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goatboy smellz
climber
bouldercolorado
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Aug 24, 2006 - 11:49pm PT
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Might I suggest since we are all spread across this country that we have several gatherings Sep. 15 to 22.
The AAC is down in Golden, this should provide a venue for us Front Range kids to get together for personal stories, slide shows, and giveaways to support the (financial) burden of recovery.
edit: Let's start making some calls in the morning.
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dt
Mountain climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 25, 2006 - 01:30am PT
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Sounds like Johns having surgery on, I think, C4/C5. They are going to fuse them. He found out he has significant weakness in his left tricep and they dont like it. He needs another MRI and then they will schedule him in. He is still wearing the cervical collar.
thanks to everyone who has already donated. Offers of fundraisers in Salt Lake City and Illinois have happened. Thanks to Rick Poedtke for the donation tubs at many locations in Mammoth and Larry Arthur at Mountain Tools for helping me with advise.
A suitable venue for Crofts slide show is being secured. We are trying to find the perfect place in Mammoth. We want to find a good place for a lot of people and a silent auction. I'll know more tomorrow hopefully. Any company representative or indivual can email me at dave@mammothgear.com to donate anything. Soon I'll be calling you anyway.
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 25, 2006 - 01:35am PT
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Dt: " Sounds like Johns having surgery on, I think, C4/C5. They are going to fuse them."
What does that mean? Can anyone explain what this surgery does.
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Mimi
Trad climber
Seattle
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Aug 25, 2006 - 01:40am PT
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Fusion usually means much less flexibility where the bones are fused.
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 25, 2006 - 02:40am PT
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Thanks Mimi.
Hummmmmmm, ..... doesn't sound good.
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jstan
climber
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Aug 25, 2006 - 03:47am PT
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FWIW
http://www.spine.org/articles/spinalfusion.cfm
My father suffered damage in this area as a result of a fall. Severe damage to the cord above the C4 area results in loss of ability to breathe. Severe damage lower down can result in quadriplegia. Not an expert but it sounds like John's damage is not severe and they are trying to relieve pressure on specific nerves where they branch off from the spinal cord. Fractures in vertebrae do not automatically require correction. I have five fractured vertebrae myself but have noticed only steadily decreasing intelligence.
Sounds very hopeful.
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dt
Mountain climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 25, 2006 - 12:15pm PT
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yes, donations to AAC are tax deductible
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nvrws
climber
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Aug 25, 2006 - 10:34pm PT
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WB
Fusion C4-5: I know there are a lot of medical types out there and i hope i dont step on toes or sound like a snob. Im a PA for a rehab group in so. oregon(spinal cord, brain inj, etc.) used to do spine surgery.
typically fusions are done from the front. Disc is removed and the small tunnels where the nerves run from the spinal cord to the extremities are enlarged(if needed) to reduce pressure on nerves. Then a small piece of bone is placed between the two vertebrae(where the disc was removed)and a small plate is then screwed into place to hold the adjacent vertebrae together.
Occassionally(esp. with truama) fusions must be done from the back too. The goal is obviously to try and stabilize the vertebrae. The instability is caused by vertebral fractures and/or ligamentous ruptures. Obviously when vertebrae are unstable there is risk of further neurological damage.
The good news is that fusing only two vertebrae doesn't severely impact the function of your neck(at least at the C4-5 level). hope this helps.
I sure hope John is on the mend. While never having met him, i saw him periodically in the valley back in the early and mid 80's. His climbing certainly has inspired a generation. get well, be patient have faith.
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TGreene
Trad climber
Jonesboro, Arkansas
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Aug 26, 2006 - 10:49am PT
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Just to keep this rolling...
I'm in the midst of organizing a huge gear raffle that will hopefully consist of the ultimate dream rack, that if all goes as planned, will contain just about anything and everything that you could ever imagine... including guide services (or fantastic partners) and lodging at premier locations.
