Altius

[baggettpv]

We are sorry to say that the Summer clinic at WSTC will be cancelled this year and replaced with weekly training sessions throughout the summer at my facility.
Weekly sessions will be from Monday thru Thursday with a full week of training and learning. Better bang for the buck with Alan staying home to recover....

Rick Baggett
WSTC

[Bubba PV]

Here is the latest update received this morning;

Bubba - Alan saw the cardiologist today. Despite lasting 8 1/2 minutes on the echo stress test - average for his age is 6 - there is evidence of narrowing in one artery. However because all surgery is risky the cardiologist has decided to try and treat Alan with drugs - to thin the blood and expand the blood vessels - until it is obvious that will not work. So plan is to try and extend walking up to usual levels to see if there are any problems, and if not go from there. Clearly if there are problems then surgery will be required. But as good a result as we could have hoped for under the conditions.

[altius]

Just a note to thank all of you who have dropped us notes of support - they are very much appreciated. I hope to able to catch up with many of you in the future but the problem is that because of the cost of medical treatment in the US we may not be able to get travel insurance. Apparently open heart surgery could cost up to 500k - pity - because it is free in the socialised medical system in OZ. However I hasten to point out that even when it is free it is not something I recommend!

However if the docs will give us the nod we may still be able to go to Britain - which also has a socialised system - later this year.

There is an open invitation to anyone who wants to come to OZ to study the vault - or even just take a holiday - in Adelaide. Could arrange side trips - long ones of course - to Melbourne to see Mark Stewart and to Perth to watch what Alex Parnov is doing with his squad.

[gregray]

Any idea of when/where you might be in Britain? Will you host a clinic? I have three eager daughters who have consumed your book, and want to know more. Thanks for your continued effort to see kids around the world reach their potential. Feel better soon... Cheers!

[altius]

Gregray - will be in UK in September - may do a clinic at Lea Valley. let me have your email address please.

[KirkB]

... will be in UK in September ...

Nice to hear that you're on the road to recovery, and will be able to travel by September, Alan! Best regards,

Kirk

[altius]

Appreciate the kid thoughts Kirk - fortunately the UK has a sensible health system - that dreaded socialised medicine that I believe you canadians also enjoy. So my Docs are happy to let me travel there.

[Bubba PV]

This just in today from Alan's wife, Jenny - 10/7/2010

Bubba - - Alan is in hospital and had an angiogram and a stent inserted on Tuesday - and a pacemaker put in yesterday. There is still one partly blocked artery that they are not sure what they will do with yet, but he seemed quite cheerful last night when I saw him and hopes to be out on saturday. He has been having bad angina attacks since Feb.

love jenny

[rainbowgirl28]

Get well soon Alan!

[Bruce Caldwell]

GET well ALAN. Great guy stayed at my home last year. Gave me very Knowledgeable pole vaulting info

Bruce

[Bubba PV]

UPDATE
Just to let you all know that Alan is home. He is OK - he's sore where they put in the defibrillator and not feellng too energetic but considering all things he's done well!

Thank you for your emails and support - they have been much appreciated. Jenny