BUFFALO RIVER - Tick update - Friday - May 29

[Karla]

Gary and Karla are thinking of you and praying you recover soon and back on the river.

[KimL]

Oh my gosh! I completely missed this earlier. Please give us an update ASAP.

[Eric Esche]

I will call tomorrow for an update on Richard and post it.

Eric

[KimL]

Thanks, Eric.

[Eric Esche]

Just got off the phone with Richard's daughter Stephanie at 11:30AM Sunday.

When Richard said he didn't feel well, that was probably an understatement. After a battery of tests, it has been determined that Richard has:
Bilateral Pneumonia (that means it is in both lungs),
Meningitus (I forgot to ask which type)
and an infection from a tick bite, which she couldn't remember the name of.

Stephanie said that it was alright to pass along this information and that Richard wouldn't mind us knowing the details as folks would be asking. She said he is still in the "step down unit off of ICU" which is a sub acute/sub critical care unit.

He mostly likely will be there through Tuesday, possible longer depending on his progress. He is in room S424 in University of Arkansas Medical School (UAMS) in Little Rock. Stephanie said he has had family members visiting him all weekend, and that Richard would probably welcome some visits by any paddlers who happen to be in the area.

My idea -and one I haven't talked over with anyone yet, so it probably needs polishing up and refining by someone else to work. I know Richard has probably 3 of everything that he loans out to anyone who he has heard needs something, but sending him flowers that will die or have to be planted when he gets out, just doesn't seem like something to cheer Richard up. He knows we all love him, but confinement is a bummer. Why don't we pass around the hat instead and get him a gift certificate for what flowers would have come to, AND THEN JUST AS IMPORTANT, GIVE HIM SOME FAR OUT GEAR CATALOGS, SO HE HAS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND THINK ABOUT, OTHER THAN HIS BEING STUCK WHERE HE IS.

Y'all know Richard - He would plan on what to get, down to the last penny, nine ways from Sunday, probably 20-30 times in just a few days of being confined, while saying constantly, "Y'all shouldn't have done that". Think someone down that way should hold the hat, and I'll send mine into whomever does it on Tuesday when the mails run again. Seriously, I think the gear catalogs would give him something to distract him, if anyone can drop him off some today or tomorrow. I might drive down on Tuesday or Wednesday if he is not going to be released by then. If I could burn a blowlog where it would be visible from his room, I'd do that too, even though he has been through that "leave no trace school". I still remember Richard peacefully smiling and enjoying one or two of them before "he got educated".

Didn't hear of any dietary restrictions, but I didn't ask. (I will ask next time) I have yet to be in a hospital where the food served the patients was inspiring. Someone might be able to slip him a single serving of something good, without wrecking anything, as long as it wasn't too sweet or rough on the stomach.

If anyone stops by there today, would you ask at the nurses station what he can't have to eat or drink?

Thanks, Eric

[KimL]

Thank you, Eric. I am home bound 70 miles away due to car trouble, or else I'd offer to be point on collections.

Did I ever mention that I hate ticks?

[Gail]

Thanks, Eric, for the update. Many of you don't know me; I'm from Wisconsin, but as Richard does, he welcomes anyone and everyone to to Buffalo, and I've had the privilege of experiencing the Buffalo and the Eleven Point with him and many of his friends (Bob Stout, Ruth and Joe, Ruth A., Doug Wilson, and others, but it has been a couple of years since I've been down that way. I would love to be a part of the collection for the gift certificate for Richard--he has also gotten me some great deals on Sierra Trading Post, etc.--as he probably has for many of you! I know he likes looking for good deals! Anyway, if there's an address posted or if someone does this and would email me the address where I could send a check (or money order as I just ran out of checks--what a brain freeze!) I'd be glad to be part of this.

[Scoupe]

Thanks for the updates, Eric.

We'll be sure to keep Richard in our thoughts while he recuperates.

Doug and Rebecca(KC)

[Eric Esche]

I do not want to be stirring up fears, but since Richeard is "one of our own", I did a little on line reading to refresh my memory on Meningitus and tick bite infections. I knew that any type of menigitus is serious and that threw up a WHAT? when I heard it, and I knew of the problems associated with tick bites after my mother contracted Lyme Disease on Nantuckett Island, so I am very glad Richard is at one of the best health care facilities in the state, and will keep hoping to hear of his improvement.

We had our son James get a meningitus vaccine before he went off to college we took it that seriously - $175 out of pocket and I had to drive him down to Fayetteville to get it as there was only one doctor in the area that stocked it for folks going overseas. We knew that there were cases being reported two years ago in Arkansas to the southeast of us in NWA, so we had him get the vaccine.

Since many of us go where Richard has been, it might be a good idea if we read up on the symptoms, just in case we have been shrugging off things in denial, or so we can watch for the symptoms in others. For those of you that would like a link to read up more on these two, I am adding the following two links:

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/Wh ... 31360.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial/faqs.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eric

and no, my neck pains were from degenerative disc disease according to the MRI I had done, and my doctor has monitored me after I knew I had received a couple of tick bites that did not want to heal.

[GutIt]

From what I understand, no one has ever been left on the bank just because they were light a piece or two of gear on one of these Buffalo Runs. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, no one would be left on the bank even if they didn’t have anything at all. All you needed was the desire and willingness to go and the rest would be there for you. Now that, to me, is what boating is all about and Richard embodies that Spirit.

I have only been on one of these Buffalo Runs with Richard & Co. but it left an indelible impression on me. It was one of the best runs I have ever done and that is saying something. He told me that he would rather be on the Buffalo than just about anywhere else on the Planet and no matter how many times he went he never tired of it. He said he felt more connected to this River than just about anything else he had ever experienced.

I can’t do much (anything, really) from where I am at the moment as far as logistics are concerned, but if everyone thinks this gear idea would be a cool thing to do, then I’m in. I think he’d really enjoy that.

Janetlee is poised to pull the trigger for us.

We’ll be waiting for an address!

[scoutdad]

Does anybody know if Richard has a pay-pal account?
We can all put our "flower money" in it.
Just an idea.

[Eric Esche]

Good idea! I'll ask his daughter tomorrow when I get an update. if not, I'll stuff an envelope or get a money order before I go down there later this week. I do not have many catalogs here at the house , but I will take what I can find, and maybe hit Lewis and Clark up for some.

Eric

[lbaker]

Hey Eric, count me in also.
I have yet to make one of his trips, though I have tried, "stuff" kept getting in the way, and it's a long way for me. Richard and yourself have always given me great advice and info. and I do hope to meet all one the river soon.
Leigh

[KimL]

Okay, I'm looking for an update!

[Gail]

Terry, I don't think anyone could have put it more eloquantly than you just did . . . he does so much for everyone, especially when it comes to his beloved Buffalo! Just ask him how many canoes, stoves, tents, cots, sleeping bags, etc. that he has . . . and he shares without a thought so others can appreciate the natural wonder of the Buffalo.