I started working on this project at about 3:00am Friday morning, and finally quit with the phone calls and emails at about 11:00pm last evening. I will most certainly resume this project first thing Monday morning.
So far, the love and support for those that I have contacted has been pouring in with pledges of equipment from the many gear manufacturers, distributors and dealers from the largest and best known companies, all the way down to the level of local climbing gyms...
As climbers, we are one big family, and when tragedies like this happen to our brothers, we must act.
By the end of the week, I'll have a much better grasp on what all has been pledged and or has already arrived, at which point we'll be in a better position to finalize the details in regards to raffle ticket prices. My dream would be to receive so much gear that the rack (or racks if there are enough multiple contributions) will be valued well in excess of $4,000 retail, thus being able to sell 1000 tickets for somewhere between $25-50 each (obviously value dependent), with 100% of the proceeds going to John's medical expense and recovery fund.
At this point, a very special thanks go out to the following for their love and support in regards to this project that is dedicated to keeping Steve Karafa's dream in motion, by helping his "brother" and business partner get back on his feet:
acopausa dot com Lisa Karafa, the Karafa family & the Acopa Shoes family
http://www.gearexpress.comGear Express
http://www.verticalheartland.comEric Ulner & Vertical Heartland
http://www.pagangear.comClimb Max Mountaineering
http://www.madrockclimbing.comJoe Garland & Mad Rock
http://www.rockempire.comRock Empire
http://www.w-trek.comW-Trek Outfitters
http://www.aliencamsbycch.comCCH Alien Cams
http://www.devilstowerlodge.comFrank Sanders & Devils Tower Lodge
http://www.zionrockgym.comZion Rock Gym in Searcy, AR
http://www.verticalexcape.comVertical Excape Gym in Evansville, IN
http://www.mtntools.comLarry Arthur & Mountain Tools California
http://www.slackline.comSlackline Brothers
http://www.trango.comMal Daly & Trango
John Long
Bob D'antonio
http://www.omegapac.comOmega Pacific
http://www.rockandice.com/newsite/index.phpRock and Ice
http://www.grivelnorthamerica.comGrivel North America
http://www.mistymountain.comMisty Mountain Threadworks
http://www.chesslerbooks.comChessler Books
http://www.gregorypacks.comGregory Packs
http://www.bdel.comBlack Diamond
http://www.metoliusclimbing.comMetolius
http://www.pembaserves.comBrad Werntz & Pembaserves
http://www.backcountrygear.comBackcountry Gear
http://www.soinaturalcandles.comSOI Natural Candles
http://www.fishproducts.comFISH Products
http://www.evolvesports.comEvolve Sports
http://www.sportiva.comLa Sportiva
http://www.warriorsway.comArno Ilgner & Warriors Way
http://www.mammut.comMammut
http://www.justropes.comJustRopes.com
http://www.nextel.comSprint/Nextel -- (ask and ye shall receive)
http://www.conniewatkins.comConnie Watkins - portrait artist
http://www.randywenzel.comRandy Wenzel Photography
http://www.verglasphoto.comMisha Logvinov Photography
http://www.jansport.comJansport
http://www.supertopo.comChris McNamara & SuperTopo
The above named companies and individuals are those that have already pledged products and additional support via opening their own circles of influence to me. Additionally, I have calls into Camp USA, M-Gear, Climbing and am either awaiting their return calls or a final response.
If anyone would like to assist me with this endeavor, please contact me at 870-627-0594.
Let's all work to keep Steve's memory and dream alive!
God Bless,
Tim Greene
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Aug 26, 2006 - 11:13am PT
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Tim,
Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday. Chaos happened. Sign us up for a set of cams, a wad of draws, a rope and a crash pad. The irony oozes out of those last two items so I coudn't resist. I know JB will take their donations with the sense of humor I intended. Besides, despited trying to follow JB's 30 year lead, most of us still use a rope. We all have an infinite amount of respect for John and an infinite amount of disrespect for the state of health care in the USA. God know, I fought my battles with it and, even with pretty good insurance, my medical adventures were heinously expensive. Here's what I learned:
1) Insurance companies make their money by collecting premiums and denying claims.
