 22:27:13 GMT
2-15-16 I had hoped to be able to pass on some good news with this update, unfortunately I cannot. Please forgive the briefness of my update, I am having difficulty seeing my keyboard right now.
Over the last couple of days the hospital removed his sedation and tried to wean him off the ventilator, and it looked there was some improvement but his body just wasn't strong enough and started shutting down. My kind and gentle friend is now riding God's Highway.
His wife and family was there with him, and she and I thank all of you for your prayers and support.
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Post by pidjones on Feb 16, 2016 1:57:34 GMT
Prayers for comfort of friends and loved ones. Our lives go on in the great memories of others.
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Post by Bartman on Feb 16, 2016 17:24:28 GMT
Jerry, I'm sorry to hear about your friend passing away. I don't believe I ever met Richard. Condolences to his family.
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Post by ssncob on Feb 17, 2016 1:58:29 GMT
To all, thank you for the kind words and support. Shelly is numb right now, will take a few days to come to terms with this. To all of you, again thank you.
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Post by ssncob on Feb 28, 2016 23:26:50 GMT
A sort of update. I'll be heading down to Charleston next Saturday to spend a few days with Shellie and help her out. Richard's former employer is giving her a bit of a run-around, I've contacted the corporate office and gotten things started. She just got the death certificate, the doctor took over two weeks to get it signed, doesn't believe in computers, does everything by hand. So now she can start the rest of the process. She is still in a daze over everything that's happened. I've taken care of the financials for now till the estate is processed, so that's at least one less worry for her. Workman's Comp has sent a bunch of forms for her to sign, she'll hold off till we get a chance to look them over as part of them is closing out his benefit claims.
The things she's going thru could happen to any of us. And as we participate in an inherently dangerous sport - take the time to make a file for your spouse with important info. Insurance policies - who to contact, county clerk info, bank account numbers, for retirees the Human Resources or manager of your account -- all that crap that we take for granted but your spouse doesn't, and won't be in the proper frame of mind to suffer through trying to piece it together.
It may seem morbid filling it out and going over it with your spouse - but it's something that really needs to be done if you truly care for those you leave behind.
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kwthom
The Parking Lot
Status? I have no status - here or anywhere else, don'tcha know.
Posts: 242
Bike Year / Level: 2016 GL1800
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Post by kwthom on Feb 29, 2016 2:08:10 GMT
Condolences on your loss...
A very good point you bring up - and it can go either way. That file needs to be comprehensive and available so that *either* spouse has access to all of the information available.
Thinking thru that while grieving is just reaction - and a very poor time to make important decisions.
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