Art Thieme-UPDATE - 20 March 2012

Subject: Art Thieme-hospital may take 'bird'
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 05:22 PM

I just got a call from Art Thieme. He is just headed out to the hospital to have surgery on his right hand, specifically his middle finger. It seems a while ago he smashed his hand and it has been being treated. Seems the treatment on that finger masked some infection which travels up to his elbow. During the surgery they may have to remove the middle finger. He sounded in good spirits and was even joking with me about not being able to flip anyone off should that happen and also about learning how to do things in a different way such as opening his fly.

This is a couple or so weeks after Carol had surgery for right knee replacement. She is doing well, going through physical therapy and, if all continues to go well, she should be home in a couple of weeks.

Because she was in another town, it has been difficult for Art to see her. His few visits have depended on available transportation. I know after 45 years this coming January it must be very difficult for them to be apart.

He wanted me to be sure to let all of you know about his surgery. I assured him we would all be sending him our love and best wishes for the best possible outcome.

If you'd like to send him a card he will be at the Illinois Community Hospital at 925 West Street | Peru, Illinois 61354. I will probably be getting updates from their son Chris via e-mail. When I do I'll be sure to post. In the meantime please join me in sending your best wishes and support to Art and Carol.

I give thanks for a swift and successful surgery for Art and I give thanks that he and Carol are reunited at home safe and healed. I give thanks for this or something better for the highest good of all concerned. So mote it be!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-hospital may take 'bird'
From: skipy
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 05:31 PM

I assured him we would all be sending him our love and best wishes for the best possible outcome.

& THEN SOME!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-hospital may take 'bird'
From: gnu
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 05:35 PM

Yo Art, if they take off yer middle finger I'll give you mine.

Best of luck Bud.

Best to Carol too.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-hospital may take 'bird'
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 05:35 PM

Thanks for letting us know Kat. By the time a card reached Art from here I'm hoping he'll be home and recuperating well! Please pass on every good wish from me. I'll be thinking of him.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: olddude
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 06:49 PM

Give Art and Carol my love Kat. Art is a wonderful friend and I am sorry to hear this ... he is in my prayers ... I know .. like I tell Art, it can't hurt anything ...

he is a great friend, love them and hope they both get better real soon

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: sian, west wales
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 07:00 PM

Give them my best as well, will you?

sian

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Genie
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 07:20 PM

Mine too, Kat.

May Art's recovery be fast and full, and Carol's too.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 07:33 PM

As long as he still has his left left.

Art...get the HELL outa there! Hospitals are full of sickies and there's better food at McDonald's.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: kendall
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 07:48 PM

And I was complaining that I broke the nail on that finger and can not frail the banjo.
You have my warmest best wishes my friend.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: CapriUni
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 07:59 PM

Ouch!

All the best coming from me, as well.

...Though, if he gets a prosthetic, he may be able to flip those who deserve it a spectacularly artistic bird! >;-)

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 07:59 PM

Take care and hurry back Art. We need you around here. It's no pun without you.

And you could always learn to flip off folks with your other hand.

May this inspire you!!

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 08:27 PM

I'm trying to imagine what Art will come up with for describing this experience, other than giving his finger to the medical system that cares for us so well.

Best of luck with this round.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 10:25 PM

adding my best wishes to the mix heading his way & sending similar to Carol

love to you both
sandra

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 10:29 PM

So Art........If you need to flip someone off, just let me know........and you will be in my thoughts til you are better.......................of course they'll be really dirty thoughts...........................................Take it easy but take it!(;<))


Spaw

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 10 Oct 11 - 11:17 PM

Aw, shucks! I wish Art and Carol healthier days ahead.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:04 AM

Damn, we're falling apart as we get older. Get better soon.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:14 AM

All the very best from Charlie in Dunfermline, Art.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:19 AM

Art, if you need your fly fastening and unfastening, I'm just the man to do it...

Signed,

Edward Scissorhands
:-)

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 10:21 AM

Art, that would only make people believe that you can't cheat at poker.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 10:23 AM

Good Lord, Art! It just occurred to me! This is your BIG CHANCE to literally give the White Sox the finger!

Subject: UPDATE FROM CHRIS
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 07:45 PM

Just got these:

With Dad now. Medicated and on antibiotics. Antibiotics have the body wide infection down. X-rays taken yesterday to determine the extent of the damage. The doctor is due by sometime this afternoon to deliver the options.

