[Dixielandjazz] Igor Report

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Here is the latest report on Igor from wife Barbara.

Bob
mr.wonderful@ringwald.com


----- Original Message -----
From: <IGORJAZZ@aol.com>
 Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 9:45 PM


> The Old Boy is out of the ICU as of yesterday, had his final trache tube
> removed today, and mostly is working on strengthening exercises +
recovering
> from a nasty lung infection of some sort.  It's the result of being flat
on
> his back for 11 very-long days.
>
> I got a good grade in Line Feeding (not to be confused with Line Dancing)
> this evening, when I assisted the nurse with his nightly "snack" through
his
> feeding tube.  He also is managing a clear liquid diet nicely.  The
feeding
> tube will stay in for some time and will be his source of nourishment
during
> Radiation.
>
> He has a normal sounding speaking voice, although his diction is a bit
drunk
> (due to the tongue work).  Yesterday he was literally whistling Dixie
through
> his metal trache tube.  It was removed this morning, alas - I'm not sure
the
> surgeon thought Igor was very funny with his tunes.
>
> His face looks great - the incisions have healed amazingly well, and the
> plastic surgeon is a genius (this is an opinion shared by many).  The
scars
> hardly will be noticeable.  The surgeon assures us that the titanium plate
in
> Igor's chin won't set off airport alarms.
>
> His left arm (from whence cometh the skin for the tongue) will take a long
> time to heal completely.  Don't know how soon he'll be fingering the
stringed
> instruments so, Gim, probably your gigs are safe.
>
> I hope to have him home by Friday.  I plan to wake him every 2-3 hours,
just
> so he can continue to have that wonderful, hospital interrupted sleep.
>
> He will have about a 3-week break before beginning Radiation, so hopes to
> attend at least one evening of the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival and say
"hi"
> to folks there.  He anticipates keeping his spiffy, white beard.
>
> Following that brief public appearance, we believe that it will be pretty
> quiet around here until the first of the year.
>
> Barbara
>