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Update: 4/3/08
We
sure hope this message finds all of you doing well--and no
"indoor pools" in your basements like some folks we've heard
from. Will the sun ever come out to stay and dry us out? We
sure hope so.
We
wanted to touch base and let you know that our dear friend is
doing well. Chief's been staying healthy thanks to the tireless
efforts of his family. (If I ever get sick, I want these people
to take care of me--no kidding!!) Chief continues working
extremely hard in physical/occupational therapy and has a lot of
back pain to prove it. If you have a minute to stop in and
visit, please call him and let him know. His telephone number is
618-406-5118 and his
address is 915 North Second Street,
Belleville, IL 62221-- just north of the skateboard park in
Belleville. He would be so happy to see and hear from
you!
Chief is really wanting to get back to work…yeah! :)) He has
tested a new motorized wheelchair with stand-up capabilities,
but he didn't care for its design. The wheelchair guy is going
to be back with another chair to see if he likes it better.
Keep your fingers crossed for good results.
The computer has been repaired and Chief's back on-line. They
are continuing to work with special software and accessories so
that he can maneuver around the computer with ease, and start
responding our emails and even send his own! Hopefully, it
won't be much longer…and Chief, we're all waiting for an email
from you. :))
The MOTObike should be on it's way shortly…it's being sent all
the way from Germany!! I believe Chief has a spot picked out
for it in the house already and I know for a fact that we'll
never be able to get him away from it. He's so looking forward
to getting it.
In
the next few weeks, be on the lookout as you may catch a glimpse
of Chief in his van!! Yep, a set of wheels has been purchased
and through the generousity of numerous folks including Judy
Culli and Brian & Cheri Campbell at Campbell's Automotive, and
lots of others who are working tirelessly behind the scenes this
is absolutely amazing news--and one that Chief has waited so
long to hear!! On behalf of Chief, his family and us, a very
special heartfelt thank you goes out to all of you. Please know
that you are instrumental in making this dream for Chief a
reality for which we will always be very grateful!
I have other terrific news to pass along. I've
heard from Mark Colliton, co-founder of BACCHETTA Bicycle in St.
Petersburg, Florida. BACCHETTA (www.bacchetta.com)
is donating for our bike raffle two of their Bellandare-design
recumbents geared towards recreational riding, fits a much
larger range of riders, and has almost no learning curve. These
recumbents retail for $1,300 each. Whether or not you are
considering purchasing a recumbent, we sure hope you'll purchase
raffle tickets. More information will be posted on
www.ChiefGetWell.com the
week of April 21. When he's ready, proceeds from this raffle
will go towards purchasing an Invacare bike for Chief, a new
helmet and any accessories he will need to outfit his bike.
More details will follow.
A
few fundraiser reminders --
It's not too late to get your tickets to Branson On The Road if
you haven't done so already. Please email me right away at
4gores@charter.net if you're still interested. The dates of
the show are Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12. You are
guaranteed to have a lot of laughs and a very enjoyable
evening.
If
you're interested in the volleyball tournament scheduled for
Saturday, April 26, please contact Kim Dickshot at manager@specialtymailing.com.
For only $90 (which is $11.25 per person for an 8-person
roster), you can enjoy a full day of volleyball with friends and
family. If you can't play, please stop by for some lunch if you
can. Look for me...I'll be there passing out fliers for Chief's
June 1 benefit ride, selling "CHIEF IS ON HIS WAY BACK"
t-shirts, and selling raffle tickets for the BACCHETTA
recumbents.
I think this is all for
now. Please keep Chief in your prayers for continued good
health and inner strength during his recovery. He has overcome
so many obstacles, most of which I know I couldn't have overcome
personally. He has a strong spirit and we're so thankful that
he's here with us today...making us laugh with updates on
episodes of Big Valley and Rifleman and inspiring us as he faces
each and every challenge with determination.
Update: 3/26/08
Hi Everybody,
I'm saddened to say that I've heard nothing from
BACCHETTA or Extreme Makeover Home Edition yet. Maybe that's a
good thing -- they're all thinking about it … or maybe it's a
bad thing -- they're just trying to figure out how to break the
news to me. Please keep your fingers crossed and keep saying
your prayers for positive results on both.