As for Mom, she's understandably nervous about all this. Won't be able to visit her today.

Chris

and,

Dad is going into surgery. No ETA. No timeline yet.

Please keep Art, Carol and Chris and family in your thoughts etc.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:00 PM

Thinking healing thoughts...

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:14 PM

All the best thoughts I have are heading over Illinois way.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 08:56 PM

Hope all turns out well, Art-T...

B~

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:12 PM

I hope Art gives this the finger (figuratively).

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 10:50 PM

Hope all goes well.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:31 PM

Well, they didn't waste any time. Just in from Chris:

Dad is out of surgery. He is doing well but sleepy. Bandaged up pretty good, so he doesn't know the extent of the surgery, but thinks it was relatively minor. The basis for that comparison is yet to be established.

Let's hope it was minor! Thanks folks.

G'night,

kat

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:48 AM

sleep well, Art & family

love from sandra

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: JennieG
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 04:18 AM

Best wishes to Art and Carol and the rest of the family.......hope all goes well for them.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: open mike
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 06:23 AM

(((((Art, Carol and Chris)))))

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 08:53 AM

C'mon buddy. I've got you square in my prayer sights.

Much love,

Mick

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 08:58 AM

Minor?
Get out of that hospital, Art. They are no place for sick people.
Prayers here.
Mary

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:47 AM

I'm with Mick!

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 10:50 AM

...and me! (or should that be I?)

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: olddude
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 10:53 AM

Art
can you ebay your finger? maybe the mojo of your incredible playing will rub off on the winner ...

seriously, get better soon my friend

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: saulgoldie
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 12:03 PM

Best wishes, Art.

Saul

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 12:53 PM

Hoping for the best.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: olddude
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 01:09 PM

But Art will still be able to moon people Spaw

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:39 PM

I think Art downplayed the extent of this a bit. Here's what Chris sent, today:

Just talked to both Mom and Dad. Dad had his hand unwrapped today. They had to do a large amount of cutting into the hand to remove the infected areas. The recovery time and the extent of the recovery is not known. I'm attempting to contact social services at the hospital to make sure he isn't released without appropriate support and care especially if they stick to this four-day timeline they were talking about. Personally, I don't see that as practical considering the circumstances. It will be coordinated correctly. Mom is doing relatively well but is a bit under the weather. I'm worried that we may have dropped off this cold that is running through the kids when we visited last.

Thank you all for your continued support.
Chris

From what I know of Chris, he is their best advocate and will get things done.

kat

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: gnu
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:51 PM

Not what I (we, I suppose) was hoping to hear but reasonable news, under the circumstances.

Too bad about the cold.

Thanks for the updates kat.

Heal soon and well Art.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: scouse
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 02:57 PM

Good thoughts from over here in dear "Cloggieland." Derroll spoke of you mamy times.Take care Art

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 04:38 PM

Remembering how great a job Chris has done before, I know he'll be right on top of it all.

So Dan.......If Art became a grand master at mooning, would that also make him a crack addict?


Spaw

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: gnu
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:06 PM

Yer a grand master baiter.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: olddude
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:15 PM

Give him my love Kat ... and Yes Spaw you are the grand master

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 05:35 PM

If, after all this, the finger is alas lost, all is not over.

Over here in the south of England many will favourably think of the playing of "Mac" - who lost what you Americans call "the bird" on his left (fingering) hand and Paul Hurst who lost the same on his right (plucking) hand. Mac's timing was rather personal, but that was more a matter of substance abuse and he could wring more notes out of a guitar than most. The latter is immortalised by a line in a humourous song from 'catter "Wild Rover" (Clive Lever - aka Clever Evil - himself almost the archetypal pyrotechnic blind keyboard player).

"His fingers like nine dancing maggots on acid"

Don't give up, Art, whatever happens.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Janie
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 06:01 PM

Heal well, Art. Thinking of you.

Janie

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 06:26 PM

Bet it hurts.
Heal, Art.
Mary

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: gnu
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 07:34 PM

SINS!!!! That's terrible!!! But it struck me funny as hell! Ya got a REALLY wierd sense a humour. I like that! I am sure Art will appreciate it as well.

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 08:36 PM

Heal, Art! Down boy! Heal! Heal, dammit!

Subject: RE: Art Thieme-in hospital- may lose 'bird' Oct. 2011
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:53 PM

Oh, no! The surgery sounds more extensive than what I'd hoped for. However, I am still wishing for good, quick healing and recovery.