No new posts in 3 days in the Packard forum? Weird.

I was thinking we should start life support.

I have been out in the Garage trying to get my car ready for 2010. But at the rate of my misfortunes it will be more like 2020.

Hope Rick (Speedster) is ok. Have not heard from him in awhile either.

Maybe people are on their way or getting ready for the Packard national meet that starts sunday. I am leaving for there in the morning.

well, they can't call me speedster anymore.
i had a Stroke and have been in hospital last 15 days. i'm walking better but left arm is completely useless. i'm typing this with only right hand. so looks like i won't be doing any Packard work any time soon.

Rick,

Sorry to hear about that. You know if you lived in my area I would be over there giving you a hand. Keep strong and please keep us informed on your progress.

Get well soon, Rick. I'm sure I speak for everyone in that we're all pulling for you to completely recover.

Gosh speedster...hope you continue to improve. Just thank God it was not worse than it was. Fifteen days in the hospital tells the story. You no doubt are fortunate to be typing with one hand. Lets hope you are able to regain your strength and stamina...we will keep you in our prayers

Rick, I'm so sorry to hear that. We're all pulling for you.

The brain is an amazing thing. I'm certain it'll figure out how to get you back into the garage and under the hood! An elderly neighbor had a stroke a year ago and couldn't walk. Today he mows his lawn without a limp. You will too!

Stay strong, my friend.

Best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery. Remeber, we have an e-ignition project to finsh too. How's that for putting on the pressure .

My best recmmendation is to eat a FRESH ground HOT pepper cheese burger and a big plate of french fries (hommade only ) with plenty of fresh garlic and rest as much as possible. A shot of good quality whisky once every 12 hours too.
In two or three days u'll be feeling alot better and recovering.

I hope he has someone there close to full time to help him thru the recovery. It's ruff doing it by onesself.

I'm very sad to read what happened to you,although I didn't contribute a lot, I thoroughly enjoyed your posts and ingenuity.It may be a while before we can see this happening again.
The brain is a strong and mysterious part of our body, just keep trying,trying and trying, I've seen it happen, close by.
I wish you all the power you will need,my thoughts are with you,all the best, Johan

Rick,

I am very sorry to hear of your stroke. My father suffered from a stroke, and I know how hard it can be to recover and keep your spirits up.

I wish you a quick and full recovery. I will be thinking of you as I ponder the problems of old Packards!

Best Wishes,

Tom

Get better soon, Speedster!!!! Very sorry to hear about your difficulties.

thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. i have a wonderful wife and good neighbors that are really helping. since my leg has improved greatly i've not got depressed. i'm just hopeing my arm will also.
i doubt that i'll have much to add to the forum, in the near future, but i'll be checking in to see what's happening.
thanks again,

Get well quick Rick!

Think old cars! Makes the body heal faster!

Wayne

Rick, the fact that you are online must be a good sign! Your posts have educated and entertained many people - just look at the responses and hits. We are lucky to have you share this talent.

Wishing you a speedy (as in "speedster") recovery, sir, from back east..

Speedster -

Speedster -
As with all the others, I'm sorry to hear of your bad luck. A stroke is never fun.
You might want to read two books dealing with strokes and their treatment. "Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (Neubauer and Walker)" and
"Stroke: Recovery with Oxygen" by Polly Houston -
Both books deal with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It isn't common, it isn't effective 100% of the time, but it has been effective in many instances. Good reading and good luck.

Regards,
Bernardi

That's rough stuff.

Best wishes, and a speedy recovery!

Jim

I'm sorry to hear this Rick. I'll be looking forward to your full recovery soon.

Is there a link to the Packard nationals info?
- Mark

packardclub.org has all the info on the meet.

Speedster,

Speedy recovery wishes.

What ROTTEN luck, Speedster!
I enjoy reading your entries, you have been helpful and encouraging.
I hope you keep improving and get back to being a Speedster.
Heather

Rick, hope you get well quick... just keep good Packard thoughts in your mind...remember..laughter is the best medicine...B

How coincidental I watched the Robin Williams movie last night about laughter and health, "Patch Adams".

We put 1300 miles on the Mayfair last week on a tour.

I've been inactivet for a couple weeks while I had a new right knee installed. Speedster, remember, work is therapy!

Restorer32,

My stepfather had one replaced a year ago or so. He was up from Florida this past week and you could not even tell he had it done. I asked him what he had done to come so far along he said therapy you have to stick with it. Now for my mother-in-law she had one replaced also but didn't follow up on her therapy and now she has all sorts of problems. So if you keep up with the therapy workin on our beloved Packards you will also come along way

I spent 2 hours in therapy this morning. Only been 3 weeks tomorrow and I already have 105 degrees of bend and can walk without a cane most of the time. Having the second replaced week after Hershey. One week of real misery then one week of semi-misery then you start to feel better.

