I just got word that one of our good friends and strong supporters of TSA was hospitalized today at noon. Please remember Gary in your thoughts and prayers. I do not have details at this time but will post them as I get them. Neal

It was found that Gary needed a pace maker due to random fainting spells.  He was admitted to Halifax in Daytona and scheduled for surgery yesterday.  Unfortunately there were complications during the procedure and one of his lungs collapsed.  He is stable now and in good spirits.  As you might expect, even with tons of tubes and sensors coming out of his body, he has been harassing the nurses.

Visited him today - room 235, Fountain entrance, second floor B elevators.  He's hoping to be released Saturday but that may be a optimistic - we'll see.   He has his cell phone with him (386-624-2513)  and can take brief calls if he is awake.  It's hard to have anything but a brief conversation - he's very congested, etc.

Gary's job has been selling cars at Kaiser in Deland - missed a bunch of work on top of the tough economy.  Not sure how all this will effect his finances or ability to get on the water - will keep you posted.

my best - Tom Oltorik

Thanks everyone for your emails of concern, thoughts and prayers for Gary.  I'm sure he would enjoy a call if you feel lead - see number below, previous note.

As of today Gary was released from Halifax.  He's still congested but is feeling better.  Apparently, when a lung "bursts" during surgery the air does not exit the body as in a normal exhale, but rather it sublimates and is absorbed into upper body tissues.  Hence a puffy face, sinuses and congestion, etc.  Checked with some MDs we know and with pace maker installation there is a 1 in 10 chance that a lung will be effected as in Gary's case.  

He was instructed to relax and not drive for a month---- guess who drove immediately....  Probably smoking too.  He had not smoked all week and had no cravings.  I encouraged him to take advantage of this opportunity to quit, give himself a pseudo pay raise and add a few quality of life years - we will see what he does.  If you talk to him maybe you could "encourage" him in this area as well.

Not sure what his financial / on water status will be in the coming weeks.  There have been suggestions of some type of  fund raiser if needed - I'll try to get a sense of  what would be appropriate........ open to anything - and like most, I'm sensitive to this difficult economy and the financial pressures we are all facing.

my best -

Tom Oltorik
386-479-1780