Back home on the ranch September 27, 2013

[Soapweed]

View from the window in my room at the hospital

Pretty sunset

My relatives came to visit.

Trying to slip into my Nutter Butters

Checking out the equipment

Kosmo Kid

Sparky

Designed for me a very nice walking stick

Made from a hedge post

The Spearhead brand

A good old boy who shared my stay

My sons, in whom I am well pleased.

Delightful grandkids

A wonderful wife and wonderful daughter-in-law

This is how I made my grand entrance to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, three weeks ago today. They saved
my life and took very good care of me ever since. I thank them profusely, and have great respect for the whole staff of doctors, nurses,
therapists, and staff that were involved. Thank you RWMC.

Coming in by helicopter

I look like an inmate.

Another one coming in

Great crew

JF Ranch and his lovely bride came to visit.

Sparky did a little art work on my board.

A nice young lady who helped me a lot with therapy

Pretty bouquet given to me by my financial lending institution

Peach's cousin stopped by. He is an engineer for the railroad and drives a lot of heavy high-powered loads.

 

[ND Farmer]

Great to see that your on the mend and the road to recovery. Good luck to you and listen to your doctors, please don't over do it. The ranch will survive just fine under the direction of your son and wife. I know i. Speak from experience. I have recovered from my medical issues, and found that My son did a better job than if I would have done it.

 

[3 M L & C]

Glad your getting better! That's a mighty fine looking walking stick as well!

 

[jodywy]

sure glad you are recovering from that skeeter bite, after this weeks snow and frost there are no more let here , but the flies...

 

[Anonymous]

Boy take care with that West Nile... There must be a tough strain going around this year as I've heard of some bad problems... Two or three in MT have died- and I know of a couple folks that are hospitalized with major problems developing from it..
A friends son got West Nile- led into Meningitis and now has no immune system and has developed disseminated shingles... He's having a tough row and he was a young stout lad...

 

[gcreekrch]

Welcome home Soap.

You do look a bit peaked after your bout with WN. Debbie wants to know if you have an immunity to it now or can you contract it again?

You must owe a lot of money to have a banker send you flowers! :lol:
They would send me a notice of payment is case I might not pull through. :wink:

Hoping you're back in the saddle before long. Ya can't keep a good man down.

 

[sandtrap]

are you sure it wasn't a crazy B that bite ya? :lol: good to see you're on the mend.

 

[Soapweed]

Thanks, everyone. This old mosquito beat me up worse than a grizzly bear would have. I don't have very much use of my left hip, which makes walking very difficult. I wouldn't have a chance without a walker, and then it is pretty precarious. Much of my hearing is gone, so now I have a new pair of hearing aids which only cost $3405. They are quite helpful, but do distort the sounds around; they are sure better than not having them. My vision isn't as good as it was before, but still isn't too bad. Hopefully with a lot of work and therapy, I can still be an asset around here instead of a detriment.

I am very proud of the Kosmo Kid, Peach, and my sister. They have kicked into gear, and with the help of some neighbors and day help, have given all of the calves their preconditioning vaccinations. Now there is sorting to be done before taking calves to Valentine Livestock Auction starting on October 10th. I won't be much help but will at least try to stay out of their way.

Sparky has been busy building a nice ramp to overcome the steps getting into our house. It works like a dream, and I am thankful for his expertise. Anyway, things are looking up, and I appreciate all the prayers, calls, cards, visits, and concern. I live in a wonderful neighborhood full of great caring peoples. I consider Ranchers.Net as part of this fine neighborhood.

 

[Silver]

Glad you're home Soap!

 

[WyomingRancher]

Wow, what an ordeal you have gone through. So glad to see you are recovering and back home.

 

[Triangle Bar]

Happy to hear you are on the mend!

 

[Faster horses]

Three weeks! Wow. What an ordeal for anyone to have to undergo.
Like Debbie, I am wondering if you are now immune to West Nile?

Soap, we are very thankful to have you back posting here. This place sure wouldn't be the same without you. :nod:

Follow the doctor's and PEACH's orders so we can ALL keep you around!!!!

Now might be an excellent time to start writing that book...

 

[cracker hand]

Welcome home sir.

 

[Traveler]

Great that you're on the mend! You've educated many of us on the dangers and side effects of this virus as well, I'm sure. Did the symptoms come on slowly?

 

[Soapweed]

Great that you're on the mend! You've educated many of us on the dangers and side effects of this virus as well, I'm sure. Did the symptoms come on slowly?

Slowly but steadily. General lethargy, and extreme tiredness. Then a fever and being sick enough to not want to do much of anything. Peach says my highest temperature here at home was 103.5 degrees, but I think I heard it was 104.5 at the hospital. All I know is that I darn near croaked. There are several days where I have no recollection. I was hallucinating and not making any sense with my conversation. During one night I managed to pull out all my IV equipment, which didn't make the authorities very pleased with their patient. On another occasion I got out of bed with a full time nurse supposedly on guard, even though all the rails were up on the bed, and I was sick enough that they didn't think there was any chance I'd escape. When I was coherent I tried to be a nice guy, but when I wasn't, everyone beware. :wink:

 

[George]

Thank God you are on the mend - - - you have been missed.

Aren't you glad you had "preconditioned" your family so that they could take up the slack during your vacation?

 

[burnt]

Whoa that was a rough ride. Sounds like it would have killed a lesser man!

So glad to have you back in the land of the living rather than the valley of the shadow of death!

 

[katrina]

So glad you are better.... I've had west nile and it's a whole new life style. You'll learn how to handle the beast...

 

[North Ridge Ranching]

Good to have you back. I hope that you recover back to your old form. That elite, athletic figure you once were, on the back of your horse, or seat of your ranger, all day long. I can't imagine going through what you have been through.

Continue getting better and back to your old self.

 

[GM88]

GLad your back. I hope and pray for a full recovery . I did not realize how serious wn was until following your story. Wishing you the best from here on .