Following update was taken from VFR list serve.
Chuck Snyder, Mike Schwab, and I all visited Mike this afternoon. Mr. Schwab and I got to the hospital about 12:30, and Chuck was already there. We stayed for a little over three hours and had a really good visit.
Mike is doing well, and getting stronger day by day. He has been able to use a walker to get up and get to the bathroom a few times, and his energy level is getting better. Lung infection seems to be cleared up, and I thought he looked and sounded good. He seems to be mostly recovered from the surgery on his pelvis that took place on Tuesday, and has minimal discomfort. That surgery seemed to have gone well; the doc was able to take care of it with a minimally invasive procedure, which is what everyone had been hoping for.
The news on his ankle/foot is not so good, however. The docs had hoped to perform surgery this coming Tuesday, but they are concerned with the condition of the soft tissue in the area. They want that to heal more before any additional procedures, and feel the risk of infection is too great right now to attempt surgery. So for now Mike still has the "frame' on his lower leg, with screws going into the leg bones, foot, and heel. These keep the hard parts generally aligned and immobile, while allowing the soft tissue to heal.
Mike will know more in the coming days, but he seemed to think it might be a few weeks before he will be healed enough to have the additional surgery. That may happen in Columbus after he returns. He is really looking forward to getting back there, and will probably stay with his parents until he can get along on his own. It may be a week or longer before he is ready to travel.
Mike has a great attitude, as those of you who know him would expect. He is very determined to do whatever it takes to get the leg healed and functioning normally. He knows he has a long slog ahead of him, but is committed to doing whatever is required.
Mike asked us to express to everyone his deep appreciation for the concern, thoughts, and visits. As he said, this episode has shown him that he has more friends that he would have ever thought. There was even a guy on the Sabre-Magna list ("Sab-Mag") that had no idea who Mike was, but heard second-hand about the incident, and since he lives in the area he took the
time to come by and see him. What a great community of motorcyclists!
Mike does not have access to his email account yet, but Mike Schwab left him an iPad, so hopefully he will figure that out and get back in the loop.
Keep sending, your thoughts and prayers his way, he definitely appreciates it!
All the best,
John
