January 2020
Recent Life-altering Event for Mike and Dianna Walker
For the MILWITs and friends
Very recently Mike was suffering from some unknown illness for over a month coming to a head right after Christmas that pretty much knocked him off his feet. After the December rally of our local RV club, Mike was admitted to the hospital for tests and evaluation.
The bottom-line result is that he has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He is faced with surgery and chemotherapy that will occupy most of our time for the next few months and, at best, will be followed by a lengthy recovery period if one could call it that. The doctors have yet to provide us with any sort of prognosis, but they do not seem to be very optimistic. There has been no estimate of life expectancy at this time, but as you can imagine, this has forced us to reevaluate our quality of life and both short- and long-term plans. This will be a long and difficult up-hill battle and will take all our effort.
We both have truly enjoyed our time with the WIT club and especially the MILWIT group and the friends and visitors we have had the honor to meet, travel and socialize with. It has truly been one of the greatest periods of our lives. Now, however, we have been forced to re-prioritize and re-focus our efforts on the medical issues yet to be endured and the impact to our children and grandchildren.
While we will never forget most of you, and we both hope to stay in touch and remain friends with all of you, we are compelled to withdraw from all RV camping clubs, obligations, and rallies.
We will be selling our RV and all associated accessories and materials, dropping out of the WIT club and the FMCA as well.
Please consider this as our notice of immediate resignation from the MILWITs and the offices you have entrusted Mike with. He can no longer function in these roles. We apologize for the short notice and the inconvenience, but we have no choice.
It is with a heavy heart that we must part ways at this time,
Happy Trails and Safe Travels,
Mike and Dianna Walker
July 2019
Dear MILWIT Members,
It is with a heavy heart that Gloria and I have had to cancel our plans to attend the MILWIT and GNR Rallies this year. We had been looking forward to both. Unfortunately, upon returning home from our winter travels it was confirmed that I did need surgery on my right shoulder. I had a complete tear of the rotator cuff and the biceps tendon needed to be relocated. I start physical therapy soon.
That by itself would not have kept us from coming, but while plans were in the process for my surgery, Gloria also developed problems. On July 15, instead of being in Forest City, Gloria is having a hysterectomy for an aggressive form of cancer. She had no symptoms until the middle of May. Feel free to send any prayers and positive vibes our way.
As you can imagine, our priorities quickly shifted. Rallies have been the last things on our minds of late. Thank you all in advance for pulling together as needed and assisting your executive team to make these rallies successful and enjoyable events. We will look forward to seeing pictures posted.
Sincerely,
Mike Patterson
MILWIT President 2018/2019
May 2019
Bob Hobdy
Sorry, but we won’t be able to make it to the MILWIT rally this year, or the GNR. I have been diagnosed with a non-typical aggressive form of Squamous Cell Cancer of the neck. After 4 surgeries in past 6 weeks, Duke Hospital thought they had it all out, but the last post-op checkup yesterday came with a bad pathology report that the cancer is metastatic and has undefined margins…meaning some may still be in me. We had already planned for radiation, but this news means I must undergo both chemo and radiation treatment for 6-7 weeks beginning 29 May. I will not be finished until mid-July, too late to attend, and they informed me that the effects of the treatment would linger for several weeks after. So the motor home is grounded as well as me! We will have to see you’all next year. Bob and Jan Hobdy
Jan 2019
Doug Cashmore
The last year and mostly the last six months have been very difficult for Lanita and myself. Lanita developed a very strong lower abdominal pain last June. Between June and December we saw many doctors and suffered through numerous tests. Her pain was taking a significant toll on our morale. Finally we saw a retired Army Colonel Surgeon who told us that it was a hernia which was easily fixable. He was able to get Lanita into his surgery schedule the next Monday (two weeks before Xmas) and all is fixed. The pain, no one else could figure out, was gone in an hour and half outpatient procedure. A month later she is pain free and moving forward on her full recovery. Go Army!
I also have not been doing well. As most of you know I have been having heart trouble which has resulted in numerous stents. Last September I had my 7th heart cath. in which they fixed a previous stent and used a balloon to clear out blockage to other stents. However, I still was very fatigued, unable to concentrate, and often fell asleep in my chair. I underwent more tests and in December they found that the work done in September was 99.99 percent blocked again. The decision is to do a triple by-pass which is scheduled for January 17, 2019. Hopefully, the good Lord willing, I will post an update next week to let you know of the outcome. In the mean time I want to apologize to everyone for the slow website updates in 2018 and my inability to return emails. Hopefully, I can do a much better job in 2019.
UPDATE:
It has been four months since my surgery. The surgery went perfect but the recovery has been a challenge. I still get short of breath from time to time and fatigue sets in, reminding me that I am not 20 years old anymore. One thing that did help was the three times a week for 8 weeks heart PT that I had to complete. If you ever have this surgery take the PT afterward it is well worth the time. We are looking forward to visiting with everyone at GNR in July.
Doug
Past President MILWIT
Dec 2018
Bill Speer
MILWIT Friends,
I suffered a mild heart attack on December 2nd. The Biloxi VA Medical center gave me great care and passed me to Keesler AFB Med center. After a cardiac catheterization exam they passed me to the cardiac and thoracic surgeons at Singing River Hospital in Ocean Springs, MS. Dr Robert Johnson performed a quadruple by-pass surgery on Friday December 7th. I was sent home today, December 11th. I will be doing cardiac recovery and rehabilitation for the next 8 weeks or so. I can’t wear my prosthetic arm for a while and I feel lost with out my ol’ buddy.
Thanks to all of you for your wonderful wishes Pearl and I will be fine,
Have a very merry Christmas!
Bill
Past President MILWIT
28 Oct 2016
I received the following email today from Jim Hodder:
Just a short summary of our trials and tribulations. We will not be going to Mayport NS for Thanksgiving this year due to an unfortunate accident Judy had. We went to Memphis, TN for procedures on our ears for tinnitus (ringing of the ears), and while there Judy fell at the bottom of a staircase in the Residence Inn that we were staying at. She will have surgery Nov.1 at Cleveland Clinic. Recovery is expected to be 6-8 weeks,with rehab after. We do expect to get to Florida sometime in December or early January. Just thought you all should know. Please Keep Judy in your prayers.
Jim & Judy Hodder.
I will post any follow-ups on Judy’s surgery next week. Send her some words of encouragement to keep her spirits up.