Bullets cannot be recalled. They cannot be uninvented. But they can be taken out of the gun. -Martin Amis, novelist (b. 1949)
Very
difficult day today . Wayne had a major cardiac event he is critical
condition and currently in medical coma. Thank you to my wonderful
family and friends for their support .
Hello Pat, Tina just passed on the news about Sarge that was posted by Michelle on Facebook. Have you any further info/news on his condition/prognosis? Terrible, terrible news – please pass on to Michelle that our love and thoughts are with her. Trevor
What follows is a bit of a patchwork quilt, taken from a message that I
sent to friends, Tina and Trevor, from Adelaide, who had seen one of
Michele's first postings on Facebook. I wrote this after Chloë and I
rushed to hospital. Cora Lee and Ayn were in Tofino
at memorial for Erich and John Vogt:First of all, as of this very moment, we, (friends and family as well I suspect), don't know any more than that Sarge was put into a medical coma yesterday around noon. Royal Columbian, in New Westminster, is perhaps one of the best facilities in the province for the treatment of cardiac arrest so he will be receiving the attention he will need to pull through. Furthermore he had had an "ice blanket" placed over him and other smaller packs under his arms, (I understand, although I couldn't see smaller devices.), to lower his core body temperature, about an hour before he was to be moved from Emergency to ICU.
When I, and others, last had
the opportunity to see him in Emergency, he was completely out. However,
Nicole and Michele were at the hospital soon after he was admitted and
he was, seemingly, semi-conscious and could
move both arms and both legs, and gripped their hands with much
strength. He also seemed to be able to be trying to look at them,
although with difficulty, responding to their voices and words.I mention the last few facts as they are of critical importance, although I am no specialist, of course, as they would seem to indicate that there was no apparent paralysis, at least at this point. From what was able to be reconstructed, Sarge was in the gym at work. He often goes there, as early as 6:00 am, when he car pools with another friend and neighbour who lives in our building and whose shift starts even earlier.
Earlier this summer!
At any rate it is speculated that he
collapsed while on a treadmill of elliptical machine.
There was another woman in the gym at the time but apparently she
didn't witness his collapse and, in fact, thought he was actually doing
stretches on the floor! This next part is really frightening as after
she saw him on the floor she left the gym intending
to take a shower. Before so doing she realized that she had left her
name-tag, (I believe, or some such item), in the gym and returned to
collect it. She immediately realized he had not moved and started to
attempt to resuscitate him. Had this chance event
not occurred it is pretty clear that Wayne would have died!
Whether she was the one who used a defibrillator on him or not, it was
applied, at some point, as his heart had stopped. He was breathing on
his own during ambulance ride to hospital and when he was being attended
to in Emergency. He fought the tubes being
inserted into his nose/throat and had to be restrained as a result. I received a call from an almost hysterical Michele at about 9:00 am. Had she called but 10 or 15 minutes later I would not have been home. Corinne and Ayn were in Tofino, as mentioned, attending a Vogt Family memorial for her Uncle Erich and her biological father, John, scattering of ashes, etc. Ayn flew to Bellingham on Wednesday and they spent the night with Grogg/Lurch on Friday night, before driving to Tofino on Saturday. As you might recall, I had arranged with Whirlygig to ride to Squamish as part of our training/route orientation. Had arranged to stay with good friends, Ruthless and Ricardo, on Monday and Tuesday nights. On Tuesday we planned to ride to Whislter and back, stay overnight, again, and then return to Vancouver on Wednesday.
Those plans changed, as you would suspect. I called Chloë as soon as I
hung up phone after talking to Michele. She had not yet left for work so
she came to collect me and we drove to the hospital. (Under
circumstances, Giorgio decided to return to Galiano after
attending to a few things in city.) We discovered, to our relief, via a
phone call with Rebecca, en route, that Sarge was in stable, though
critical conditon, in Emergency. When I had talked with Michele she had
indicated that it wasn't even known if he was
alive when she was informed of what had happened!Chloë stayed at the hospital for about an hour, helping out, fetching water and muffins, coffee and other snacks. Two of Sarge's colleagues were there as well. Corey was, coincidentally, passing the hospital, en route to an extra shift, when he received the news. He was actually in Emergency before ambulance and witnessed his father being wheeled in.
Marvin and Nicole were there by the time we
arrived and Marvin's parents, Bella and Bert, came shortly after we did.
Ryan and Megan had been in Vancouver over the
weekend but drove back to Merritt on Sunday evening. Initially they
couldn't be reached but I overheard Michele talking to Ryan, at one
point, in the waiting room, and they were just leaving Merritt. Ryan had
been at work. Not sure about Megan. At any rate,
we have not seen them as once Sarge was to be moved to ICU, to better
continue process to lower his metabolic rate, I decided there wasn't
much point in staying. Given the induced coma, there really wasn't
anything to do but wait and see and hope!
Apparently, obviously, a whole battery of tests will be run over next 24 to 48 hours to try to determine/assess just what happened, organ damage, further treatment, etc. As far as I know Sarge may have suffered a stroke rather than a heart attack but this is not at all clear, as of this writing, or at least as far as I, or anyone, for that matter, knows. Michele had been collected at her place of work, near Chloë's loft, so Flamin' asked me to drive her car home. When we left, everyone was at Brown's Social House, just down from the hospital, having a bite to eat.
