STORM2K

My brother Cliff, 59, had a heart attack at the wheel last night; he is in the ICU at University of Wisconsin Hospital-Madison in critical condition.

His Dodge Caravan hit a light pole "dead-on", and is totalled; he suffered a cut to the face, laceration in the right eye, and his right leg (according to my younger brother) "looks like hamburger". No word on the speed he was driving at the time.

Cliff is having an angioplasty today sometime...please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as we await further developments?

Thanks!

OMG Bill!! He is definitely in my prayers!! He will also be added to the prayer list at Church. I called Father Cleary!!

Please keep us posted.

Bill - your brother Cliff is absolutely in my thoughts and prayers!

He's in good hands at UW Hospital. My prayers to your older brother.

He certainly has my prayers! It's amazing that the accident didn't kill him though - I'd say that's a good sign!

Keep us updated Bill with his status!

Cliff is in my prayers..may God Bless him and help him to recover fully...God speed bill.

Hope he heals fast. God Bless.

David

Haven't heard anything more; what I'm wondering is, IF he survives this, will he have to lose his career? He is "THE" jazz/blues guitarist (ask B.B. King...HE says so!), and this has been his ONLY love, job, vocation for the last 43 years...

Prayers coming from the Burgh for your brother.

Ah Bill......just when things were looking up Brother, rest assured my dear friend, Cliff will be raised up before the Father and added to my prayer chain also.

Dennis

This just in; Cliff will need a pacemaker. How long his recovery will be is anyone's guess, but he won't be performing any time soon. Doctors at UWH-Madison are not being very forthcoming with pertinent data for us...we have to wait.

He's probably in a third degree heart block
rhythm to warrant a pacer, Bill. This may be a
contributing factor to his "losing it" at the
wheel. The heart's own pacemaker was trying
to compensate and couldn't keep up. My
thoughts and prayers are with him, my friend!

Bill - I can't imagine why he wouldn't be able to perform or play his guitar again in the future. I know his leg has been severely injured, but if he recovers fully from the heart attack, I don't see why not, but then again, I'm not a medical expert either.

I'll keep him in my prayers and hope that he will be able to go back to his "love".

Bill - praying for Cliff as I type. Sure hated to hear this, after all your family has been thru lately. Hoping he recovers quickly too Bill.

Steph,

He will need help driving, setting up his equipment (mixer, sound system, etc.), not to mention being able to sit or stroll while playing for 3-6 hours at a time (he's been playing single gigs or with accompaniment, but under his own steam, i.e. driving to and from, setting up alone), IF the doctors permit it. Most of these have been in and around an area from Minneapolis to Chicago to Detroit, and all points in between.

Then, too, there's the "cosmetic" to consider re: the facial scarring and partial loss of sight...considerations that mean a LOT to a performer.

Wow Bill, so sorry to hear about your brother! Thank goodness he is safe, and I will pray for as fast a recovery as possible!

Stay positive Bill. My Mother is living proof that heart attacks or a TIA can be over come. With today's technology, he could be up and about before you know it.

My next door neighbor had a triple bypass and was back to work in two weeks. God has definitely given him a warning to fix the problem. Once fixed, he should be good as new.

I just saw this Bill! Prayers going out from here for your brother!

streetsoldier wrote:Steph,

He will need help driving, setting up his equipment (mixer, sound system, etc.), not to mention being able to sit or stroll while playing for 3-6 hours at a time (he's been playing single gigs or with accompaniment, but under his own steam, i.e. driving to and from, setting up alone), IF the doctors permit it. Most of these have been in and around an area from Minneapolis to Chicago to Detroit, and all points in between.

Then, too, there's the "cosmetic" to consider re: the facial scarring and partial loss of sight...considerations that mean a LOT to a performer.

I didn't realize how extensively he toured and that he mainly played solo.

I think that the cosmetic, though I will never understand the true extent, can be overcome once he realizes that his fans won't really care.

All in all, I'm trying to be positive - never say never! This probably will curtail his touring and performances, but hopefully he'll still be able to do them in time - K???

So sorry to hear this, Bill. Prayers coming up from southern California for sure tonight.