Get Well Matt UPDATE 3 a note: wishes go to my buddy Matt McLaughlin for a speedy recovery from some health issues. Matt is a writer for RacingOne/SpeedFX, see some of his columns at RacingOne: Matt McLaughlin, Featured Expert and check out his novel: Eights and Aces.(12-23-2002) UPDATE: Matt left a message on the SpeedFX BBS: Will try to check in when I can but I have no email account I can access. If one of you has Jayski’s email addie please send him [Jayski note: no need to now that I have seen this] a note from me wishing him and his a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too. Add my thanks for the blurb he had about me on his page. Hello, and Merry Christmas to my readers, detractors and buds. This is the first time I’ve been on line since the tenth, and I’ll warn you up front I’m bombed on morphine and Percocet. Don’t know when I’ll be able to get on again as I’m using a nurse’s computer. Yep, I’m still in the hospital. Honest, I slipped on the ice taking out the trash on my way to church and I fell. Thought maybe I’d sprained the knee but the pain got bad enough I went to the ER. Next thing I know I’m admitted and receivin a blood transfusion. A few days later I’m having emergency surgery to save my lower left leg. (Faceiotomy? Big nasty cuts.) Basically here’s the problem. They keep transfusing me, but the blood level goes down again. The doctors are still not sure what is wrong and Matt has no idea how long he will be in the hospital. Matt humbly asks for your prayers in this uncertain part of his life and prayers for the other sick folks he is spending Christmas with and the nurses there, many of whom are oustanding in thier compassion and kindness.(12-26-2002) UPDATE 2: Matt McLaughlin, who has been with Speed/FX and RacingOne since Day One, is on the injured reserve list. Matt’s columns and observations have been out of action for a few weeks now as he sits in a hospital trying to get better. You see Matt is one of those racing writers who lives up north. A few weeks ago, on his way to church he slipped on some ice outside his house as he was taking out the garbage. Matt went down hard on his leg. At first thinking it was only a sprain, the leg was severely injured and the next thing you know, Matt’s in the hospital taking blood transfusions to save his leg. A couple days ago, he gamely grabbed a nurse’s computer and posted a note on the RacingOne message board to give us all an update. But he needs our help. Prayers and thoughts and kind words can go a long way to someone battling a mysterious illness so I ask you all for your support. He’ll hopefully be out of the hospital early next week and if you can, drop him a note: Matt McLaughlin 301 Parkway, #209A Broomall, PA 19008 It is understood that Matt will be in a wheelchair for a while. Get well soon Matt.(RacingOne)(12-27/28-2002) UPDATE a note from Matt on R1: …thanks to so many of you for the kind words, good thoughts an particuarly your prayers. I’ve long been convinced of the power of prayer and the news is a lot more positive this time. It’s no longer a question how many legs I’ll have when I leave (I’ll have both) it’s just a question of when. The repairs to the lower leg worked and blood flow is restored. They closed up the wounds with a skin graft. Any of you who might have had one of these grafts know that the donor site (Thigh) is sorer than the repaired area. Lots of morphine so excuse my grammar and spelling. (Like it’s any worse than a normal column right?) As soon as I get myself weaned off the happy,happy joy shots and back onto Coors I’ll be writing again. Trust me, I’m bored. Heck a rainy weekend at NHIS would be more fun than than this dog and pony show. The blood count number that kept dropping the doctors couldn’t figure out has now been stable a few days. Call it a coincidence that occurred the same day I asked for your prayers but I feel otherwise. I’m an admittedly and decidedly imperfect person, so I credit better folks than me making the petitions. Yes, I have Speed Vision [Speed Channel] here. How come there’s always infomaercials when I turn it on? Seriously I do enjoy the Aussie and English touring car series. Yes, it looks like I’m moving. My current apartment is not WC accessible. Again, let me offer my sincere and humble thanks for your prayers and well wishes at this difficult time. I ain’t dancing yet, but I’ve promised myself I’ll walk into the Pocono infield this June under my own power, no canes, crutches, wheels, etc.(R1 Message Board)(12-30-2002) (12-29-2002)
