LUSK RANCH

Just wanted to take a moment to let everyone know that I am doing somewhat better. Today is my 5th day on the steriods to reduce the spinal fluid pressure. So far it is doing OK. That medication doesn't mess with my system the way the antibiotics and antivirals do.

Tonight is Homecoming for the Gold-Burg ISD. We went to their Jr. High game and the bonfire following the game. The Jr. High lost but they played way. Gold-Burg was just out manned with the Bryson boys. Hopefully, the varsity will play much better against them tonight.

I am really working on getting the other website up and going. And getting my mares and babies out to run. Thank you so much for everyone that has helped in that. For everyone that needs to come out and see the babies        come on! 

John

Update on Johnny!

John seems to be feeling a little better through the weekend. He stopped taking the antiviral medication that he was on Friday. The doctor said for his to stop, his body just can't handle antibiotics or antivirals for some reason. Since stopping those, he has been able to sleep for more than a few hours at a time and his heart rate is back to normal. I took him back to Dr. Turk on Monday, the doctor took an x-ray of his neck because John was convinced that it was about to fall off. At least that is how he said it felt. The x-rays showed that he has nerve damage from about C-3 down. But his head isn't going to "fall" off his neck any time soon. Which was a big relief. But it just showed how bad the compression in his neck on the nerves is. It looks like the wreck just pressed everything down. We are just waiting on a hearing for disability so that he can go to a neurosurgeon and see if he can't get some kind of releif. Hopefully, it will all happen soon.

We are in high gear getting the website and info out to the masses. Thank you Danielle for all of your help. I am working on getting pedigrees and photos of all mares and babies so we can start getting them out to people who will run them. That is our ulitimate goal.

For everyone who has sent emails, prayers and called to talk to John, Thank you! It helps him so much to hear everyone care.

Thanks again, "K"

We made it through the night. Doc has him on antiviral medication. John has viral meningitis. He will be treated with that for 24 hours and then starting in the morning doc is going to try a new IV treatment for his headaches. Which he believes are two different issues. The severe pressure and current headaches should be relieved after he finishes the antiviral but will still have the underlying aches from the accident.

I will keep everyone informed as best I can. He is in room 133 in Bowie Memorial Hospital. I forgot the cell charger. Hopefully, will have it soon. Call it and I will give you the room number.

Thanks for your prayers.

"K"

From "K"

Just wanted to let everyone know that Dr. Turk took one look at John this morning and sent us straight the hospital. They did a CT scan and then after looking at that, which he said he found no evidence of mass or hemorraging, he ordered a spinal tap. Of course those words sent John into a tizzy. So Dr. Turk did the tap himself.

I held John's head and talked to him the entire time. Normal spinal pressure level is 20, John's rose like mercury to 34-35. Turk then removed 4 vials of spinal fluid to try to relieve pressure and sent them off for testing. Now unfortunetly, he is being quarantined till they can rule out menigitis as an infection. So I'm writing this, running to the house and getting clothes, setting the recorder for CSI per John, and going back to stay with him.

Guys please keep him in your prayers. I told him at least now we can finally see what the cause of all his pain and headaches is. Or we can start ruling out what it isn't.

God bless you all. For all his buddies, Ron Walker will be at the house tonight watching the kids so you can call there or I should have my cell with me.

"K"

It was a hectic but fun weekend.

The kids had ball games. Ryan's first soccer game, his team is the Rattlesnakes - Crissy Hodges, coach, thank you so much Crissy for all that you do for those kids. They did AWESOME! Ryan and his team had another game on Monday. That little guy is tired!!

Kimmie and the Jr. High Gold-Burg Bears volleyball teams (A & B)  had their first volleyball tournament at Forestburg on Saturday. The girls played their hearts out! GO BEARS! They played a game last night vs. Montague. "K" went, I was too sick to attend. I feel so bad that I can't be there to support Kimmie the way I should. I hope she understands. They lost but kept up with Montague till the end.

Joe McCoy's son, Garland, played pee-wee football at Alvord Saturday afternoon. He plays for the Alvord Bulldogs against Paradise Panthers. The Panthers pulled away from the Bulldogs but they'll get 'em next time. Way to play, Garland!

