Jack Park on Recovery Road

On May 10, 2014, Mike Heydinger emailed worrisome news regarding Jack Park.  Fortunately, it sounds as though Jack is healing to the extent that he still intends to make it to our Dallas reunion in the Fall.

I'm going to let Mike share his news with all of us as only he can do in his own gifted way by copying his email.


Hi, all,

Sorry that I have been more than a little remiss in my duties here, but
this week had me hopping like a one legged butt-kicker.

Last Saturday I learned that our classmate Jack Park. had suffered a
stroke - way back on March 3, at home in the night time. The EMT's were
called and strapped him up for transport, but while carrying him
downstairs, they dropped him.  They did transport him, the hospital got
the shot into him, and then they discovered that he had two fractured
vertebrae, one in the neck and the other in the back.  So to prevent his
moving while things healed, they induced him onto a coma and didn't wake
him up for almost a couple months.  But he healed, almost.

I ran up to Perrysburg to the care facility where he is for a visit last
Sunday afternoon.  I was soooooo surprised and relieved to find him
fully alert, able to sit up, speak clearly, and with almost no memory
impairment.  He is able to walk with support and a walker and is
gradually stretching it out.  He was supposed to have an appointment
Friday this week to see if they can do surgery on his neck to repair the
movement in his hands.  That was more drop-related than stroke.  I
called him tonight to check up on him and his spirits are only fair
because they will do the procedure Wed. next instead of on Monday.
Jack, as you know, was always VERY impatient.

Keep Jack in your prayers that he makes a complete and full recovery, as
he seems to be well on the way to it right now.  Hopefully no relapses.
The only negative right now is they can't get his BP up over 100.  Now
how is this for motivation - he is determined to make it to Dallas in
October!!!!  So yu'ns that haven't made up your mind yet, get with the
game plan.

It would really help Jack if you sent a card or even made a call.  His
direct in-room line is 1-567-336-6428. Be patient as he doesn't move
fast.  If he is sitting in his tilt-back chair, he can't answer as the
phone is on the wrong side of the bed.  You'd think that at a brand new
facility they would have ordered the extra long phone cords! He will
start out weepy on the call, but just give him time to get over the
shock of your call and you can then understand him better and it;s good
old Jack! His address at the home is St. Clare Commons, 12469 Five Point
Road /Perrysburg/, /Ohio/ 43551.  This is a brand new home run by the
Srs; of St. Francis of Sylvania.  It sits out in the country with a corn
field on one side and a fairly new church on the other.  The two places
share a parking lot even.  And guess who the pastor is there that visits
Jack - Lenny Weber's younger brother Herb. Small world.


Pax, in Him,
The Dinger