CJ Sturtevant () writes:

Gene Matthews is well known to long-time hang glider and paraglider pilots as Region 1's USHPA director for at least a decade, and as a hang glider pilot for much longer than that. I received an email from Gene yesterday, from St. Peter's Hospital in Olympia, where he's undergoing chemo for acute leukemia. Gene says, "I can't have flowers, fruit or visitors with the least sniffle. My resistance is zero, so email will be the best way to talk."

I sent him an email right away, and he responded almost immediately: "My niece showed up with a new laptop with a built-in wireless card. Patients here can use the hospital hi-speed wireless system.

I had a nasty cold for half of April and all of May. When I tried to mow the lawn on Memorial Day, I had no stamina.

I went to the doctor the day before I was to retire. The doctor focused on my lungs because I had had pneumonia but the real zinger was the results of the blood test. My hematocrits were 17.8 (that is very low).

My doctor ordered me to be driven directly to the emergency room for blood transfusions. I received six units over the next two days.

I have Acute Mylostitic [I think he means Myeloid – C.J.] Leukemia (Type M0) – it is fast growing as opposed to the slower chronic leukemia but the thing that counts is whether we get it under control.

I will get chemotherapy for a week, then they will check things. Then I need some recovery time in the hospital. I will be here for a minimum of three weeks and it could be as long as two months.

Two-thirds of patients are clean after the initial chemo but they give a couple extra shots if not.

There are some details of the bone marrow tests that we are waiting for that will give a better idea of the overall prognosis.

The nausea hasn't been bad yet, so I'm hopeful this will just be inconvenient rather than a nasty cancer battle.

So far, so good. I'll try to keep in touch with news."

Judging from his immediate response to my email, I'd guess that Gene will be very happy to hear from his old flying buddies. His email address is ">skydog63", "hotmail.com.

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