We received the following email from Danny McGowan dan3135@optonline.net He has also received many phone calls from fellow retirees asking about his condition.
To President Mike Lanning and the entire Board of the NYC Retired Transit Police Officers Association:
Thank you for the letters and the phone calls that I received. I cannot tell you the feeling I have knowing that a lot of our members are asking about me and my condition.
I had my 1st chemo of six on 11/2/20, it was like a walk in the park. Some side effects but I got over it. 2nd chemo was 11/23. Same situation, I felt so good I visited the Bowling League. Great to see alot of friends. My diet is getting better, and I am enjoying alot of meals.Since June I lost 27 lbs and I lost my hair, which I am told will come back. My head is clear, my body is getting stronger.
Thank you all very much for your prayers and concern for me. This treatment will end 2/15/21. I do want to attend a meeting at the FOP and Antuns when normal returns and when I am well. I intend to beat this cancer. I have very caring and knowledgeable Drs in my corner.
Always, Dan McGowan Let it be never forgotten "TRANSIT! IT IS THE BEST"
Our prayers and best wishes go out to Danny and his wife, Emily, that he will overcome this cancer and return to good health.
November 4, 2020 PRAYER REQUEST FOR FELLOW MEMBER
PRAYER REQUEST - RET. P.O. DANNY McGOWAN
Our Lifetime Member, Ret. PO Danny McGowan, was recently diagnosed with a re-occurrence of lymphoma cancer. Several years ago, he had gone through successful treatment for a cancer illness and was doing well until he started feeling a lump under his arm which led to his current prognosis. He has started chemo and radiation and his doctors feel confident that Danny will pull through again.
We ask all our fellow Transit Family members to remember Danny and his wife, Emily, in their prayers and that he will overcome this disease and regain his full health.
I want to thank everyone who prayed for Gamon. On October 3 at 3:13 AM, I received a call from the nursing home. Gamon was unresponsive. We all went to the hospital, where he was placed on a respirator. The Dr. told us we can say our goodbyes; he would not make it through the night . He was gasping for air. It would be a matter of hours and he would be gone. Sunday morning, I called the hospital and told the Dr it was ok, take him off, let him go. Four hours later, the Dr. called back to say he’s breathing on his own. He has ever since breathing on his own, talking and eating . Thanks so much to all his Transit family. Please continue to pray for us
Gamon’s wife Beverley’s email is bsgsret10@aol.com. Please keep Gamon and Beverley in your prayers. Prayers work!
We're happy to hear the good news on his progress with hopes for his full recovery.
October 27, 2020 SICK DESK UPDATES - MIKE LANNING, BILL CARAWAY and EDDIE VETTER
UPDATE ON PRESIDENT MIKE LANNING
We are happy to report that Mike came from the rehab facility yesterday, October 26th. He is feeling very good but will still have rehab sessions at home over the next few weeks. Mike said he had received many phone calls from fellow members and retirees and welcomes anyone to call him at 516-946-2932 or email at mikedor2@aol.com
Welcome home Mike and all the best for your full recovery.
William (aka Bill) Caraway is now home. He can be reached on his landline:1.863.858.1958 (Primary) or Cell: 1.863.2255.2874
Happy to hear you are home, Bill. All the best for your full recovery
SICK DECK UPDATE EDDIE VETTER AND A THANK YOU
I received the email below from Peggy, Eddies wife, this morning and this afternoon I called Eddie and spoke with him for quite a while. What a difference from the last time we spoke. His spirits were high, and he has no pain in the back of his head. He has a good appetite. He thanks all for their prayers and calls and would love for people to keep in touch with him. His phone number is 347-672-6328
If you recall in my last email regarding Eddie, I mentioned he had two tumors on his brain that they wanted to operate on. Peggy nixed that idea. They asked them if they wanted to try the procedure Stereotactic Radio Surgery. This is fairly new, and they elected to try it. I suggest, as I did, click on the link and read about it and it has a short video. I hope you never have to use it, but it is good to know about. I was impressed. Please continue praying for Eddie
Hi Lou, I Just wanted to say thanks to you and all the other amazing Transit family for all the love, prayers and support sent Eddie's way. He is doing better now. On Wednesday he had a procedure called Stereotactic Radio Surgery. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/stereotactic-radiosurgery/about/pac-20384526 It's truly miraculous. This proton beam therapy is fairly new and we were very lucky that he was able to be treated so quickly. Orlando Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in central Florida that is equipped to do this knifeless, painless surgery. It was done as an outpatient procedure and took less than an hour. When they were done, his mind was clearer and the veil of confusion was lifted. It shrinks the Brain tumors and keeps them from growing, without damaging the surrounding tissue. I've included a link so that everyone can know about this amazing new treatment. He still has some battles to fight and you know he will. But for now, we are hopeful and grateful for this answer to our prayers. Thank you all. Sincerely, Peggy Vetter.
Stereotactic radiosurgery - Mayo Clinic Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) uses many precisely focused radiation beams to treat tumors and other problems in the brain, neck, lungs, liver, spine and other parts of the body. www.mayoclinic.org
Very happy to hear this good news and we wish Eddie & Peggy the best for his recovery.
Just to let everyone know I’m finally back home (917-622-4027) where I hope to continue my recovery. You can contact Dave by EMAIL kingkole@optonline.net
Our prayers and best wishes to Dave that he may return to good health very soon.
October 18, 2020 UPDATE FOR RON CONKLIN
Ron Conklin called me the other day and tells me he is feeling well and with his ongoing rehab, on the road to full recovery. He misses his FOP meetings and seeing fellow retirees. His email address is doowopcopron@gmail.com
We all wish Mike and Ronnie our best wishes and prayers for a quick return to good health..
