for everyone, re: Ric Miller

[Matt Haines]

I've got bad news, with a ray of hope attached.

I hadn't heard from Ric Miller for a few days via email, so I gave him a
call. I just got off the phone with his girlfriend. He had a brain aneurism
over the weekend, and is currently in hospital. The doctors told her that
1/3 of aneurisms result in death, another 1/3 in a permanent coma. Ric is
in the third category. He can speak, see, hear and as far as I know can
move about. However, he doesn't currently answer questions with the right
answer, but rather with something nonsensical. Not talking gibberish, just
very confused. The doctors say this is actually a good thing, and that he
will possibly recover with out serious damage or permanent memory loss. He
doesn't know what city he lives in, and he doesn't know his girlfriend's
name (of 10 years), but he does recognize her and know that she's important
to him.

Kim (his girlfriend) will be passing along email from friends and
well-wishers. Unfortunately, such messages will be most useful if they
include descriptions of the sender, because he will likely not remember you
(for awhile, anyway). Typing up an email message to a friend, and having to
explain who I am, is one of the saddest things I've ever done.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND HIM EMAIL JUST YET!!!!!

His box has been unattended for a number of days, and your message will
just be lost with all the AH postings. I will be receiving and forwarding a
more detailed description of the situation from Kim when I receive it,
along with instructions for people to send messages. Most likely you'll
have to put something in the subject header that draws attention to itself,
but please hold off until I let you know.

Please keep Ric in your thoughts and prayers. It may be weeks until we hear
from him, but I'll have news before that.


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Matt Haines  haines at apc.net         .       .       .       .
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Moonlight, Muzak, Knick-Knack, Paddywack