Yesterday Pat told me how lucky they were to get him in the hospital rehabilitation. He's been there for a couple of weeks and is making good progress. At this time he's putting sentences together and is much happier and laughs from time to time. Since he's been without exercise for a long time, the hospital is working on getting his strength back. He's still not walking but we are all rooting for him.
I asked Pat if he would enjoy a note or two from his Letterhead buddies. She was sure he would. If you have a minute, please post him a line or two here.
Joe Crumley
Posted by Bob Peach (Member # 2620) on :
Great news,Joe! Thanks for letting us know. Monte , We are so glad to hear you are doing better. Still looking forward to a ride in that Jeep.You and Pat take care. You both are in our thoughts . Bob & Marcia
Posted by Charles Borges de Oliveir (Member # 3770) on :
Hi Monte,
Even though we have never met I was thinking about you yesterday. I hope you get better. You and your family are in our prayers.
God Bless,
-Charles Borges de Oliveira
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
I'm relieved to here of your progress. It takes a lot of determination and strength to do what you're doing. I'm proud of you and wish you all the very best.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Thanks for the info, Joe. I think of Monte quite a bit and often wonder how he's doing. I've got 2 different friends here that are going through similar situations and both are rehabilitating and may have a chance to get back to a certain degree of normalcy, so I have high hopes for Monte....
I stopped by a large car show last Saturday and was looking at all the Jeeps there. I checked out one that was really cool that the guy had rebuilt from the ground up... he had his book there with all the pics and I started thinking about Monte and his project. I decided I'd post on here and ask about him this week, but then have posted very little... so I'm glad you updated us....
Monte, just wanted you to know I'm still thinking about, praying for and pulling for ya.....
[ May 07, 2009, 10:05 PM: Message edited by: Jon Jantz ]
Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
Joe thanks for posting this good news. Monte and Pat....we've never met, but I have always enjoyed your posts here....I'm sure you will start with baby steps, slow and easy....you can do it. All the best. Sue
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Hi Monte and Pat,
You are part of the mainstay at letterville and I'm wishing you a good recovery. When I heard about some storms a few weeks ago out there, I was thinking about you. You guys always pull through, and no "dust bowls" are going to ever get you down!!
Posted by Barb. Shortreed (Member # 1730) on :
Thanks for the update Joe.
Glad to hear Monte is doing better.
Monte...you and Pat are in our thoughts and prayers.
Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
We think of you guys often. Both Monty and Pat have always welcomed all with a smile and open arms. Here's hoping the best in recovery.
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Thanks for the update,Joe. Hang in there Monte, we're pulling for you. You and Patsy are in my thoughts and prayers. Judy
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Monte, you kick ass. You are going to win this.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Glad to hear the positive news here... wishing Monte & Pat all the very best from Yarrow...
-grampa dan
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Hey Monte,
Great news on your progress! I look forward to the day we can welcome you back on Letterville. Keep on it!
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Monte, and Pat, God bless you both! Get well soon. I'm comin' to one of those awesome meets y'all have, one of these days! I can't wait to meet you guys.
Posted by Declan Newman (Member # 4175) on :
Monte & Pat,we met at letterheads meeting in Ireland 1999 and I have a confession,the beautiful letterhead t-shirts you brought over as spot prizes,well we kinda accidently on purpose forgot to include them in the door prize draw. We poor sods here in Ireland have never seen the like of those type of t-shirts,we were dazzeled and bewitched I tell ya,like. Anyway the funny thing is when I got home to try the t-shirt on my sizable frame it didn`t fit,it still wont fit. Hey Monte wanna buy a once, half put on, t-shirt. Its now a collectors item, ahem. Hope you get well soon Monte,we will meet up again soon and talk t-shirts and stuff. Slainte.
Posted by Miles Cullinane (Member # 980) on :
Like Declan, I met you at that same Irish Meet, Monte and I am looking forward to seeing you here again so get better soon.
And Don't be bringin' any more of them Fancy American T-Shirts here without bringin' one for your closest Irish Buddy, Why, We are almost relatives, what with the same fire engine red One Shot flowing in our veins, doncha tink so?
Get back up Soon Monte!
Posted by Sam Staffan (Member # 4552) on :
Little bits of progress will get bigger.
Wishing all the very best for both of you.
Sam
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Here's wishing a speedy recovery Monte,, all the best!
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Monte...keep strong and don.t give up...it's a long road, but you'll keep moving forward. All the best to you and Pat.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Good news. Monte stays in my thoughts as he is one of my favorites, not only on here but at meets. Keep plugging away my friend, we have a few more projects to work on together.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Monte..You guys are always in our thoughts.
Keep on truckin' and we'll meet you guys on Isla some day soon!
