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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 23, 2012 - 01:22pm PT
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Now you can actually begin to heal up Don.
How about that scapula/clavicle? That's gotta hurt.
Time will tell I suppose.
[OK Mouse, comments/content removed]
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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Jun 23, 2012 - 02:40pm PT
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Don'tcha truss Roy?
I guess you better.
Enjoy life at the nest.
It's the best, East or West.
Best get to rest lest you become a pest.
Nice to hear you are recovering, Don.
MFM
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jun 24, 2012 - 12:46pm PT
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Don, I'm glad to hear that you're headed home for the total heal-up.
YOU GO BOY!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 25, 2012 - 01:28pm PT
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We are all certainly shocked by all of this and frankly somewhat giddy with the reality that our good friend has survived this gnarly crash.
Thus, the attempts at humor. Don is very good with humor!
Apologies to anyone who has misunderstood my own oblique efforts toward humor.
Now, a bunch of work continues for Don.
Morning dispatch from Carter:
MAZ is monitoring his every move and challenging him left and right to move those lungs and keep him moving unless he's asleep
MAZ = Carol Carter (head nurse at an ICU for 15 years)
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 25, 2012 - 01:41pm PT
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Even routine operations present risk of pneumonia. Thus Scuffy B's upthread admonition to Don that he use his spirometer. Following my recent hip surgery, they were all over me to push (actually suck) air into that thing multiple times every single hour if possible.
Imagine what someone with a punctured lung has to battle.
FYI.
Thanks.
PULL HARDER!
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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Jun 25, 2012 - 01:42pm PT
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Last year, when the doc handed me my spirometer (broken ribs and a tiny
pneumothorax), he told me the number, whatever it was, that he wanted me
to reach.
I said, "That's not gonna happen."
Somewhere during that test breath, climber nature kicked in. I realized it
was just some pain that might hold me back, so I met his number.
I think he was mildly surprised.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 25, 2012 - 01:44pm PT
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It looks like a child's toy, but it can save your life!
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jun 25, 2012 - 02:31pm PT
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Spirometer. Yeah it does look like a child's toy---not that that ever held Tarbuster back from anything. It actually is kind of a bunch of work. Like many patients in hospital, they gave me this unit last year post-op since I didn't seem to want to breath worth a damn and was therefore tachycardic. And I might not breath that well otherwise, I suspect. Actually, it was as Scuffy says, not that easy to do a good job with it and I had to actually "improve" my breathing, to my surprise. Perhaps I am slovenly! I was wiped out on opioids of course and half-gone with the surgery. Probably a decent training device regardless. I bet Mastodon will have to be using this device.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 25, 2012 - 03:06pm PT
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See now, with a lil' photoshopping twist-of-the-wrist, that can be made to look like a Mastodon.
Or even, we could maybe source one shaped like a Mastodon and ship it to Mastadon.
Me, I'm sitting here at 8200 feet, giving it a rest ... and just cranked that thing to 4000 mL through a chain of 12 consecutive uninterrupted breaths. I don't let Lisa play with it because she will break it's little blue foam cork right out of the very tippy top!
 Standing by with walker at the ready if anybody wants to swing by and join me for a short lap around the house. Then we can come inside, stoke our sippy cups and rollout the Crayolas, paste, and kraft paper and wup asss on some get well cards!
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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Jun 25, 2012 - 05:57pm PT
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Got s spirometer right next to me. Isn't as easy as you think. When i get to a puter i'll write up a description of what happened including the SAR guy pounding what felt like snowstake through my ribs to ventilate my lung.
Tarbaby-get my phone number from Carter and call me.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 25, 2012 - 07:01pm PT
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I'm sure it is flat out horrendous to push that thing in your state Don.
Hang tough.
Will call as soon as Carter gets back to me.
(Or, if you happen to see this post in the meantime, just call me up: 303-258-3455)
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Jun 25, 2012 - 07:27pm PT
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Don, WTF?
I heard you put a new hole in the Valley Granite. I just got the story from Billy. Do you know that there is a crag named after you in Switzerland. The HarderMan. No B.S. It's the town crag in Interlaken. The legend goes that Xaver Bongard named it after you when he got home from his first Valley outing. He was hoping that you'd teach him how to really climb so he wouldn't have to aid so much. And the Donner Party and Vertical Cannibals are 'glad' to know that our Patron Saint will still be leading the community in both spirit and the physical. Much Love, Big Man,
Brook
And, thanks Werner for everything.
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MH2
climber
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Jun 25, 2012 - 07:31pm PT
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the SAR guy pounding what felt like snowstake through my ribs to ventilate my lung
That guy was well-trained.
I remember another "SAR guy" who let it be known he could do a tracheotomy with his penknife. I would have woke up from a coma and run to get away from that guy.
It's very good to hear how Don is doing.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Jun 25, 2012 - 08:19pm PT
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the SAR guy pounding what felt like snowstake through my ribs to ventilate my lung
That line gave me the heebee Jeebee's..... i also thought about vampires......(-;
Looking forward to the right up...
ps...take care you guys....
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mastadon
Trad climber
crack addict
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Jun 25, 2012 - 08:31pm PT
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That SAR guy saved my life. Werner,too, for just being around.....
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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Jun 25, 2012 - 08:48pm PT
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I agree that the spirometer is hard. It's like hitting the off switch
(PAIN) the whole time.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 25, 2012 - 10:47pm PT
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Just got off the phone with Harder.
Sounds pretty darn good to me, all things considering.
(I mean, he still has his lisp ... but that was always there)
Started into this characteristically hilarious account of having been unleashed by the "physical therapy demons" and out into the hospital hallway he goes, gown a-flapping open, gently revealing his carbuncled arse, shuffling to and fro while stabbing his good fist in the air and shouting like the madman he isn't:
I'M FREE! ... I'M FREE Hospital cop stood by, half erect and doubled over in laughter.
Don Harder, you're absolutely fokking PRICELESS.
[I jest not people, I may talk a lot of smack, but this account of Mastadon's venture atop the hospital floor is true]
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Dave Davis
Social climber
Seattle, WA
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Jun 26, 2012 - 09:25pm PT
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Just talked to Don myself, and he sounded pretty good although I couldn't tell him any good jokes because he said it hurt too much to laugh.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jun 27, 2012 - 06:29pm PT
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As our subject fades into the crowd:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 30, 2012 - 09:45am PT
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Spoke with Mr. Harder on the telephone yesterday.
His voice is much more clear than just a few days prior: all the fatigue is gone.
Sounds exactly like you would remember.
I got the blow-by-blow on the whole experience which is rather fantastical and that would best be left for him to tell.
Harder: this whole thing is so over-the-top, you came so close and yet are doing so well.
Best wishes on your steady recovery.
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