Back from the almost dead and then some....

[elnutsmalljaws]

I appreciate all the well wishes and emails fellas. I have spent a bunch of days in the hospital, 191 to be exact, but last week was the worst that I have ever had it and pretty much thought Thursday and Friday were my last 2 days on earth. Hernia repair back on the 8th, infection set in after that, then more infection which caused them to open me up again on the 21st, internal bleeding started some time on Wednesday and they never really knew where it was coming from until late Thursday. I don't remember much about Thursday or the first part of Friday but my wife tells me that the doctor told her it could be Fatal if they had to open me up again to find out where the bleeding was coming from so I just had to bleed and they would give me blood in hopes it would stop eventually. At one point on Thursday, I had a pick line with 2 ports in my left arm, 2 different IV's in my right arm, 9 nurses and 2 doctors in my room with my wife not knowing if I would ever make another cast again. Bleeding stopped some time on Friday and I ended up getting 8 pints of blood put back in me over 2 days. Improved a 1000 percent late Friday and Saturday, sent me home yesterday afternoon. I have a pick line in my arm that I have to give myself 2 different Iv's a day for a couple of months, an open wound in my stomach that will easily hide DD22 Crankbait that will have to close up on its own which will take a good 2 months but at least I am still kicking. No fishing for me for a good long while so make sure you save at least one Brownfish for me that I might tangle with on the FNF some time in February is my guess when I might get a shot. Really puts life into perspective when you think its your last days and I am very appreciative for all that I do have. 3 wonderful kids, a wife that I would not trade for anything, pretty good family and a best friend in Cliff Henson that is just like my brother. You guys and gals go out there and catch a few but save at least one Brownfish for me when the time comes. Thanks again for the well wishes and emails and hopefully I will see you on the water one day soon.

[DJD]

Holy cow Elnut that's a tough go if it for sure. I'll pray your speedy recovery and i'm sure that first trip on the water will be the best ever. Good luck to ya!

[redneckshadrap]

Elnut,

You have about 12 days to get ready to travel. I signed you and Cliff up for that F-n-F thing at Backwaters. Stephen will be there....

Billy

[biggw]

Well holy s---- ELNUT glad to see they got you going again--man you had better take a long time to heal yourself right,those big brown fish will still be there for you when your ready to go again--Guess our trip to cc together will wait- now we will be in that good spring fishing then--Take care man---Relax dude

[Bass Jr. Executive]

Good luck Elwood, I had to play nurse earlier this year and spent a month and a half administering vancamyacin (sp) every day through a pick line for a loved one who got a staff infection in the hospital. We made the best of it as Im sure you will. Be careful, that clear liquid somehow will stain the carpet!

Glad you recovered enough to get home, if I can help in some way let me know.

Brent

[elnutsmalljaws]

Good luck Elwood, I had to play nurse earlier this year and spent a month and a half administering vancamyacin (sp) every day through a pick line for a loved one who got a staff infection in the hospital. We made the best of it as Im sure you will. Be careful, that clear liquid somehow will stain the carpet!

Glad you recovered enough to get home, if I can help in some way let me know.

Brent

I used Vanco 10 years ago when I had a real bad staff infection for a couple of days until I broke out with hives because I am allergic to it. They changed me over to Clendomiacyn and I had to give myself 4 IV bags a day thru my pick line for almost 10 months from November 97 thru July 98 before it went away. At one time, if you had it Vanco killed it, and if Vanco could not kill it you were in big trouble. They put me on Adavant this time which still makes me extremely tired. Been sick a long time and know for a fact that the antibiotics that they give you to help you make you feel a whole lot worse than all the pain medicine they give you to help.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Elnut,

You have about 12 days to get ready to travel. I signed you and Cliff up for that F-n-F thing at Backwaters. Stephen will be there....

Billy

What FNF thing are you talking about Billy? Traveling to Lex won't be that bad on me but don't know if I will be ready to go or not, will have to see. Pretty tired and wore down, plus lost 27.5 lbs in the hospital this last trip did not help any on my strength. Helped in getting my large behind smaller but still tough to over come.

[REY]

Hope you get well soon, Elnut. I know the thought of your impending World Record Smallie will help your spirits.................... Unless Cliff catches him first!
Richie Young
Plapps Pro Outdoors

[mhall]

Hang tough Woody it's got to get better from here.

[MsgMills]

Elnut,

Glad your home and on the long road to recovery. Those brown fish will wait as long as it takes for you to get back to catching them. Like I said before, when your ready to go fishing just give me a holler and off we'll go to Dale. My Tournaments are all but over and nothing to do now but play. So take care and heal up real nice now and the nurse might give you a real nice DD22 for a gift. lol

Clyde

[motalot]

Hope this is the last of the Hospital for you! I enjoy all your input and I feel llike I know you personally.

Keep positive and hope to see you on the lake one day.

[Moose1am]

please take time to heal properly. Guys wish him well but don't encourage him to get up and go places before he is totally healthy.

Take the time to heal so that you stay with us a few more years.

If you get another tear in your abdomin you may not make it to the hospital the next time.

Elnut those dang smallmouth are going to be there for you in the future so please don't get in a hurry to get back out there and hurt yourself again.

Stay firm and listen to the Doctor.

My mom had three hernia operations in just under 8 years and she too has that mess inside her abdomine. She is 82 or 83 and still getting around by herself and out cutting grass. She can't pull the lawnmower to start the thing so she got an electric starter on her lawnmower. I get out there to help here cut the grass but she still likes to get out and cut the grass and work in the yard.

She had her first operation and would not sit still and that resulted in two more hernia operations for her. You and her are both go getters and type A personalitys from what I can tell. LOL Hard to hold you guys down.

You life is in your hands now. Hopefully you will heal up and get to go fishing for many more years.

We have something in common. We both fished Lynville! LOL

What FNF thing are you talking about Billy? Traveling to Lex won't be that bad on me but don't know if I will be ready to go or not, will have to see. Pretty tired and wore down, plus lost 27.5 lbs in the hospital this last trip did not help any on my strength. Helped in getting my large behind smaller but still tough to over come.