Best Wishes SPP!

Gregg

By Mark Hutton (Trynda1701) on Sunday, January 16, 2022 - 08:45 am: Edit

Sending you positive thoughts to aid in your recovery, SPP. We're all rooting for you.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 03:15 am: Edit

I saw Steve Petrick today and he expressed his gratitude for the many messages of support. He is getting three hours of PT/OT exercise (standing, walking) every day. The undiagnosed diabetes and several strokes ravaged his body pretty bad over the last six months, leaving him barely able to walk (he staggers and shuffles a lot) and seriously affecting his vision. His glasses no longer work so tomorrow I will take him some stronger ones. He is in good spirits but almost ready to break out of there. He has been in the hospital 18 days and he has at least ten more to go. His mind is quite clear and he is able to hold detailed conversations on many issues. He still remembers game rules and I may start taking him some rules questions to keep him busy.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 07:57 am: Edit

Glad to hear he's getting better. I mean, who else can point out all my errors in fiction plot-lines? Seriously, tho, he had me worried when you posted what happened.

If he feels up to it, I'd love for SPP (and SVC) to take a look at the rules to a Korean War game that my brother is developing. I'm thinking that maybe having something new to keep his mind active might help his recovery.


Garth L. Getgen

By Steven Zamboni (Szamboni) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 01:53 pm: Edit

Eighteens days is definitely enough time to start thinking about jailbreaks. He's a more patient man than I was during my last stay. (I wonder if there's a boardgame idea in there somewhere.)

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 02:12 pm: Edit

Should I start putting together some SFB proposals for SPP to have fun with, savagely ripping to itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny little pieces?

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 03:11 pm: Edit

Still pulling for SPP!

By Randy Green (Hollywood750) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 08:48 pm: Edit

I hate that I did not voice my concerns a few months ago. I thought that several of SPP's posts were not up to his usual standards, and he just didn't seem to be... as.. persnickety and exact on rule posts as he usually is (which I always liked and considered as a good thing!). I think I attributed it to the possibility of, perhaps having a new phone as some of the posts looked fragmentary like someone learning a new app and trying to post from it. At any rate, I did not want to intrude. But I wish I had sent a group email to the people that know him best. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, oh Master of Obscure Rulings!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 09:28 pm: Edit

We all saw him slipping but since 1865 it has been illegal to put a friend in handcuffs and drag him to a doctor. We encouraged him to go, told him to go, begged him to go, and he would not. Now, he regrets that he did not seek medical attention. I told him for a year that he was not going to just drop dead, but was going to be crippled in a nursing home the rest of his life. He was in deep depression today that he will never fire a firearm again as he cannot aim one due to his damaged vision.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 10:42 pm: Edit

SPP has my sympathies.

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 10:58 pm: Edit

Please pass my care and well-wishes on as well.

By Burt Quaid (Burt) on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 - 10:39 am: Edit

Best wishes to
Steve

Burt

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 - 05:19 pm: Edit

Shot guns are a marvelous invention.

I recall that a character in the old John Wayne movie “Eldorado” used a modified shot gun, because he couldn’t accurately aim a hand gun.

Even had a holster.

Just make sure to not take Petrick to any bars with loud music or live piano performances... be a dirty shame if Petrick shot the musician instead of the bad guy.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 - 07:11 pm: Edit

With proper corrective lenses, it might be possible for SPP to regain a decent shooting ability.

While I'm NEVER a good one for advice, I'd recommend a great deal of practice using something almost completely harmless, like an AirSoft type, and to practice in a private setting, like the offices of a small company.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, January 20, 2022 - 01:10 am: Edit

We have an airsoft range in the office. I shoot every day.

I got Steve some reading glasses today so for the first time in 20 days he can read a book. He is somewhat happier.

By John Cmar (Maximumkoloth) on Thursday, January 20, 2022 - 01:51 am: Edit

All the best for as speedy of a recovery as possible to SPP!

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, January 20, 2022 - 02:44 pm: Edit

What book did you give Petrick?

“How to successfully invade France AND win the war in ten easy steps”?

Or was it “If I were elected King of the World, what would be my first 100 orders?”

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Thursday, January 20, 2022 - 04:24 pm: Edit

Please allow me to recommend "Fleet Tactics and Naval Operations" by Wayne P. Hughes for a little light reading.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, January 20, 2022 - 09:44 pm: Edit

I took him THE GREAT ESCAPE.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 02:22 am: Edit

My apologies that I haven't posted anything about Steve Petrick in a week. Some of that is that little changes each day and it didn't seem worth updating.

Steve got out of 'the hospital' over a week ago and moved to the 'acute rehab' facility that is owned by and inside of 'the hospital.' Their focus has been on getting him ready to leave, not on long term care of his conditions.

STROKE: His high blood pressure seems to be under control so the seven or eight strokes he has had since August are probably not going to repeat anytime soon. He is mentally back where he was and ready to get back to his desk. His blood pressure will fully stabilize when his (new) "primary care physician" gets him on a program.

CHOLESTEROL: Seems under control, more or less, this will get better when his (new) "primary care physician" gets him on a program.

DIABETES: This is not really under control yet, but will get better when his (new) "primary care physician" gets him on a program.

WALKING: His left leg is weak and shakes. Some of that is diabetic motor nerve damage, but the strokes may not really be involved since they were on the wrong side of his head for that leg. This is the reason he hasn't gone home yet; he cannot walk on his own and is in danger of falling even with a walker. Monday the PT lady said he would probably never get off a walker and might never be able to live outside of a managed care facility. Today she said he surprised her by proving to be stronger than she thought yesterday and she thinks he can achief "a level of recovery".

THE FUTURE: Wednesday a panel of doctors, nurses, and PT (physical therapy) people will review his case. They could decide to:
1. Keep him in acute rehab one more week.
2. Send him home. (Theoretically, but practically impossible.)
3. Send him to a "skilled nursing unit" which will give him two-six weeks more therapy focusing on his ability to walk and take care of himself. (This could be good as he could leave for a few hours now and then to see his new primary physician and an eye doctor for new glasses.)
4. Declare him permanently disabled and send him to a managed care facility (nursing home). Medicare, Veteran's Administration, and SS Disability may all have a role there. (They probably won't do this but they could. Monday we thought this likely, but not Tuesday.)

HIS APARTMENT: I have been collecting his mail. Leanna has been paying his bills. We cleared his apartment of valuables and things that might spoil. The landlord is currently doing some repairs that Steve has been delaying. It is unclear if he will eventually return to this apartment (where has lived since moving to Amarillo back in 1990 or so) or to an apartment closer to the office or to a managed care facility.

DRIVING: We don't know yet. His leg problem makes this difficult but he may get past that. His vision went to Hell because of diabetes but until we get him to an eye doctor we won't know if new glasses would give him sufficient vision to drive.

HIS CAR: Under review by a body shop and his insurance company. No decision yet on repair or total loss.

HEALTH: His previous attitude of "I will not see a doctor and will just someday suddenly die" is gone. He swears he is willing to see doctors regularly and take his meds and do his exercises like a good person should.

HIS BROTHER (the biological one, not me the unofficial stepbrother) will be here next week to spend a few days and be a part of the decision on a long-term living arrangement.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 02:50 am: Edit

What happened to his car?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 05:00 am: Edit

He crashed through a barbed wire fence when the stroke hit.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 07:26 am: Edit

"The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits"

- the Movie: Rocky Balboa

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 07:27 am: Edit

"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 10:38 am: Edit

Be well, SPP. We're behind you and praying for you. Good on SVC and the healthcare folks for taking care of you!