I’ve just had a call from Keith. The bad news is, he’s probably got about 6 months to live. The right side of his heart was damaged in the attempt to clear out the calcified mass that was pressing there, but he wouldn’t be alive now if it weren’t for the partial repair of the valve that was done. He knows that given his history of thoracic surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments, the chances of his surviving a heart transplant, which would have only about a 5% chance of success, are rather dismal. Even then, they couldn’t guarantee any sort of quality of life.
Being Keith, it’s also part of his calculation that even could he receive a transplant in time, it would very likely be a waste of this essential organ. What this means, in essence, is that he’s determined to get well enough to go to New Mexico to spend some time doing the things he loves in a place he loves.
He’s thinking that perhaps, given how far into his program he’s gotten, the department will see fit to award him his degree in computer science and discrete number mathematics posthumously. He also adores, though his driving days are over, the ’61 Impala his father bought for him years ago, and hopes to see it fully restored. If you are adept at bodywork, this is a challenge you may wish to take up.
What does he wish from us? Well, not much. He’d like our prayers, as he’s a believer in miracles. He has hospice help, which is wonderful (he spent 35 days in and out of consciousness in ICU care). I’ve made him promise to register an Amazon wish list, and he’s promised to email some of his paintings. Those who have already given their well-wishes and support, including one woman from Corpus Christi, have his deepest gratitude.
He wishes to express at length his appreciation for the proprietor of this blog and the sort of people that he attracts. He feels at peace, but anyone who wishes to email me for his telephone number is welcome.
When I was an undergraduate, I did charity work. There was an old woman who came in every day to help, usually the first person there in the morning and the last to leave. One day, she said she felt tired, and sat down on the couch to nap. She died. When the ambulance was taking her away, two of her sons arrived. I wanted to share memories of this wonderful woman with them. Neither seemed to think that she was remarkable at all. I never, ever, want to see that again.
Blessings and condolences to all concerned.
Burrhog ,
Keep thinking positive .
Oh hell. That’s double tough. I stand awestruck at his transplant decision, it is the highest form of charity and heroism to refuse to grasp at that last straw if someone else can be bouyed by it.
As to bodywork, I’m no slouch, but am not sure where the Impala is. If it’s near enough by, I’d consider it an honor to do what I can. Would appreciate contact information for his school in re the degree situation, if that would be aceptable.
All my best thoughts and wishes, Keith.
Godspeed.
I do not wish to be a troll, Dan, but mayn’t it have been that the woman’s sons did not wish to talk then? They were close enough to arrive, they cared enough to arrive, they may have been too concerned with memory to care about an outsider or his opinion.
Just asking. From someone who knows that in ten to fifteen years (or less) he will be the one called and the one to arrive at that time, and one who is dreadin’ what he has to see. And feel. And say. And do.
Dan, about the ’61, click through and leave a way to contact. Maybe it can happen.
Godspeed Burrhog. Keith? You sir are a brave and good man, who I wish many of us would emulate when the final times come over us. I haven’t been around these environs long enough to see your real time posts,but I have seen many a comment from the archives. A combination of brilliance, comedy and BS(when called for) is how I’ll remember you. You’re in my prayers dude….BIG TIME.
If you explain the situation, a high school autowhatever department would be thrilled to adopt the impala and restore it to its full impala potential. I do not know these departments or these impalas, but I know Texas.
I don’t do bodywork much beyond normal pulling dents and such….But I would be willing to rebuild the engine and drive train (or donate to have it done) if it’s in my power
There is a grand power in prayer or sheer determination; if not to prove the doctors completely wrong, but at least in stretching those medical guesses of “how long” to their outer limits and beyond. My dad was supposed to die in the ER three months back. They sent the chaplain in to see me, not the doctors. He’s home now. He wasn’t supposed to have made it. My fil made it ten years on a bad heart. Good thoughts and prayers, from the Godbag that am, that you find the ability to live out each day (however long that turns out to be- and hopefully exceeding expectations) to it’s fullest.