2) Health insurance companies exist to benefit their shareholders, not their patients.
3) You have to fight like hell to extarct any benefit from a health insurance company.
Let's talk on Monday.
Mal
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TGreene
Trad climber
Jonesboro, Arkansas
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Aug 26, 2006 - 11:23am PT
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God bless you Mal... (and we all know he already has!)
Several years ago when I had kidney failure (simple explanation), the firearms community that I was so heavily involved in at the time, came together in this very manner, and it made all the difference in the world in regards to finances and recovery efforts, so this is my opportunity to help keep the karma bank full for others.
BTW: Now would be a great time for somebody to take JB up on that $10k "follow me for a day" offer, since I don't recall ever hearing of a deadline having been set 33 years ago! ;-)
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dt
Mountain climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2006 - 02:11pm PT
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We have a venue for Peter Crofts slide show in Mammoth Lakes on Sept 15.
The show will be at the Village at Mammoth at an outdoor venue. Intrawest was very generous in offering this site for free as they also have a Wine and Jazz event earlier that day. A tent will probably be provided if its cold.
We will have a silent auction as well. Misha from www.Verglasphoto.com has donated a print. Kevin Calder from Mountain Light Gallery (Galen Rowell) has donated a print. And Vern Clevenger has donated a print so far. Also, the raffle will be huge. People have even donated pies. I even think a local dentist is donating. :)
Good work and a cheers to Tim Greene. You are incredible. Its a great idea. BD is flying Peter Croft to Salt Lake City to do a slide show there too.
More info to come
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SammyLee
Trad climber
Memphis
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Aug 26, 2006 - 02:34pm PT
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Tgreene writes:
BTW: Now would be a great time for somebody to take JB up on that $10k "follow me for a day" offer, since I don't recall ever hearing of a deadline having been set 33 years ago! ;-)
Yeah, especially if it is the day he has the fusion done! I'd start down the hall and say, "Nope, not gonna follow you today. Here's your 10 grand!" (not that I could follow him any other day either)
Tim, for sure sign me up for some of the tickets. Also, whenever someone can set up a paypal account, I'll send what I can. Has this happened already and I missed it?
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 26, 2006 - 02:44pm PT
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Donations: See the first post in the thread. The link to the American Alpine Club site is http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/page/8. If you click on the "One Time Gift" link, it takes you to an on-line payment system. The system allows you to specify in the notes with the donation that it's for the John Bachar Fund.
The American Alpine Club is a 501(c)(3) organization, and so able to issue U.S. taxpayers with a tax credit receipt for donations.
Possibly Mammoth Mountaineering has also set something up.
Anders
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TGreene
Trad climber
Jonesboro, Arkansas
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Aug 26, 2006 - 03:04pm PT
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{{ Good work and a cheers to Tim Greene. You are incredible. }}
Not at all, because I'm just an insignificant nobody that's been there myself...
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aldude
climber
Monument Manor
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Aug 26, 2006 - 04:11pm PT
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Dave, how fitting...the headliner @ the Wine Festival is Tower of Power...one of Johns' favorites!
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dt
Mountain climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2006 - 05:44pm PT
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you coming up Aldude?
there is a paypal link on www.mammothgear.com
and a link to the American Alpine Club on www.Mountaintool.com
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dt
Mountain climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2006 - 05:45pm PT
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sorry,
http://www.Mountaintools.com I left off the "s". for a link to the AAC
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aldude
climber
Monument Manor
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Aug 26, 2006 - 07:43pm PT
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Dave, fur shur.....Need a band?
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TGreene
Trad climber
Jonesboro, Arkansas
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Aug 26, 2006 - 10:02pm PT
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I just updated my list to include Omega Pacific, since I received a message this afternoon that they too wish to participate... We'll be getting together on Monday to hammer out the details.
Love man, it's all about the love!
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