On Sunday "K", Ron, the kids, Newt Williams and I went to Jacksboro for a BBQ at the Fowler Brothers. Dan and Tom Fowler started wrestling at the Wild West Wrestling school for my brother Ken in 1986. (They gave me a class photo that will be up on the site soon) Dan's wife Della (I hope I got that right, if not sorry, I've been dropped on my head a few times) really out did it. There was food forever. But with Newt and Jim Richardson and Tom, it was needed. We all sat around telling stories from the past. All good times and memories. The most talk was about going to a buffet in Mississippi with the Fowler's and Tom eating so much the owners asked him to "Eat more vegetables!" Those boys were great in the ring. Too bad they started in the business when it was on the down slide, they would have been one of the teams to make it!

Of course with doing all of this, I experienced severe headaches most of Monday. And am in bed today with the most horrible feeling in my head and neck. I asked "K" to make an appointment with the Doctor. So keep me in your prayers.

I will keep you all informed. "K" is working all week, god bless her!

Peace, Love and Horses - JOHN

I know I am getting terrible at keeping up the pace. Ok - really blame "K", she hasn't pushed me to really be consistent. But don't tell her we blame her! LOL!!

Things have been so hectic, crazy around here. "K" is now calling the ranch, Little Chino. Yesterday, a long, lost buddy that I grew up with and lost track of years ago showed up at the house. Even though I knew his family and we grew up together, no one would tell me where he was. He had been out of the country for over 10 years and out of the blue he was up our way and took a chance to see if I was still at the same place. It pays to stay put and keep the same phone number some time. So with Ron, me and now him it's like a small size Chino, CA. So when my buddy Erv comes up and if Keith ever stops back around, then I'd be surrounded by all my buddies from school. With the way I've been feeling lately, this brings life back to reality. Pretty cool!

Back to normal life... Kimmie and the Gold-Burg Jr. High Bears Volleyball A team played at Saint Jo yesterday, Monday 9/18 and won! Hooray. Their first win for volleyball this year. Kimmie is on the A team and seems to be doing pretty good, since they have only had a few practices. She cheers at her first jr. high home football game Thursday against Knox City. All the Jr. High cheer squad is doing good. This will be the first time that I will see the Jr. High squad cheer at a game. The high school cheerleaders need a lot of coordination work and megaphones because you can't hear them. At least the Varsity football team has finally got the hang of the game. They are 3-0 playing at Knox City this Friday. She is also staring cross country track. Coach Colby has them practice before school so she has to be there by 6:30 am most mornings, then after-school practice for either Cheer or Volleyball, so that poor little girl is so worn out. She's young and it's good for her to experience it all but she will be deciding soon enough what's important to her.

Jr. High plays a volleyball tournament Saturday at Forestburg, Go Bears! Good Luck!

Ryan is playing soccer. He is on the Rattlesnakes with Crissy Hodges as head coach. He loves playing. Yesterday, he was out fishing at the pond with my long lost buddy and Albert, our neighbor, and Ryan is the only one of them that caught anything. He caught 3 nice size bass but they threw them back. (Thank goodness, I didn't really want to clean them last night - "K") The Rattlesnakes first game is Saturday, 9/22 at 9 am. So any of you who are in Bowie this weekend stop by the soccer fields and cheer on the Rattlesnakes.

I went to see Dr. Turk today. Moving along, still miserable most of the time. He has some ideas he's working on but "K" & I are still his most intriguing patients. I bet we keep him up at night!

"K"'s 96 year old grandmother, Neva Lou Kreymer, fell last week and broke her Femur and her upper arm. They did surgery on her leg last Tuesday and surgery on her arm this morning. She is in Plano Medical. Please keep her in your prayers. We are going to see her Wednesday. If all goes well with her, they plan on moving her to a rehab facility later this week. Can you imaging still pluggin along at 96? She just amazes "K" & I. She is sharp as a tack!

Wanted to catch everyone up on goings on. I will get back to my rambling soon. Please keep us all in your prayers. I look forward to hearing from everyone, especially if you have a comment for me.

Peace, love and horses!

John