Please do whatever you can that gives you peace and comfort. It can happen to anyone; there’s no discretion.
Bless you………..(I’ll keep it open)
Mikey–I thought so, maybe, too, till I saw how they behaved at the wake.
That probably isn’t entirely his decision to make. They generally don’t do transplants for people with numerous other problems.
That said, happy trails, Keith. May the latter part of your road be fulfilling, may you find yourself in the company of loved ones and may you be in heaven for an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
Save us a table, won’t you?
Hmmm. Pablo never sounded like such an Irish name before.
So, Keith–you’ve already got a couple of offers regarding the Impala. What do you say? We all want you to go to New Mexico in style.
Sorry, Dan. I was acting on insufficient information.
I have a co-worker that lost her mother this week. Today a few of us (division head, division head secretary, me, and another attorney who is near term with her first) went to Sam’s to get stuff for our colleague. Me and the other attorney had voluntered to take the stuff out to her house. We did, and it was hard to leave because she was so stoic, but so appreciative. I still do not not know what to say, despite words being my living. Sometimes eloquence needs distance.
TW: behaviour common. I want to think that our behaviour was that.
Dan, I got the info. It’s no longer public.
Large car show tomorrow, most of the R30C members will be attending, I’ll discuss it with them and go from there.
Pablo has it’s origins on my mother’s side….
Dad is a recently deceased full blown Mick.
tw: exist lives
Comment by burrhog on 7/17 @ 8:48 pm # |Edit This
Since April 26th, the date of the surgery, I have spent a total of twelve days outside ICU. I was just released this afternoon.
Long,long,long story short: I have total right side heart failure. My only option was a heart transplant. I cannot go through another chest cracking. No-way. Also the mortality rate for me would be around 90-95%.
I plan to go the Make-a-Wish route. I will be trying to go to my favorite place in the world in the summer, Ruidoso, NM. I have a lot of friends out there and if I can hack the altitude, spend a few weeks (…month?) out there with my dogs and family.
Then come back to my fully restored 1961 Buick LeSabre. Maybe have my chauffer tool me around Austin meeting hippy chicks/co-eds at coffee shops.
I have been in near coma conditions for weeks now. I will give all details of my ordeal sometime in the next few days. I know people have been trying to get in touch with me but I was unable to respond – more later.
I have been thinking of Thor (? I hope that’s right) who gave me the monkey. He’s been a great companion and touch stone. A laugh.
Peace & Love,
Keith Johnston
I was certain he’d said Impala, but there you go.
Keith, when you travel that last long road, please be sure to mark the way for the rest of us to follow.
A little stick-figure armadillo every mile or so will probably do the trick.
Stay strong, stay happy, and milk what is left for all that it is worth Keith. God Bless.
There are good drugs for the altitude no? NPR talks about them like incessantly. Just stay off the racing bike and they’ll probably give you a pass. Maybe.
As an Impala man meself, to the best, my man, to the best. Me prayers are with ye, and I hopes that when my day dawns I am as gracious as ye. God Bless ye, Sir.
TW: work inevitably. slainte!
Dan – thanks for keeping us informed.
Burrhog – my prayers, and those of all who have had the pleasure of encountering you, are with you.
To all here. I was just reading through this thread, and as much as I love the no-holds-barred debate around here, what I like most are the people. You guys, gals, whatever …
You are just a damn fine community of people. Over the last 5+ years, commenters have come and gone. Certainly the trolls have, though I often suspect that they just change their name and come back. The biggest draw for me, is you. Every time anybody has ever asked for help, the people around here respond immediately. Even more importantly, you do it when people are not even asking for help. You do it because you want to, because it is a kind thing to do. I was trying to explain this to my better half, and she was amazed at the pure kindness and generosity of everyone. She could not begin to understand how a group of people from points afar, who in most cases, have never met, would be willing to give of their time and resources to help a stranger. I tried to explain to her that despite not being actually acquainted, most of the folks around here are not strangers. We share a lot of ourselves with each other, and that is a large part of what makes this place so damn entertaining.
