Hi gang: Here's the story about Punky. At 8:15 am, about a week ago
(I have been so distraugt, I've lost track of time and dates) I
walked Punky on his leash across the street from Eddie McStiffs.
Punky's attention was drawn by a dog barking across the street. He
wrapped the leash around my legs while attempting to go see the other
dog. I was transfering the leash, behind me, from one hand to the
other, when he jerked it out of my grasp and ran into the street. A
car passed over him without the wheels hitting him, but he must have
looked up at the underside of the car passing overhead. Something
under the car hit him in the head or jaw. He layed motionless in the
street. I picked him up and carried him directly to my bike parked
about 100 feet away to transport him to a veterinarian's clinic,
which I had visited the day before. I asked people in Moab who might
sew on a patch for me? I was directed to the vet's wife, who worked
in his office. I layed Punky, bleeding from his nose and mouth, on
the tank bag. I raised the sidestand and turned on the ignition, then
realized I had to secure him to keep his limp body from sliding off
during the 6 block ride. In my frenzy, I let the bike drop on its
side. I walked across the parking lot and asked a man if he had a
car. He said no. I asked a second man and he said yes. I explained
our need for immediate transport and the man said to meet him in the
rear parking lot. It seemed like a long time, but he finally appeared
just after punky made a weak sounding groan and breethed his last. He
was dead. I was frantic and blew my breath in his snout, while we
were driven to the vet's office within 3 minutes, where proper CPR
was administered and his little heart starting beating again. The vet
worked feverishly to keep Punky alive, doing everthing he possibly
could with their limited small town facilities and lack of
sophisticated medical equipment. The vet said Punky had head trauma
and feared it was very serious. I asked if a CAT scan would be
helpful to determine the extent of head injury. The vet said it would
be very helpful, but no such machine was in Moab. I asked where the
nearest facility was with a CAT scan machine. He replied, "Grand
Junction, Colorado." I made immediate arrangements to be flown by a
pilot with punky in a Cessna 182 to Grand Junction. It was a 45
minute flight. The vet in Grand Junction was notified, records were
faxed and he was told to expect us and exactly when. When we arrived
at the Grand Junction vet's office, he informed me that the facility
with the CAT scan was booked solid for the day and couldn't handle
Punky. I told the vet "This dog wasn't brought back from being dead
and I didn't fly this gravely ill dog here to find inferior service
or be told equipment wasn't available." The vet called back the
facility with the CAT scan and pressed the matter. Punky got his CAT
scan within an hour. The test revealed a lesion and small bleed deep
in his brain in the Thalamus and a fractured palate in his snout. It
was not anywhere near as serious a problem as both vets had thought
likely. They had thought his chances of survival, especially without
brain damage, were not good. With the CAT scan results, the vet knew
exactly what to do. Punky was placed in intensive care on oxygen.
Drugs were administered to help prevent his brain from swelling and
various other drugs were used including morphine to relieve his pain.
He was stabilized with good vital signs. The vet called me daily, as
I had to return to Moab, and reported Punky has continued to improve.
Punky was released from intensive care last Friday and the vet took
him home with him for the weekend. Today I am riding to see Punky and
stay in Grand Junction until he recovers. The vet says Punky is now
eating and responding to attention and is optimistic that he will be
OK in about 30 days. I hope he is right. If Punky is able to ride, we
will try to continue Punky & Lew's Americas Motopaseo. The delay will
make it impossible to be in Deadhorse, Alaska July 12. I'm taking
things one day at a time. It is too soon to think of anything but
Punky's welfare. I have not been able to read any messages, but
understand there has been a great outpouring of concern and well
wishes from a great number of people. I attended the Moab KLR650
rally (Canyonlands Motorcycle Classic), sometimes severely depressed,
and last night Punky and Lew were awarded two trophies, one for being
voted People's Choice and the other for riding the longest distance
to attend the rally. Yesterday, I did manage to enjoy a great group
ride into Canyonlands and numerous very scenic areas of state and
national parks. At one point I broke away from the group and released
some tension by burning the hell out of some twisties at high speed
and lean angles that astonished the nearest young rider behind me.
When the road got flat, I finally slowed down. Four or five minutes
later the first rider caught up and said "That was awsome. Your
panniers were only a couple of inches from dragging the pavement." I
replied, "That's why I had an angle cut in the bottom outside edge of
the boxes." The fresh wear was visible on the rear tire and
inspection revealed all but 1/4 inche of the knobby edges were just
used in severe leans. It was even more impressive, because the tires
were very aggressive offroad Chen Shings really intended for such
use. I have to go now. Thanks to all for their good thoughts and
messages of concern. Later.
Lew Waterman
nklr marks photos?
-
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:00 pm
punky & lew in moab nklr
Lew,
Great to hear the good news. Hope Punky recovers quickly so you two
can continue the adventure. And glad you didn't take no for an answer
about that CAT scan.
