Jim
Poel
July 11:
Good morning,
The surgeries went well (although
they took all day). It's not unusual for Jim to get
"shelved" for a few hours in between to take care of a more
pressing case. As a reminder, his left leg was repaired and they
reopened his back to find out why it wasn't healing properly.
The leg went fine. In his back they found/cleaned some dead
tissue. They will revisit that on Thursday, see how it's doing
and hopefully close for good.
The final insult came
yesterday. Imagine the poor guy--left leg broken, right leg
unusable due to a shattered right pelvis, right arm wrapped and in a
splint (broken wrist). Yesterday they put a splint on his left
arm.
They needed to make a "cut
down" to gain access for I.V.'s. He's
getting bored as well as better. How can I tell?
With all this going on, he mentioned he really wanted me to
bring his cell phone and a laptop! I told him I'd had them with
me all along, I was just waiting for one good hand to use them.
As one might expect he's lost a ton
of weight. And he certainly never needed to. He still
isn't getting solid food but hopefully will soon.
That's about it this time.
Talk to you in a couple of days.
Lovada
I spoke with Lovada again this
afternoon, as she said, Jim is speaking and becoming more clear, this
is great news for all who know him. As before, our thoughts and
prayers are with Jim and Lovada.
Henry
July 9:
Hi,
It looks like I may have to write
again later. Jim was all day in surgery yesterday getting his
back looked at/worked on and his broken leg repaired. I don't
have any information other than the operations were completed.
Talk to you later.
Lovada
July 7:
Good morning,
There isn't a lot to say this
morning. They don't know when he'll leave ICU. Or when the
next two surgeries will be (to work on his back wound and fix his
broken leg). Right now he's in a bit of a holding pattern,
working the massive amount of drugs through his system and getting
ready for the next "fix". Seems discouraging, but
isn't really. To be expected.
Keep the good thoughts and prayers
coming.
Love,
Lovada
July 4:
Hi Again,
Anyone who knew Jim when he was
working knows how he loved to beat schedule. Well, he's still
that way. At 0800 he woke up, at 0815 they took him off the
respirator and ALL meds. He has a patch for pain relief and his
food line (probably out tomorrow) and THAT's IT!!!!!
Later in the day he is making some
real sentences. He really came awake when they changed
the dressing on his back and turned him. He showered staff with
a profusion of LOUD words his Mother wouldn't have liked. Then
he started really talking. Well, not a ton, but he was
definitely there, making sentences. His nurse said, "It's
all right" and he responded, quite clearly and loudly,
"NO. IT ISN'T!" That's my guy!
So now, the real work begins.
Thanks for your prayers and kind
thoughts. I know as sure as anything those made him "come
back" that much faster.
Love,
Lovada
June 20:
Just spoke
with Lovada Poel this morning, the good news is after last nights
surgery they found the location of the internal bleeding and was able
to stop it. After over 30, yes 30 units of blood transfused,
this is a great sign that his battle may be turning for the better.
He still has a long hard road ahead of him, but everyday, our
hopes are that he gets stronger. As of today he is in a doctor
induced coma to help his body heal. This will remain in effect for
about a week. As before, I believe that your thoughts and
prayers are working. I have already received calls from friends
throughout the US and Europe to get more information on his progress.
Thanks to everyone for your good wishes and prayers.
Henry
June 19:
Henry Ruzakowski
reports this most sad news;
My very good and dear friend and
Seabee enthusiast and go-to-guy for many Seabee and especially
Franklin engine related help, Jim Poel was involved is a crash
yesterday while test flying a Replica 1910 Curtiss Albany Flyer in
Penn Yan, NY. If I am correct it was the first aircraft to fly
off an aircraft carrier and was to be use for the US Navy's 100 Year
Anniversary next year in San Diego.
Jim's injuries initially was listed
as NOT life threatening, however, once at the hospital it was
determined that it is was. Jim's injuries were a broken wrist,
shattered pelvis, facial lacerations and a puncture to his lower back
caused by the bamboo (the structure of the aircraft is made of
bamboo). It was told to me by Lovada (his wife) today, that the
puncture was (as the doctor put it) as large as your fist, lastly, he
has internal bleeding which has not been located by the doctors after
2 angiograms, all this is as of 3PM eastern time.
Jim is one of the most respected men
in the Seabee community and many of you have spoken with him in the
past or met him, his wife and his award winning Seabee at Sun n
Fun or many other Seaplane Fly-In's around the East. I know my
prayers and thoughts are with him and his family during this time.
Jim has been like a brother and a father figure to me, he has
bent over backwards and forwards to help me and many others in this
small community that we have and I know each of you in your own way
will give him the encouragement he and his family needs to get though
these days that are the toughest.
Henry Ruzakowski