Make-A-Wish has nothing on you people.
Burrhog – I am horrible with cars. Flat out bad. Outside of pumping gas, turning on the ignition, and driving to Jiffy Lube for an oil change, everything else about cars baffle me. But I love them. Should there come a time where you get to work on that ’61 LeSabre, I would gladly volunteer to help for a while, if nothing other than handing you the tools that you need. I would like to help, and for me, a vacation to help a person that I have never met would be far more restful for my soul than packing the family on a plane and going to the beach, etc … Would it be a bit selfish of me? Sure. But damn, there are few things as fun as working with tools, while spending time with good people. God bless you, Keith.
And God bless all of you. You are a wonderful group of people.
There. Now that I have proven that I am not completely a heartless bastard, I can resume my normal persona, in another thread, because this one should not be sullied by trolls and argument. The goodness of this community should take center stage here.
My prayers are with burrhog also. It’s great that he is at peace with the decisions he has made, though I — like Carin — pray that the docs are off in their prognosis.
Alas, I am also terrible with cars, though I almost beat Keith to the checkered flag in a ’67 Impala.
OK JD, I am in fact a COMPLETELY HEARTLESS BASTARD….and what you just wrote brought a ton of tears to these old eyes because it’s TRUE. This place and many like it are the last real GIVING places ……….I don’t honestly have the words for what I’m trying to say? but WE….HERE…..Not just Us and here,but at HA and ACE and Hewitt and Doubleplusundead and JAWA and LGF and for ALL of Pajamas media….WE are givers.., I know what I meant to say,but my eyes are clouding over….God Bless Keith…
I never ever had even a fleeting thought of doing charity work as an undergrad. I suspect this is something I will decide means I have to do some penance. Thanks, Dan.
I was hot for this one gorgeous hippie chick, happyfeet.
What can you say at this point? Godspeed, Kieth.
Keith: I’m so sorry to hear of your affliction. Savor every moment that remains. I will keep you in my prayers.
Dogs and New Mexico. A guy could do worse.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Keith. I wish I knew what a burrhog was. Because I think the armadillo could use a companion. Hell, maybe I can start them out in a kind of buddy picture.
On second thought, who cares that I don’t know what a burrhog is. That ain’t gonna stop me from writing about one anyway.
And Thor’s been a’thinkin’ about burrhog, too. Glad to hear from you, Keith, no matter the condition. My monkey and I we’ve just been taking it easy, skeet shooting bulldogs and stuff.
If you get that Buick running let me know where to send the hood ornament. Don’t doubt whether I can find a way to chrome a 3-inch-high ear-to-ear grinning chimp, it’d be a snap.
Let us know how you’re doing and what’s on your mind whenever you’re feeling up to it, all the best, podnuh.
Keith:
If you’ll allow the prayers of not just a “God-botherer,” but a hopelessly Orthodox “God-botherer,” I’ll add my rosary and my children’s prayers to your arsenal.
Yours,
Cowboy
Keith, we never had much chance to meet “in person,” as it were, but my prayers and hopes are with you.
And my strong belief that sometimes, with a lot of hope and drive, people can do things modern medicine thought impossible in terms of survival.
Greetings!
Dan asked me to put together a Wish List so that people could ‘help’. It goes against my nature but free stuff is actually kinda cool.
I’ll be happy to will over any and all items to whomever the sender wants (JeffG, the sender themselves, whatever). That way it would be just a loan. Let me know how you want it handled.
Also, let it be known that I really don’t need anything. It’s not like I’m running a web site. Maybe you could tip Jeff’s jar in my name! That would give me pleasure.
More details about my situation coming soon. At least I’m not in a coma or ICU right now.
Sincerely,
Keith Johnston
aka burrhog
Opps,
Here’s the Wish List link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/XGMVGPP8FEIZ/ref=wl_web/
burrhog
I got ten bucks toward that HP storage library, if anybody wants to chip in.
Prayin’ for you, Burr. Wish you were closer so I could help with the car.