Sorry to hear you are having problem also. get well soon.
yes, i'm trying to keep as busy as i can. if nothing else, it keeps my mind off my problems.

Hello Speedster!

As a frequent reader from your posts, I have to wish you all the luck I can transmit!
Have been there with both my parents and some friends also.
I know what you're going through a little bit.
Being an antique car lover, I must say these people around you are really incredible! Their reactions are heart warming.
We all hope for this kind of support when we're not feeling well, don't we?
All the best with gaining back your strength and drive your car again soon.

Speedster:

All the best. In reading your past posts your strong tenacity is clear. I have no doubt of your recovery.


Restorer32:

I remember stopping in at my parents place one day to find my mom crying in the back yard because she could not get up after gardening. She had bad knees.

Two new knees later she jumps up and down and runs with the grand kids. You'll be there soon.

Hey Rick just checking in to see how you are doing? Others are also trying to contact you.

thanks for asking.
altho still unsteady, i'm walking without a kane now.
i have very slight movement of my arm, but looks like it's going to a very long time before i can use it. i'm still in the process of learning what i can and can't do with one hand. you just don't realize all that takes 2 hands until you loose use of one. real bummer!

Start shopping for an Ultramatic car! keep plugging.

Glad to hear its getting there for both of you guys.

Restorer, I have a good friend who just had a knee done - around age 48, he had to fight with the Drs. because they thought he was too young but years at the Post Office & lugging old car parts around took their toll. He is already doing small things around the cars. Apparently the replacements last pretty long now.

Speedster, sent you a quick PM - please take a look.

I want to Thank everyone that went in on the Great gift, mailed to me. I really appreciate the thought and the wonderful gift.

Rick,

You are a great contributor to this forum. So we did what was right by sending prays and thoughts and a yester of a gift for your knowledge and friendship.

How are you feeling?

one of the pills they gave me has made me feel weak and a little dizzy.
we think it's the dehydration (water) pill, which i probably don't need anyway. so i'm going to stop taking those everyday and see if i feel better, since my blood-pressure is down to normal level now. i have a little more control of my arm now but not enough to do anything with it.
man, this is aggravating!
Thanks again for the Great gift!

Wishing you a quick recovery but be patient and don't push it too hard. You know what they say....

"You can't keep a good man down!!"

Rick,

Glad to hear your BP is looking normal. That is great news. Keep manipulating that arm (force it to grasp stuff and move it, using your other arm). The more sensory input your brain has that the arm is doing something functional, the quicker will be your recovery.

Tom

Having some control is a really good sign from what I understand. So some physical progress, couple that with a positive mental outlook & determination and you will get there, Rick.

Next summer we are all bringing cars down to you for fixing!

Looks like most of the 'Old Codgers' have forgot how to use their Keyboards again ???

I didn't think you want to hear about my problems

OK do you want to hear about my Packard hell day this past Sunday. Drove to a show about 50 miles away. When I raised the hood I was leaking pretty bad from the water pump. The guy next to me had a big crescent wrench, but tightening it just made it worse. I figure I'm going to get towed home.

I guy comes by (And a coincidenace he's a 37 Studabaker owner) and has packing with him. I do an emergency repair. Getting back to Portland, I start get symptons of vapor lock. The water pump has start leaking again. I let the motor cool and add water. I did limp home.

I figure the worse is over. I talked to a friend later that day who told me about another common friend's problems this weekend including a flat tire. I thought to myself, at least I didn't get a flat. Spoke too soon. Went down to the garage and had a flat.

So this week, I will be fixing a flat (with the SOB split ring) and repacking the water pump. The flat was caused by a wheel wrap that had a piece of metal rubbing against the tube.

I guess the blessing was the flat was in the garage and I didn't have to get towed.

I had a scare on Sunday, too. I was driving my '49 Cadillac back from the Cadillac Grand National Show in New Jersey and I stopped by the side of the highway to lower the top. For reasons I haven't quite figured out yet, the hydraulic system (that runs the power top) attached to the cowl inside the engine bay caught fire, which I realized after getting back in the car and driving about 20 yards. Fortunately I was in a safe spot, pulled over, and put the fire out quickly with an extinguisher. But it was a long wait for a flatbed by the side of the highway -- and it's a long wait now to hear from the shop that works on that car about how bad the damage is. As long as we're all safe and sound, that's what matters, as I see it....

'ARE WE HAVIN' FUN YET'
Sorry to hear about all the problems.

I hear you all about problem. The primer I sprayed last August on the main body panels is peeling right off. So I spent all weekend scraping the roof/ sanding/ wiping with w&g remover and then did some filler work.

Dang, what type primer did you use? Was it epoxy?
Was there something left under primer?

As my friend Ron and I have often talked about, there is a 'Packard curse'. I've been going to ask about it on here and figured everyone would think I was a bit addlepated....after the last few posts, I don't have to ask... there really is such a thing....B