In the meantime, we have recently received generous
sponsorships from Marvin's Camera and Rowan Tire. Please help us
spread the word to area businesses, family and friends. Email
Sandy Gore at 4gores@charter.net for information
concerning ride and sponsorship information. I would be more
than happy to help and I respond immediately.
Update: 3/1/08
Chief is hanging in
there and anxiously awaiting warmer, sunny weather! He's
recovering from another case of the ick. So, the nice weather
can't come soon enough for him! He continues to work hard in
physical and occupational therapy which is really increasing his
stamina and overall well being. He looks good and you can tell
he's getting stronger. He doesn't rely on his headrest like he
used to and uses it mainly when he has to recline back for
pressure release.
Each day brings a new
story in the comedy of errors department. We stopped by the
other evening to bring him a little cheer, but as always he's
the one providing the comic relief. To say the least, his sense
of humor and heart remain unchanged!
As one can imagine,
maneuvering around in the wheel chair takes lots of practice
especially so that you don't get caught up in taking things with
you that you don't want. Even for Chief, this can be a
challenge from time-to-time. We've witnessed him getting caught
in the doorways, backing into things left and right, running
people over, you name it…he's done it. He shares story after
story and at the end of each one he just smiles, rolls his eyes
and shakes his head at himself. His latest incident--he knocked
his CPU off his desk…ouch! For now, he's without a computer;
but, the good news is that it's in very capable hands. Don't
stop sending emails…he'll be back on-line very soon.
Hey, to all you parents
out there…if your kid needs any superhero information, Chief is
the go-to guy! During our visit, Buddy brought up a Superman
assignment he had earlier in the week. He and Kelsey spent
quite a bit of time on-line trying to find the answers to about
15 questions. (We're not superhero watchers at the house…so, we
know absolutely ziltch about all of them!). As Buddy and Kelsey
are throwing out the questions, Chief, without any hesitation at
all, answered ALL of the questions and even went into
explanations as to why something happened like it did. The kids
were very impressed. All those years of reading comic books and
watching movies really paid off. Next time we have a homework
assignment…we're calling Chief for help!
Thanks to all of you who
continue to send cards and notes to Chief. The mailman
brightens his day with special deliveries of love and support
sent by many of you, so please don't stop doing this! He feels
a little on the lonely side every so often, especially when he's
not feeling well or it's a rainy day. We hope you can continue
to help us keep his spirits up! As a reminder, Chief's home
address is:
Gerry
Frierdich
915 North Second Street
Belleville, IL 62221
***
We continue to work
tirelessly on our fundraising efforts. You are our best way to
get the word out and we need your help!! Thank you for coming
through for us!!
If you are planning to
see the Branson on the Road Show on either Friday, April 11, or
Saturday, April 12 , I'm told that tickets are still available!
Please send in your order form!! You can access it from
www.ChiefGetWell.com or email me and I would be very happy to
send you the form. The Kiwanis Club of Fairview Heights has
offered this wonderful opportunity to us to help raise funds for
Chief's trust fund. Please spread the word!! We will be there
on Saturday, April 12, and hope to see a bunch of you there,
too!
The Touring Cyclist and
Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society, along with a very
dedicated group of friends and Gerry's family, are in the midst
of sending out information for the Road to Recovery Bicycle
Benefit Ride scheduled for Sunday, June 1. Watch your
mailboxes!! Information about the ride has been posted on
www.ChiefGetWell.com. Please pass the word to your families,
friends, work places, etc. If you can't participate in the
ride, please consider sponsoring a mile marker! There are five
levels of sponsorship ranging from $100 to $1,000. Sponsorships
can be by company, individuals, families, friends,
co-workers…you name it!! If you would like ride and/or
sponsorship information right away, please email me and I'll
forward it to you right away
We are also looking into
the latest fundraising craze. We hope you can join us for an
evening at the races…MOUSE RACES!! Yep, you read it right…MICE!
:)))) More information will be coming down the pipeline on this
very fun event!! In the meantime, we are seeking volunteers to
help us out! If you can help in any way, please let us know!
We need you!!
***
For now, that's all from
here. Thank you all so much for everything you have done over
these last seven months! Please continue to keep Chief and his
family in your prayers each and every day…because your prayers
ARE working!! :)) |
