Good News/Bad News

[Leonard W. Childs]

Les Smith wrote:
>
> First the good news (at least as far as I'm concerned). After an ex-
> tended stay in the hospital, I am finally back home recovering from a
> severe stroke which initially left me both paralyzed and unable to speak.
> Really scary stuff there for a while, especially when the doctors told
> me that they doubted that that I would ever fully recover from it's effects.
> I didn't take that news too well. In fact I took it so poorly that the
> entire staff of the floor I was on sent me a "get well soon" card. And,
> when I proved their original dire perdiction wrong and was reeady to be
> discharged, the "going home" party they threw for me didn't start until
> AFTER I had left. (And is probably still going on!)
>
> How am I doing? I guess that it's all a matter of perspective. Compared
> to the way I was a couple of months ago, I still have a long way to go.
> However, compared to when I first entered the hospital, I'm something of
> a minor miracle. I'm able to get around on my own now (after a fashion)
> without benefit of a wheelchair or walker; I'm able to speak again, al-
> though I still sound somewhat strange; and I'm able to use my hands and
> fingers well enough to manipulate a computer keyboard and mouse. At this
> time a piano keyboard is still somewhat beyond me, but I'm working at it!
>
> Although I was unable to respond to them as they came in, many thanks to
> all of you who e-mailed me to express your concern and wishes for a speedy
> recovery. Believe me, those messages WERE appreciated! Further, my thanks
> goes out to BYU, Vince and the late Jack Reeves for making this Pianotech
> forum possible. I consider it a distinct privilege to be given the oppor-
> tunity to interact with some of the finest piano techmicians in the world
> who are so ready and willing to share their knowledge and experience with
> others. Simply put, I missed you guys. It's good to be back!
>
> Les Smith
> lessmith@buffnet.net
>
> P.S. Oh, yes. The bad news. The bad news, as far as my local competition
> is concerned (none of whom are on-line with pianotech), is that I'm back
> home and rapidly recovering. To all those "locals" who inquired as to
> whether my pianos, business assets and customer list were up for sale, my
> response was an emphatic "NO"! I may be down, but I sure as heck am not
> out. I'll be back. Soon. They can count on it!
>
> ls


Hi Les,

You do not know me but my name is Lenny Childs.  I've never been in the
same situation you are now in, but I had cancer in 1983, and it was a
lone and hard fight to get things back to normal.  From the statement
you put on the "list", you sound like the kind of person that will beat
this problem and any others that get in your way.  Mine and all the
techs out there in tuner land, our prayers are with you, keep on getting
better.

Best wishes,
Lenny Childs