October 9, 2020 RET. P.O. GAMMON STEWART SERIOUSLY ILL
Most of us know of the many strokes suffered by Gammon Stewart and the many years his wife, Beverly Stewart, has been there right by his side. Beverly has been informed by Gammon's doctor that the end is near. Beverly is in need of, and very much deserves, our love and support.
I was informed by Vito the other day that he has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. He will begin Chemo treatment tomorrow at Sloan Kettering in NYC. Vito request prayers and also if you have ever been diagnosed with this disease, he would be very appreciative if you can call him. His cell number is 845-325-9875.
Lou is a Lifetime Member of this association and we offer him our prayers and best wishes for a recovery from this terrible illness.
Tom just recently had surgery on his carotid artery which he told me was pretty much clogged. He feels that might have been the cause of the stroke he had. As far as the stroke, he is doing fine. He also had a stress test which went well. You can email well wishes to him at tomg2217@verizon.net
We wish Tom well after his surgery and we offer our condolences on the death of his son, Kevin.
Thanks Louie. I am in recovery 5 more weeks thank GOD for being in shape. The hip bone had been cracked awhile. Then it just decided to break. My bone density is great; who knows what I did. Without a doubt, the most pain I have ever felt. I was home alone, crawled around for 5 hours, kept passing out. I finally got to my bed with the phone on it. Using my good leg and upper body strength, it took me awhile to get on the bed and use the phone. That was at 2am. Passed out.Called my partner He is a Sergeant with LCSO; no answer; finally called 911. Got to the hospital at 4:35 am. They didn’t operate till Thursday. I was on drugs. OMG how CAN anyone GET HOOKED ON that shit is beyond me. Tuesday or Wednesday, not sure, got phone call and talked for a while. I thought it was another friend and then he started talking cop stuff. Finally, I said who is this? It was Joe Lopiparo who I hadn’t spoken to in years. This kind of injury affects your entire body including your brain. Doctor say it takes 6 weeks before you get back to normal; that is if you are in good health. My physical training etc. I am 3 to 4 weeks ahead of most people who get this. I am thankful but it’s tough to do basic stuff like a shower, move around with a walker, pain and lousy sleep. PS I have a gun mounted in a pouch on my walker. “JUST IN CASE” Thanks again Dennis
Hi Lou, I just had kidney surgery today (8/13). My 8th kidney surgery over the last 25 years. I am trying to heal and rest. I hope all is well with you. Thank you always for the emails about our me. Sincerely, Randy Stoever
The last email I sent out about Randy he was battling the covid-19 virus for quite a while. I am assuming he has that behind him now. He is now facing this problem now. Please keep Randy in your prayers. If you would like to send him best wishes his email address is Ranstoever@aol.com - Lou
Our prayers and best wishes go out to Randy that he may overcome his illnesses and return to good health.
For those of you who hadn’t heard, my apologies for not getting this email out earlier , I wanted to let you know that Dennis fell Sunday, 07/27 and broke his hip. Completely broke the ball joint off the femur. I was on a girls vacation and he ended up dragging himself to his phone over 7 hours on the floor. Luckily 911 got him to the hospital, where they confirmed it was indeed a bad break and would require surgery. A partial hip replacement was done on Thursday, 7/30 and he came home on Friday. He will have at least 12 weeks recovery, with in house PT (3 x a week) and home health care. He is up and moving, mostly to the bathroom and back to bed!
You can keep updated via his Facebook page as I’ll will update as I can. You can reach him via email, phone, text and cards. Understand he’s a little loopy from drugs. His email is martiallaw1220@me.com
We are asking anyone who wants to visit to understand that we are keeping those short. Please call before coming and you must wear a mask and practice social distancing. Please pass on his story to friends as you see fit.
Thanks Sincerely, Mary
My phone is 352-434-2472 Cards can be sent to: Dennis Bootle 1808 Lake Eustis Dr Eustis, FL 32726
We wish Dennis a speedy recovery.
June 20, 2020 CURRENT SICK LIST AND UPDATES
Our Editor, Frank Crisa, received the following information.
HONORARY MEMBER ALICE FARKOUH
Just got a message from Alice Farkouh, wife of past Association President, Charlie Farkouh, that she is hospitized in Eatontown NJ, after an at-home accident. She suffered a broken leg and broken hip. Hospital Genesis Center tel. 732 544 1557, cell 917 5797124
We recently spoke to Alice and she is in good spirits. We wish her a quick recovery back to good health
I haven’t heard from or seen any posts from Mike since before Christmas when he went into an Independent/assisted Living facility, Grand Villa, in Largo FL. With this virus and not hearing from him I got nervous and decided to call him yesterday. I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear him answer his cell phone. He is fine, he sounded great, his spirits high and he loves it where he is, he said the place is beautiful. Due to the virus there aren’t any visitors allowed. He has a 2-room suite and again because of the virus he can’t go to the dining room for his meals, his meals are brought to his room. I am sure he would love to hear from people. His cell number is 727-510-9472
Dave Kolman called me today and informed me that he has been in South Nassau Communities Hospital, in Oceanside, LI for 2 weeks with some type of bacteria infection. They have cleared the infection but since then he hasn’t had an appetite and hasn’t been eating. He has no strength, can’t stand up wan walk. While he is in this condition, they will not release him. Thank God he does not have Covid-19. He called me to see if I knew anyone who can get him out of the hospital, which obviously I don’t. He gave me his daughter Susan’s phone number who is a nurse and been speaking to doctors daily as she is not allowed to visit him, because the hospital is lock down to visitors. She told me he is confused, hasn’t been able to speak with anyone and is lonely. His phone number is 917-622-4027 (cell) She believes if he gets phone calls from former co-workers would lift his spirits.
