Update on an old fart

[towerworker]

It's been quite some time since I said much around here other than reminding you guys to check your R's antifreeze (which I hope you've done by now since the temps are dropping).

It is now roughly 28 months since I last rode my R due to being hit with Guillian Barre Syndrome in 05/10. I still have the bike. It's tagged and insured and ridden regularly by a good friend. I had hoped to be riding by this past May but I had not recovered sufficiently to feel I could ride safely. So now my goal is May of 2013. Recovery from GBS is a very slow process. I was paralyzed from the neck down for 4+ months, hospitalized 9+ months and had to relearn everything that we all take for granted. Things like feeding myself, bathing, walking and everything in between.

I still have some residual hand and foot paralysis and I tire easily (fatigue is a very common GBS side effect) But it's getting better. I can now stand on tip-toe, no big deal to most folks but when for over a year I couldn't make my feet move at all, it's a big deal for me. Anyway just to let ya'll know I'm still around and my goal is to be riding by next May (2013) and when I do I'm gonna post a video of it.

Towerworker (retired)

[Dr. Strangelove]

Congrats on the progress, T, and we pray for your continued recovery. As always, thanks for the timely reminders on our coolants.

John

[angellr]

Wonderful progress T!! How is your better half doing? Continue to take each day at a time ... you can/will do it!!

[gregor]

A UK friend got that a few years back (in his 70s). I see him about once a month and even 3 years on the changes for the better are noticeable. He drives and services his vintage Austin again and is generally happy with life.
Good luck with the recovery which I believe may not be 100% but good enough for normal life after a couple of years.

[towerworker]

Wonderful progress T!! How is your better half doing? Continue to take each day at a time ... you can/will do it!!

Donna is doing well and thanks so much for asking! All her followup checkups have shown cancer free. She is quite a trooper to have stood by me and then to have gone thru what she did, and I'm very thankful for her.

[Buckster]

I was glad to meet you at the Bash this year and I hope your recovery goes well! I think BMW engineers have been lurking around our board as you can actually have radiators on some models of the 1200GS. I think they stole your idea!

[towerworker]

I was glad to meet you at the Bash this year and I hope your recovery goes well! I think BMW engineers have been lurking around our board as you can actually have radiators on some models of the 1200GS. I think they stole your idea!

You know I was thinking the exact same thing!

[sjbmw]

It is good to hear you are fighting the good fight, and making sure the boxer community is up on their fluids.

[wncbmw]

Wayne - it will be good to join you on a ride again.

Alas, no matter how good your recovery, you'll still be an old fart! As will I!

[Boxer]

OLD FARTS UNITE!!!

Keep up the progress Wayne. You'll be out there riding around before you know it.

[CycleRob]

Wayne, My wife Ann and I remember the first time she met you at that very cold mall entrance outside the restaurant we would soon dine at inside, when your job brought you to the Atlanta area -and- how very different it would be when we dropped in on you in the hospital with your guardian angel (our guide) Dave (Beemeridian). It was a very clear picture of the frightening devastation we had read about on the internet that this rare disease can cause. The guy that actually used to climb spindly 400 foot tall (121.9 M) antenna towers for a living couldn't even lift his arm to scratch himself . . . someone else (I believe it was his full time female assistant) did it for him after his slow breathless direction. Things were so bad, even speaking was an effort! Being a former CIGNA medical claims payer, my wife said most of the claims for people that got GBS faced being permanently wheelchair bound or death.

Many months later I got sent a high quality video of Wayne slowly walking the halls in the hospital, knowing full well his balding old guy testosterone fueled stubbornness (I have it too) would power him through just about anything . . . even something as disabling as GBS. What a huge load of good news that was, like we were actually there ahead of him. It's a good thing Wayne also has a good woman to rely on and share the good and not-so-good between each other. News of Wayne's disabling disease got even marginally religious people praying for him. It's been said that in times of trouble you really find out who your friends are. Wayne, couldn't you have picked something a lot easier? Good luck my friend. We're still praying for ya. I have no doubt you'll both be able to vote Nov 6th to help us save the USA.

[acejones]

Best wishes for a good recovery. A former co-worker went through that several years ago. He didn't make it to 100% but he did get back to work. Sounds like you're getting there.

[Biff's R]

Good to hear from you Wayne. You and Dave need to stop up in Marietta, OH next May. I look forward to seeing you soon.

[fpgirard]

We'll now have to mark our calendars for next May. Have you chosen a route that you want to do? Keep up the hard work. Need you out there testing the new coolant on a GS....

pascal

[bmwdave52]

I know how you feel. Due to medical issues I have not ridden my Roadster since July '11. I do go out and look at it often.

[towerworker]

We'll now have to mark our calendars for next May. Have you chosen a route that you want to do? Keep up the hard work. Need you out there testing the new coolant on a GS....

pascal

No, nothing planned as of yet. If I can just get on it and make a leisurely ride around our local park I'll be very happy. Those plans may change depending on how my strength is. I feel pretty good, just tire quickly. I joined our local Y this time last yr and let it drop for the summer. Starting there again next week and will start on some strengthening exercises that don't involve pushing a lawn mower! This past week I did manage to find myself on top of a 20' extension ladder cleaning the vinyl siding on the house. Felt pretty good. (had big shrubs beneath me to catch a fall just in case)

[Boxer]

(had big shrubs beneath me to catch a fall just in case)

If there were just some way to carry those shrubs around you while riding the bike. Hmmm? Have to think on that accessory.

Good going Wayne. Every time I hear about your status I see amazing progress from my perspective.