Fishing With Jim
This is Jim. Jim served in the Vietnam War as a US Army tank mechanic. He enlisted when he was 18. He did 17 parachute jumps while in Vietnam.
Jim was just released from the hospital here in Kentucky a few weeks ago - he had a tumor the size of a golf ball removed from his brain. This is a frequent occurrence in Kentucky. Jim was in the hospital for a month then in rehab for a few weeks. Jim said he started noticing problems with his balance and that is when they found the tumor. Jim still has yet to go through chemo. He has an 8" scar across the top of his head. Jim is 71 years old - one would never know he just had major brain surgery. Jim's firstborn child was born with spina bifida - a direct result of his exposure to Agent Orange.
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/birth-defec...
Jim's dog, Buddy, passed away yesterday, so it seemed therapeutic and fitting for all of us to be together here this morning. Jim knows his fishing. We hope to see Jim again when the fish are biting as it had just rained this morning.
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Today, August 2, 2019 I caught up with Jim buying groceries (donuts, milk, etc....) for his grandkids. He looks great, now has a full head of hair, and strong as ever. He's given most of his fishing equipment away to the boy scouts, etc....but still has a some left. We hope to go fishing soon.
I wish I could have let Jim talk to the owner of the Haven Beach Motel on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, USA, who just informed us that regardless of what United States Federal Law is, they will not permit a service dog on their premises or on the beach.
*******
11/22/2019: Saw Jim this morning at McDonalds - he is currently struggling with a recent flashback which has lasted a few weeks as well as balance challenges. But he is still strong, standing, driving and can still almost smile. He was taking breakfast home to "the boys". Says he hasn't been doing any fishing lately. He's a bit wobbly but still going strong.
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12/1/2020: What a great way to start off the month! We saw Jim this afternoon while at a local grocery store and he is still kickin' it, says it's catfish season and he's using cut up bluegill as bait! He still has that grand smile that will light up any day! It was so good to see him!
*****
1/27/2022: I have not seen Jim around but an employee of Kroger's says he still goes in occasionally and has a freezer full of bluegill he's willing to share. We have many bluegill here. Hope to catch up with him soon.
******
August 10, 2022: We saw Jim at a local grocery store and he looked fantastic. He said he just got back from the Bahamas as well as a visit to Bernheim Forest with his grandkids and Wife. Says he hasn't fished in two years but says he will be going out to the lake to see all of the changes. Said he had yet another tumor removed from his brain but is sharp, coherent and still driving!
Fishing With Jim
This is Jim. Jim served in the Vietnam War as a US Army tank mechanic. He enlisted when he was 18. He did 17 parachute jumps while in Vietnam.
Jim was just released from the hospital here in Kentucky a few weeks ago - he had a tumor the size of a golf ball removed from his brain. This is a frequent occurrence in Kentucky. Jim was in the hospital for a month then in rehab for a few weeks. Jim said he started noticing problems with his balance and that is when they found the tumor. Jim still has yet to go through chemo. He has an 8" scar across the top of his head. Jim is 71 years old - one would never know he just had major brain surgery. Jim's firstborn child was born with spina bifida - a direct result of his exposure to Agent Orange.
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/birth-defec...
Jim's dog, Buddy, passed away yesterday, so it seemed therapeutic and fitting for all of us to be together here this morning. Jim knows his fishing. We hope to see Jim again when the fish are biting as it had just rained this morning.
*******
Today, August 2, 2019 I caught up with Jim buying groceries (donuts, milk, etc....) for his grandkids. He looks great, now has a full head of hair, and strong as ever. He's given most of his fishing equipment away to the boy scouts, etc....but still has a some left. We hope to go fishing soon.
I wish I could have let Jim talk to the owner of the Haven Beach Motel on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, USA, who just informed us that regardless of what United States Federal Law is, they will not permit a service dog on their premises or on the beach.
*******
11/22/2019: Saw Jim this morning at McDonalds - he is currently struggling with a recent flashback which has lasted a few weeks as well as balance challenges. But he is still strong, standing, driving and can still almost smile. He was taking breakfast home to "the boys". Says he hasn't been doing any fishing lately. He's a bit wobbly but still going strong.
******
12/1/2020: What a great way to start off the month! We saw Jim this afternoon while at a local grocery store and he is still kickin' it, says it's catfish season and he's using cut up bluegill as bait! He still has that grand smile that will light up any day! It was so good to see him!
*****
1/27/2022: I have not seen Jim around but an employee of Kroger's says he still goes in occasionally and has a freezer full of bluegill he's willing to share. We have many bluegill here. Hope to catch up with him soon.
******
August 10, 2022: We saw Jim at a local grocery store and he looked fantastic. He said he just got back from the Bahamas as well as a visit to Bernheim Forest with his grandkids and Wife. Says he hasn't fished in two years but says he will be going out to the lake to see all of the changes. Said he had yet another tumor removed from his brain but is sharp, coherent and still driving!