Big John Dortch............

[Gene East]

Little John called last night. John was transferred back to Missouri Baptist hospital Tuesday with nausea problems.

This began Saturday and got progressively worse. I was talking with John on the phone Sunday evening when he became nauseated to the point he had to hang up the phone.

John was in ICU for a while, but is now in room 1357.

He asked Little John to apologize to me for hanging up Sunday.

No need to apologize old friend. All your BDOBR buddies are praying for your full recovery!

Hang tough John!

[Gene East]

Latest update from Little John.

John has kicked the stomach ailment that had him down last week. He has been released from the hospital and is now a resident at Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield.

Little John has a friend on staff there who will insure John gets the best of care.

His new address is:

Mr. John Dortch
Room 704 Bed 1
Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield
14855 N. Outer Forty Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017

Phone# 636 733 2306

Tim Chance visited with John today and reports he is in good spirits.

[Gene East]

Norma had a Dr. appointmment in STL today that went very well.

We stopped by to visit with John for a while.That visit went extremely well. I haven't seen John looking so well or seeming so upbeat for quite some time.

When we arrived, he was sitting in his wheel chair looking out at all the flowers in bloom. He commented on how beautiful the jonquils were and that Liz loved jonquils.

I held his hand and said, "There are jonquils in heaven", He smiled with tears in his eyes and simply said, "Yes".

John always gives a history lesson during our visits. I wish we could get him "computerized" and online with us but I don't see that happening.

John does enjoy the cards and phone calls he receives from his racing buddies, but we talked more about duck hunting than racing today.

John did tell me very emphatically, "I WILL BE AT DEPUE"! Then he said I could buy him a taco and something to wash it down.

I wonder what he meant by that???????

[Jeff Lytle]

A beautiful reflection Gene...........Thanks from all of us.

[Gene East]

John called today.

He's moved again! This time just down the hall from room 704 to room 706.

He had referred to 704 as a postage stamp. I hope 706 is a little larger.

Address still the same:

Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield
14855 N. Outer Forty Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017

New phone #: 636 733 3335

[Gene East]

Karen Cadle reminded me I failed to put John's nursing home's street address in my last post.

That has been corrected by editing the earlier post:

Norma and I were in St. Louis over the weekend for the 20 inning Cardinal/Mets baseball game.

We planned to visit John on our way home Sunday afternoon.

However, we woke up Sunday morning with what could best be described as a 24 hour bug.

Rather than spread our germs around the nursing facility, we decided it would be best to come home.

John enjoys recieving cards and phone calls from his boat racing buddies.

He also needs our prayers.

[Tim Chance]

I visited with John yesterday and he looks great and is in great spirits.

[F-12]

Thanks for the update, Tim and Karen. I have been very lax on checking in with him and it's good to hear he is doing well. I will be back this weekend and will try to call..............

[Tim Chance]

Wednesday 5/5/2010. John is doing very well. He took three steps with his new leg for me and I told him that I thought he would be able to walk from the Pavilion to the VFW hall in Depue this summer. He told me either that or on a scooter. I've attached some photos, two of John showing off his new leg and the other walking on it.

[F-12]

Go John..........I look forward to taking that stroll to the VFW with you this summer.