[W2CRA] Update on W2GD

[Barry]

This is a long one, but includes a message from
John himself. It also goes back to earlier in the
week when they were talking about moving John to
the Rehab. That's now been done as you will see.
BTW, the reference to photos are the various
pictures of John's past but they don't copy to
this message, so only the text comes through. You
can see the entire blog by going to
http://www.w2gd-updates.blogspot.com/. 

Barry K2BC 

Saturday, June 28, 2008
The FD streak continues!
When the photo above was taken in 1986 (at the
K2GL 80th birthday party, tks KR2Q), W2GD (that
young guy on the right) had already operated in 27
consecutive Field Days, starting 2 years before he
got his license. There are a few other famous
contesters in the photo, too.

We had a mission this week to keep the FD streak
alive, despite the current "situation". Thanks to
the efforts of K3LR and the K3LR Chief Technology
Officer Dave, W9ZRX, we got John on the air via
Internet-connected remote.

As of 2345Z, John had managed 8 QSOs on 40 SSB.

Thanks to W8TNO, K2AA (K2AX op and they chatted),
W1LY, W1N, K1R (is this K1RX's local club?), W1NY,
W1TU, and W0MA, who unknowingly made a guy in
Maine really really happy.

49 years in a row. Check.

Mission accomplished.

73,

DougK1DG at gmail.com

Posted by Doug K1DG at 8:45 PM 1 comments
New address for cards, etc.

Today's W2GD picture shows John and his son Nick
in April 2006. Photo by Jim Cain, K1TN.

Someone asked me for John's new direct "QSL" info,
now that he's moved...here it is:

John Crovelli (patient)
New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland
335 Brighton Avenue
Portland, ME 04102-2374

73,

DougK1DG at gmail.com
Posted by Doug K1DG at 1:33 PM 0 comments
Thanks To Everyone!
Well....its been one hell of a week for me so far.
. .

I want everyone to know (although K1DG has been
doing a terrific job with his daily updates) that
my spirits are very high, and I KNOW I'll be up
and around sooner than you think, and ultimately
enjoy a full recovery from this accident.

The wonderful personal emails, blog comments,
QSLs, get well cards, telephone calls, flowers,
even a poem, have all contributed to my
maintaining this very possitive attitude. I feel
so blessed to be alive, and among so many friends
who have not been afraid to share their good
wishes and love. THANK YOU! It means everything to
me....now and forever.

Started out last Monday morning having three 4 to
6 inch titanium screws surgically inplanted into
by pelvis. Apparently a sufficient number to
immobilize the most serious fracture pelvic
fracture and the procedure was a total success.
The procedure was very non-invassive, the
surgically openings were very small. In about 5
weeks or so they'll let me start to put weight on
my right leg again. Then watch out, I'll be
walking on my own in no time (I have this UTube
like video in my brain that has me walking across
a field ... I see my legs moving in perfect
syncronization.....it won't be long!)

Tues/Weds/Thurs were pretty low key in Room 622 of
the Maine Medical Center. The big thing was to
keep working on desolving the blood clot in my
right lung from the prior week. They've since
ended the Heparin drip, I'm now on an oral blood
thinner, things are progressing. The other big
events were reported by Doug, e.g. getting out of
bed, eating lunch sitting up, etc.

In the rehab hospital (New England Rehab) I'll be
having 3 hours per day of Physical Therapy and
Occupational Therapy. Its sort of odd having to
learn again the basic things like putting on
cloths, bathing, etc., but thats a large part of
the recovery period ahead. I will be surely able
to travel in about 5 weeks.....once I can start
putting weight on my right leg.

Let me again thank K1DG, K1RX, K8PO, my family,
and so many others who are helping me through this
chapter of my life.

Enjoy the Amateur Radio Field Day this weekend!
Its my 49th.

73,

John Crovelli W2GD/1
Posted by John Crovelli, W2GD at 1:20 PM 1
comments
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Rehab place DOES have Internet access!!!

That's John over there observing N6TV (L) and K1EA
(R) operating OH6MMC at WRTC2002 in Finland (photo
by N6TV).
I visited John at the rehab place today. He DOES
have Internet access, and we tested out the link
to the K3LR 40M remote station. Looks like he is
good to go on 40 SSB for Field Day!
While driving up to the rehab place, I noticed a
tower with a couple of beams on it. A little
detective work turned up that it is the QTH of
Bernie, K1SA. Small world.
When John arrived at the rehab place, he was told
that he'll only be there for 5-10 DAYS! This is
much much less time than he'd been led to believe,
and a nice surprise. Hopefully, that is accurate,
and the person didn't mean weeks.
I am pretty sure that any cards sent to Maine
Medical will reach him OK, but if you want to send
a dupe, that is of course encouraged!!!
73,
DougK1DG at gmail.com
Posted by Doug K1DG at 11:07 PM 1 comments
Moving day
Got a call from John a little while ago. He has
apparently made enough progress (or annoyed the
nurses sufficiently) that he's moving out today to
the rehab place.

Details and address to follow.

We found out that the rehab place does not have a
high-speed Internet connection, so the plan to
activate W2GD/1 via the K3LR/remote may not be
possible.

But I plan to sneak my IC706, a mike and paddle,
and some wire to him over there. He'll be weaker,
but we'll get him on somehow. Listen loud.

73,

DougK1DG at gmail.com
Posted by Doug K1DG at 12:12 PM 1 comments
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Walking!

I am getting tired of text every day, so I'm
adding a new feature...pictures. If you have a
photo of John to share, please send it along to me
directly and I'll post it.

This picture was contributed by VE3EJ, and shows
John and Elaine at WRTC2006 in Brazil.


Today they dragged John out of bed, and he walked
a little bit around the room. He's using a walker
for the time being, so I guess that makes him
Single-op Assisted. And that's OK!

He also sat up in a chair for lunch (lobster
again, of course).

John has discovered that the sun rises early this
time of year in Portland (43 N 70 W) ...about 0500
local. Between then and about 0700 he is pretty
busy with nurses invading his space, poking,
prodding, etc.

A bunch of cards arrived today...some new mults.
Keep 'em coming!

The custom W1CW/K4OJ memorial M&Ms sent by W1YL
also arrived. Good job, "ln"! Yes, we remember...

They are talking about a transfer to the rehab
hospital possibly as soon as next week. More on
this as it develops.

73,


DougK1DG at gmail.com
Posted by Doug K1DG at 9:39 PM 0 comments