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
hey monte!
been thinking of you and pat often...so happy to hear you have been making such progress! and i'm glad to know that you are laughing...cause that's the best cure for anything. keep up the good work!
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
Monte just try to do what the therapist want you to do. i didn't go to therapy until i was in the wreck. if i had known then what i know now i would have gone after my first stroke. i had to work hard but it really helped my speach,swallowing & strength. hang in there buddy.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Hey Monte, can't wait to see you "Jumping" back on the BB again. Keep up the great progress.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Monte....glad you are getting therapy! LISTEN TO JIMMY!
When I had my back surgerey a few years ago, there were to guys with strokes there also....they were in wheel chairs and couldn't even talk. By the time that I was done with my physical therapy, they were walking, talking and one was even jogging!
It will be tough work....but...it will be worth the effort to be back to normal again!
Good luck to you and get well!
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Get well soon Monte. I think of you often because of an awesome panel I received in the First International Panel Swap!
Of course I have thought of that first post where I heard about the recent health challenges & I've found myself praying for you in my own way of wishing the very best outcome, and still hoping I can meet you some day. Steve & Barb were the first to put an awareness of Letterheads in my life, but Monte was the first to put it on my wall in living color, shimmering gold & all it's unimaginable handcrafted perfection.
Here is a look at the place of prominence that this first Letterhead panel I ever received still holds in my world:
ok... now that we have the lay of the land to get our bearings... how about a closeup:
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Monte, glad to hear you're getting better, keep up the faith we're all wishing you the best and speedy recovery...
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Monte, I sure appreciate your taking the time to show me how to put those extrusions in double sided HDU signs. Praying that you will have a complete recovery.
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Wow, Monte that is GREAT!!!!! I have a friend who had a stroke 1 year ago, & today, THIS DAY, she is speaking at a stroke symposium in Pittsburgh to help others. She told me that her therapy was what did it for her. Good for you!
I have never met you either, but have grown to respect you highly from reading your posts. I have been praying for you, & will keep on. It will be wonderful to see you posting again sometime, but take your time & get better.
Bless you Monte!
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
Monte, Yes, glad to hear you are making progress. We are looking forward to seeing you back on this board as soon as possible.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Just to add some insight into Monte's passion for signmaking...
Back in 2005 we met up with Monte and Pat on an island off the coast from Cancun. We were all on vacation.
We were sharing a "bucket of beer" at one of the local bars, and Monte and I were trying to prove who was the better pool player. All of a sudden he noticed that a local signpainter, Carlos, was doing some work on the outside of the bar.
Monte abandoned the game of pool, forgot about his beer and went outside and introduced himself to Carlos. All they had in common was a love of brushes. Neither spoke the other's language. BUT Monte insisted on borrowing a brush and this is what he started to do.
THAT is the kinda guy Monte is!!!
He was "walldoggin" on Isla Mujeres!!! and enjoyimg every minute!!!
Over the next few years Monte and Carlos kept in touch via personal visits and via internet through one of Carlos' relatives who speaks English.
Monte is a hero of mine!!!
[ May 09, 2009, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
This the essential Monte!
We knew each other for years on the internet ... then I finally met him in real life at Fred's Meet in 2003.
He's like a brother ... 2 months older, but our life story is almost identical!!!
Hang in there mate and get better!
Posted by Norman Biss (Member # 335) on :
Monte & Pat where the first Letterheads I met outside of New Zealand & I'm so pleased to hear of your positive progress. I still have a dream of meeting up with you both again sometime.
Posted by Kent Smith (Member # 251) on :
So glad to hear Monte is doing better and thanks Joe for keeping us up to date. Hang in there Monte, I know you have the ability to recover.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Monte, after a few try's getting together on the island of women and us not pulling it off, lets keep that goal in mind. Hoping to meet up with you there.
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Hey Monte, it is great to hear you are doing well, now keep it up and while waiting to get back in the swing of things, please finish that book. I started writing one and it is a fun thing to do. Been praying for you and it looks like it is working. Bill
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Monte - You and Pat have been in our prayers. I know it has been a long, hard road for you, but I've never doubted that you wouldn't give it your all...and it's evident that you have been.
Keep hanging in there. You haven't been forgotten by all these guys here and there's a lot more still praying and pulling for you.
Lots of folks at Fred's this year were talking about you (most of it was good) and really missing you being there. As you get better and Pat lets me know, I will drop in to see on the trip back to Fred's.
Don't forget....you're an inspiration to lots of guys and gals. You've inspired us with your work all these years and you're still showing us how to face the hard times and come through it all.
Thanks, friend.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
Thinking of you Monte & Pat! Hang in there! Glad to hear you're doing better.
