I’ve been wondering about Chuck ever since our brief meeting in Sept. I finally sent a msg to him last night and got the following reply from Martha. I just spoke to Chuck on the phone and bawled him out for not letting us know. He has not had access to a computer since 9/28…hopes to buy a laptop soon. I know everyone will want to send him their best.
Betty:
Yes, Chuck has been ill. On September 28, 2001 we took him in to the Acute
Care Clinic with what we thought was the “flu”. He had a staph and strep
infection in his blood; the infection had originated in his artificial knee
which he had done in September 1999. He was on IV antibiotics for six
weeks and just had the line taken out on November 12. We have to wait
until December 18, when the orthopedist will aspirate the knee and see if
it grows out any “bugs”. If the knee is clear and there are no other
signs of any infection in the knee or elsewhere, he will see another
partner to have the knee reimplanted, probably sometime in January
2002. He was in the hospital and then a continuing care facility until he
had the IV PIC line out. Now he is at his Mother’s house in Springfield,
IL (1317 South Whittier, Springfield, IL 62704) at least for a month maybe
more. We live so far out and have no 911. Also the house is not really
accessible for him with his crutches and wheelchair. He is mentally and
physically ok, but cannot put any weight on his right leg. He just has
antibiotic spacers in the leg now; they took out his artificial knee on
September 29, because of the infection which was throughout the knee. As
far as infection, everything looks good at this point with no overt signs
of infection like heat, redness, swelling, or fever. His phone number
there is 217-528-3948, if you would like to talk with him directly or you
can write him. He will be getting a laptop sometime, maybe as early as
next week. I will tell him you wrote and give him your message. Your
prayers would be most appreciated.
Martha Clark
PS. One happy note…although he had to trade his orchestra seats in for wheelchair accessible ones…he will get to attend Riverdance on Sunday in Springfield.
\
Love one another…
[ This Message was edited by: Grannymouse on 2001-11-21 20:33 ]
GM, if you speak to Chuck again please tell him I’m very sorry to hear about what he’s gone through and give him my very best wishes for a speedy recovery. His presence on the board is missed. And thank you very much for letting us know.
Damn, that sucks (Exactly why I don’t have my gimpy knees replaced.)
Please give Chuck our, best if you talk to him before we do. Tell him we’ve missed him and we’re all wishing him a speedy recovery!
I’m sending this to Chuck via snail mail on the official Chiff & Fipple stationery.
November 22, 2001
Chuck Clark
c/o 1317 South Whittier
Springfield, IL 62704
Dear Chuck,
What are you nuts? You’d think that the first thing you’d think about when you got sick would be letting your whistle friends know! Well, on second thought maybe it wouldn’t be the first thing you think about. It might be, like, the 1378th thing you’d think about. The first would be probably “Yikes! I’m sick!”
Anyway, the word has broken via a message on the Chiff & Fipple message board by Betty (Grannymouse). Of course it would be Betty, God bless her sweet soul.
Seriously, so sorry to hear you have been so ill. Sounds like you’ve been though the mill but are starting to reconstitute yourself. On behalf of everyone in the chiff & fipple community, we wish you to get well soon and shall celebrate your first new, post-illness message on the board.
Fondly yours,
Dale Wisely
on behalf of chiff & fipplers everywhere
Thanks a bunch Dale. I think he was really starting to feel unloved…but who knew. I should have followed up on my intuition a little sooner.
Please say a prayer…I’m flying out to Chicago tomorrow..(today)…going to celebrate my Dad’s 98th. Have tickets to hear the Vienna Boys Choir…don’t suppose any of them whistle…oh well…it will be a thrill. See you all next week. Gm
I called Chuck yesterday afternoon
and we had a very pleasant chat. Plenty
of jovial noise in the background and
this fine gentleman appears to be in
good spirits. He’s expecting to have a
computer site up shortly and be back
with us soon.
Well, the bad news is I’m back - at least occasionally, thanks to a new Compaq laptop - nice toy, btw.
Thanks to all for the prayers and good wishes and to Stan and Betty for the very cheering calls.
Thom - it was the Sunday matinee. Darn, another chance missed. On the other hand, two months inactivity have left me with a shopping list - next stop, The Whistle Shop website.
I don’t want to tie up my folks only line, so visits may be late night and sporadic, but darn, it sure feels great to be home at C&F.
(Exactly why I don’t have my gimpy knees replaced.)