Chloë collected me
and dropped me off and then went to run a few work errands. She did
stop in at her place to pick up a change of clothes for Nicole, sweats
and such, as she had been dressed for work that
morning and wanted to be in something more comfortable, with all the
sitting around and emotionally draining, waiting, waiting, waiting.Once back home I thought I might go for a short ride just to clear my head but I felt pretty drained myself so busied myself getting the place ready for Ayn and Cora Lee. While in Parksville, on Friday, Coriandre revisited the store where we'd found a Murphy style bed, a year or so ago. This particular model, instead of folding down from the wall, like the one in the Annexe, accordions itself out from a large sideboard-like cabinet. Quite a nifty design and $500 cheaper than similar model here in Vancouver! At any rate, she arranged to collect it on Monday, en route from Tofino to Nanaimo. Grogg very kindly met them at store, in Parksville, and helped them stow all the parts. The car looked like one in Grapes of Wrath, tailgate tied closed with nylon rope and bungee cords. Just needed Sharktooth Annie, in her rocking chair, on the roof!
Once they were home Ayn and I managed to carry all but the largest of
three pieces, (lightest is mattress, in three, attached sections), into
spare bedroom. Using a dolly Dusty bought years ago, we were able to
wheel largest section, quite easily I should add,
into hallway, close to turn into our bedroom. Needed to upend the
section at this pint to maneuver it around the corner and through
doorway. Placed one end on a towel and this allowed us to push/pull it
into place. Then a bit of jiggling to set it into place
on base and Presto, we are in the moving business! Have Dolly, Will
Travel!!!
Last Summer!
Close to 6:30 pm by this time so everyone took a shower and then we set
about getting ready for dinner. Ayn went to GI for lamb, beef and
chicken kebabs, I made a mixed green salad, Cora Lee a bean salad.
Grilled corn tortillas from Goats on the Roof in Coombs,
just up from Parksville, with a guacamole and a very zesty pico de
gallo. Fresh Okanagan cherries for dessert. Joanne, neighbour from
upstairs, joined us for dinner, (bringing all sorts of goodies and
wine), so we enjoyed most of the evening on the patio.Not an overly late night as friend and neighbour, Joanne, was leaving for Austen next morning. I offered to drive her to airport and she needed to leave by 4:30 am. My eyes closed almost before my head hit pillow.
Dear Dynamic Duo, As you will have seen, there are now 2 Studio Bar shifts Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat. Patrick , you glutton for punishment, I see you have signed up for both early & later shifts on those days, PLUS the solo shift on Tuesday the 21st. Cathy A and Jo Baxendale are concerned about asking you to serve both shifts, which would amount to six hours Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat. “Too Much” they say! Jo has offered to assist on Tuesday the 21st to learn the ropes and then to work the early shift on Wed, Thurs & Fri with another to be named volunteer. This would relieve you two of six hour shifts on those days.
Jo doesn’t want to work Saturday at all, because she will be serving as a staff assistant on Sunday for the Brunch & Tea, as last year. What say you?
Hi Kathryn! Is there a time, before Festival begins, when we
could meet with Cathy and Jo to work out what might be best in terms of
various shifts. Neither Cora Lee nor I are "fussed" about the six hours
but are certainly happy to have help offered, for relief and also training
purposes, it goes without saying. Shouldn't take but a few minutes and
doesn't have to be but a day or so before start, depending on busy
schedules. Cheers, Trizzio, Studio 1398 Bar Keep/Bar Fly! 
Hey Al; Paul just got home from tuna fishing last night. FYI: We will have fresh Sockeye Salmon tomorrow, $20 per fish, cleaned. We will be selling off the F/V Canadian Shore in Steveston. Please tell friends and family. Call my cell for directions. Thanks, Muriel
Hi Patrick! Many thanks for your email and very interesting photos of trip down memory lane. Sounded wonderful.
You are probably aware that Gudrun's mum passed away in a nursing home in Denver a couple of weeks ago. Gudrun and Steve are still over there at the moment I believe and Mark went down for the funeral. He should be back in Vancouver by now. Gudrun's father is living in the same home but unfortunately also suffers from dementia.
Canada Day!
As for Gayle and myself, we have been doing very little this past week
after having Marnie, Ant, Tris and the dog staying. Went up to the
Dutchy yesterday for a walk over to Lanhydrock and bumped into Audrey
and Brian in the restaurant. They had driven up for lunch so we had a
coffee with them and a natter before proceeding on our walk. We stayed
clear of the house and gardens since the place was heaving with people.
Cornwall has been inundated with visitors this year i think because of
the good summer weather so we have stayed away from the more touristy
areas. Fortunately there are still lots of places to go here, even in
the height of the tourist season, that are completely isolated. 
I'm still not totally enthralled with the whole idea of moving and if we can't sell at the "reserved" price it is likely that we will stay put. Gayle and I have looked at an apartment in Truro which is a new build in a adults only building (55 and over actually) which we very much liked. Its very much smaller than what we have now (probably half the size) but very nicely designed.
Maur, Bill, Dave, Sue and the grandchildren are away this week at Centre Parc in Longleat so we are looking after the cats and guinea pigs while they are away. Gayle just had a call from Marg inviting us over this afternoon for a coffee and a slice of cake which she had just baked. It's raining at the moment but is supposed to clear in a couple of hours so, hopefully, we will be able to walk over. Marg and Barry are coming to stay here while we are in Vancouver to look after Spuddy boy. Trust all is well with you all. Bye for now, Derek
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