Ed
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., moabmc@l... wrote: > Hi gang: Here's the story about Punky. At 8:15 am, about a week ago > (I have been so distraugt, I've lost track of time and dates) I > walked Punky on his leash across the street from Eddie McStiffs. > Punky's attention was drawn by a dog barking across the street. He > wrapped the leash around my legs while attempting to go see the other > dog. I was transfering the leash, behind me, from one hand to the > other, when he jerked it out of my grasp and ran into the street. A > car passed over him without the wheels hitting him, but he must have > looked up at the underside of the car passing overhead. Something > under the car hit him in the head or jaw. He layed motionless in the > street. I picked him up and carried him directly to my bike parked > about 100 feet away to transport him to a veterinarian's clinic, > which I had visited the day before. I asked people in Moab who might > sew on a patch for me? I was directed to the vet's wife, who worked > in his office. I layed Punky, bleeding from his nose and mouth, on > the tank bag. I raised the sidestand and turned on the ignition, then > realized I had to secure him to keep his limp body from sliding off > during the 6 block ride. In my frenzy, I let the bike drop on its > side. I walked across the parking lot and asked a man if he had a > car. He said no. I asked a second man and he said yes. I explained > our need for immediate transport and the man said to meet him in the > rear parking lot. It seemed like a long time, but he finally appeared > just after punky made a weak sounding groan and breethed his last. He > was dead. I was frantic and blew my breath in his snout, while we > were driven to the vet's office within 3 minutes, where proper CPR > was administered and his little heart starting beating again. The vet > worked feverishly to keep Punky alive, doing everthing he possibly > could with their limited small town facilities and lack of > sophisticated medical equipment. The vet said Punky had head trauma > and feared it was very serious. I asked if a CAT scan would be > helpful to determine the extent of head injury. The vet said it would > be very helpful, but no such machine was in Moab. I asked where the > nearest facility was with a CAT scan machine. He replied, "Grand > Junction, Colorado." I made immediate arrangements to be flown by a > pilot with punky in a Cessna 182 to Grand Junction. It was a 45 > minute flight. The vet in Grand Junction was notified, records were > faxed and he was told to expect us and exactly when. When we arrived > at the Grand Junction vet's office, he informed me that the facility > with the CAT scan was booked solid for the day and couldn't handle > Punky. I told the vet "This dog wasn't brought back from being dead > and I didn't fly this gravely ill dog here to find inferior service > or be told equipment wasn't available." The vet called back the > facility with the CAT scan and pressed the matter. Punky got his CAT > scan within an hour. The test revealed a lesion and small bleed deep > in his brain in the Thalamus and a fractured palate in his snout. It > was not anywhere near as serious a problem as both vets had thought > likely. They had thought his chances of survival, especially without > brain damage, were not good. With the CAT scan results, the vet knew > exactly what to do. Punky was placed in intensive care on oxygen. > Drugs were administered to help prevent his brain from swelling and > various other drugs were used including morphine to relieve his pain. > He was stabilized with good vital signs. The vet called me daily, as > I had to return to Moab, and reported Punky has continued to improve. > Punky was released from intensive care last Friday and the vet took > him home with him for the weekend. Today I am riding to see Punky and > stay in Grand Junction until he recovers. The vet says Punky is now > eating and responding to attention and is optimistic that he will be > OK in about 30 days. I hope he is right. If Punky is able to ride, we > will try to continue Punky & Lew's Americas Motopaseo. The delay will > make it impossible to be in Deadhorse, Alaska July 12. I'm taking > things one day at a time. It is too soon to think of anything but > Punky's welfare. I have not been able to read any messages, but > understand there has been a great outpouring of concern and well > wishes from a great number of people. I attended the Moab KLR650 > rally (Canyonlands Motorcycle Classic), sometimes severely depressed, > and last night Punky and Lew were awarded two trophies, one for being > voted People's Choice and the other for riding the longest distance > to attend the rally. Yesterday, I did manage to enjoy a great group > ride into Canyonlands and numerous very scenic areas of state and > national parks. At one point I broke away from the group and released > some tension by burning the hell out of some twisties at high speed > and lean angles that astonished the nearest young rider behind me. > When the road got flat, I finally slowed down. Four or five minutes > later the first rider caught up and said "That was awsome. Your > panniers were only a couple of inches from dragging the pavement." I > replied, "That's why I had an angle cut in the bottom outside edge of > the boxes." The fresh wear was visible on the rear tire and > inspection revealed all but 1/4 inche of the knobby edges were just > used in severe leans. It was even more impressive, because the tires > were very aggressive offroad Chen Shings really intended for such > use. I have to go now. Thanks to all for their good thoughts and > messages of concern. Later. > > Lew Waterman
-
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2000 8:06 am
punky & lew in moab nklr
Lew,
My whole family is happy to hear the Punky is going to be OK
(especially my dog Zo , she told me to tell you to scratch Punky
behind his ears for her). Keep us updated on Punky's progress and how
your are fairing too.
Take Care,
Brad
-
- Posts: 912
- Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2000 11:31 am
nklr marks photos?
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Stuart Mumford" wrote:
via> On Monday, I did a 722 mile ass-smoker of a ride home to Riverside,
Fwy for> Panguitch, Bryce Canyon, Brian Head, Cedar City, etc. then the 15
That's a great ride, at least the Utah part of it, one of my favorites..... you took 12 down through the Escalante Staircase area? ... that is an awesome road (check out Calf Creek sometime, between Boulder and Escalante, just south of the hogback stretch of road)... then on to 143(?)at Panguitch (last time I went through there it was ??? Day, the Mormon 4th of July), then down through the cool mountain air from Cedar Breaks to Brian Head, then down to the odd-ball town of Parowan.....until you hit Nevada, that is....then it's a grind, at least till you hit Boundary Peak (I was headed to N. CA) But a lot better than doing it in a car, of all things. Bill thank God for Motorcycles and I'm glad I don't live in Panguitch> the rest of the ride...
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