[Boatanchors] W8DBF Has Left The Stage -

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

As announced during the Sunday July 13th HCI 20 meter Net, I am leaving all
things Hallicrafters, vintage, SWL and pretty much everything else, 
indefinitely	
	
If any of you encounter a problem with any list I currently administrate, please
contact Al Waller, K3TKJ, at: k3tkj@qsl.net He will be handling things until
return. 	
	
Briefly, i went for a routine doctor's visit a week ago today. It was time for
my annual physical anyhow, so while I was there I had the blood work done. 	
	
The next day the doctor called and told me that he wanted me in the hospital
immediately for a three unit, (pint) transfusion. I was stunned. My hemoglobin
was 6.8, less than half of normal. Everything to do with Iron was a mile below
the bottom of the scale. Such as Iron from 35-150, mine was 7. Additional blood
tests showed the only thing wrong with my blood, was almost no Iron. Hence, the
bone marrow uses Iron to produce hemoglobin, and I had no Iron. What hemoglobin
was stored in reserve in the liver had been used up. I was alive, he was not
sure why, but running on less than the fumes from an empty gas tank.        	
	
Then he totally knocked me off the chair when he told me the probable cause was
advanced colon cancer. I had not had any signs of blood in the urine or stool,
and the urine test showed none whatsoever. 	
	
Tomorrow morning I am in the hospital for a transfusion. Then more blood work.
Then I am in the hospital for colon, stomach and other intrusive tests. The
normal six to eight week waiting period is being waived, as he figures I won't
be alive by then. 	
	
That is a brief overview of what has happened to cause me to put my life on
hold. I hope there is not a SK sale in my near future and I hope I will survive
whatever is going on inside me. Frankly, right now, my future is hour by hour.
Why am I still home? Well, first I had to get some areas of my life taken care
of in the event I could not manage them myself and second because I am too
blasted determined to continue on and pretend this is not really happening. But
if I get any weaker, I won't be here, so it is time to put my life in God's
hands, do what the doctor says and try to think positive thoughts. I am not yet
ready to write Frogzilla's last chapter! 	
	
Keep the Hallicrafters, and other vintage tube gear, glowing for me and keep
this list active, productive and peaceful. If there is any way to be on the air
Wednesday night, I will be there! If it is possible to do the Saturday and
Sunday Nets, I will be there! But if I am not there, I hope that one or two of
you will step up to the plate and pinch hit for me as NCS. 	
	
Keep the HCI web site furnished with material and help the Web Master Fred
Mooney, KA1DGL, keep it going. Fred and I have carried the web site on our
shoulders through thick and thin. Craig Carter has done a marvelous job handling
the 'forsale-swap' area the past year and a half. (thank you Craig!) Whether I
go on, or not, I want the HCI concept, the HCI Nets and the HCI web site to
survive. So please keep those things that still go glow in the night lit.  	
	
I will not be answering e-mail for a while, but if I am able, I will be reading
it. If I have the strength, I 'may' answer a few now and then.   	
	
Take care my friends, thank you for everything over the years, keep Frogzilla
out of the Sport's Illustrated swim suit photo sessions, keep those Halli's lit
and God willing, I shall return. 	
	
Duane Fischer, W8DBF/W9WZE	
dfischer@usol.com