[CC-ARES-RACES] Bob Adams - W7UH

[JD Delancy]

Several of you have been seeking a status on Bob Adams, W7UH.  Here's the chrono
that I've been keeping friends of his up-to-date with.

Friday, 3/2:

Just found out that Bob has been in hospital since Wednesday.  Sometime last week he
had a problem and Winnie told him he was going to the doctor.  He couldn't walk out
of the doctor's office, he's been in Georgetown University hospital since.

Saturday, 3/3:

..talked to him Friday evening.  Told him that was a pretty crappy way of getting
out of an election.  he chuckled.  He had a third year med student in the room doing
a work up on him for something. She was cute and Russian he said.  He had been thru
a CAT scan earlier.  The doctors are pointing fingers.  ONe says its probably
something like a pinch nerve the other says its his brain not wanting to cooperate.
More tests to find out. 

Wednesday 3/6):

Bob had the milagram and a CAT scan on the back.  They saw a pinched nerve but not a
severe one in their estimate.  They are going to try to treat it with drugs and
phyiscal therapy.  Surgery still an option though.

The scans show deteriation of the vertabre.  Still waiting for the orthopedist to
talk to him.

Saturday (3/9) report:

Bob's scheduled for surgery on Tuesday.  The drugs sent his BP thru the roof. 
Georgetown doctors will be doing a "fusion" in his neck, below the point where the
head rotates.  That's apparently the location that the pinching of the spine is
occuring, which apparently is the cuase of his numbness of fingers and equalibation
deficiency.  Fusion (I THINK) involves taking out a piece(s) of bone(s), clear
obstruction(s) and putting in new bone (substitute?). He's probably going to be in
Georgetown Hospital for another three weeks after surgery, might be less.  That's
recovery time and other things with recovery.

Wednesday (3/13) status:

Surgery started Tuesday at 1305 and went until about 1700.  He was in recovery until
2300 when Winnie finally got to see him.  The problem was more spinal problem than
nuero the doctors say

Winnie said that he seems to be doing well.  The nurses had him sitting up in a
chair today.  The total recovery will be long term, estimated at 15-18 months.  Lots
of rehab and PT ahead.  

He could remain in Georgetown for another week.  Doctors will be evaluating him on
the weekend for when his release could be.

Thursday morning (3/14) status:

I talked to Bob this morning, he sound groggy.  Said he was on morphine.

Nurse had to answer the phone for him, it was not position where he could get to it
with any kind of ease.

Said that the numbness in his fingers/hands was still there; the neuro said it could
be up to six months before the numbness disappears and feeling returns.

The problem was finally labled as a "pinched spinal cord."

After another week in Georgetown (or there abouts) he will be transferred to a rehab
hospital in the district.  There he will receive intensive therapy so that he will
be able to function on his own when he gets discharged.  They will not discharge him
until he can care for himself.  Right now he cannot even go to the throne by
himself.