Just spoke to Don, and he's had to be rushed to the hospital. He needs a liver transplant, and is going through the testing necessary to get on the list for a donor organ. He has some internal bleeding in his esophagus that has to be addressed (and which is pretty serious in light of his condition) ........which unfortunately means it's unlikely he's going to make Maskfest this weekend, which he's been looking forward to for months. Needless to say, he's pretty upset.
Those of us who are Don's friends know that his health has not been good for quite a while, and I can tell you I've never seen anyone handle the sort of adversity he faces daily with more Christian fortitude and good cheer (not to mention how wonderful his wife Debbie is through it all).
For those inclined to prayer, I ask you to pray that the testing for a donor organ is successful and that the process is swift. If you'd like to drop him a card or something creepy, please PM me for his address. It's times like this that you need your family and friends.
Now that is very sad news, Don is the type of person who is always putting others before himself he is one of a kind. I also know that he was even trying to get up funds for others less fortunate to attend these shows and was so looking forward to going to Maskfest. God willing things work out for him and his health improves and he gets the result he needs.
Quote from: Scatter on March 24, 2011, 03:42:03 PM
Just spoke to Don, and he's had to be rushed to the hospital. He needs a liver transplant, and is going through the testing necessary to get on the list for a donor organ. He has some internal bleeding in his esophagus that has to be addressed (and which is pretty serious in light of his condition) ........which unfortunately means it's unlikely he's going to make Maskfest this weekend, which he's been looking forward to for months. Needless to say, he's pretty upset.
This is very unfortunate news. It's funny, when I saw the title of the thread, the first thing I thought of was Maskfest because I know how much he's been chomping at the bit to go. What awful timing (not that there's good time to go to the hospital...). That's OK, because there's always other cons, but taking care of his health is his #1 priority. Hoping and praying that all turns out well and that Don is back to normal ASAP.
Rob
I hate to hear this. My prayers are with him. PM sent.
Last time Don & I messaged each other back & forth, he was showing a lot of concern for this problem keeping him from Maskfest. My prayers & the best positive vibes I can conjure are being sent his way as I type. He's a great guy and I hope & pray the best for him.
I can always sense the goodness in Don, no matter what he's posting about.
Thanks for passing this on, Gary.
Don has had so many health.problems.to.deal.with--and I think it has been a.very.long.line.of.them over the years...He's talked so.much about MaskFest of late
and wanted to talk about/sing old.time songs with me--I'm sorry to hear he's going to miss this con.
My prayers have seemed to be working lately, I'll include Uncula now. Glad he's getting health care he needs and there'll be other MaskFests.
Positive vibes and energy from me as well. Hope everything falls in place for him. Such a nice guy.
How far does Uncula live from Maskfest?
???
I noticed he hasn't been posting lately...Sending out a big mess of positive energy his way in hopes of a suitable donor ASAP, followed by a speedy recovery. Thanks for the update, Gary and please PM me his mailing address when you get the chance.
Quote from: Wicked Lester on March 24, 2011, 05:57:28 PM
Positive vibes and energy from me as well.
And me! Get yourself well and start planning for next years' Maskfest!
Awww man! I noticed that he hadn't been on Facebook lately, but I had no idea he was so ill. I consider him a friend and I am also going to pray for his health to improve. I really hope we can lift his spirits and let him know how much he means to us, by showering him with cards and positive messages. :) Count me in, Scatter.
Thoughts and prayers to our friend Uncula...
Uncula is in my prayers. I pray for a speedy recovery and a suitable donor. Please pm me with his address Gary. Thanks for letting us know.
Quote from: Hepcat on March 24, 2011, 06:15:24 PM
How far does Uncula live from Maskfest?
???
Hep, I believe Don lives in Pendleton, which is only about 30-40 miles from Indianapolis.
That is sad new.........Don is always so positive. I hope we can flood him with well-wish cards. We're thinking of ya Uncula! Buddy
My thoughts and prayers to Don and his family. I'm so sorry he won't be able to go to Maskfest, as I know he was really looking forward to it. But right now his health is the important thing. Hoping and praying that a donor can be found.
I hope Don gets a new liver and recovers soon. This would have to happen right before MaskFest. He was so determined to make this show, the hospital ought to put a 24-hour guard on his room just to make sure he stays put. Get well Don!
Don will be in my prayers. Hope they find a matching liver soon, and his recovery is fast.
Love, Light, Health & Prosperity!!
It's always sad to hear when someone is having serious health problems. I hope and pray Don can get the help he needs to recover and is able to enjoy his hobby. Health issue can also be stressful on the family. I hope they can get through this difficult time also.
My prayers are with Don and his family. Hoping for a speedy recovery,we need monster fans like him.
Prayers and best of luck to Uncula-get well soon and get back to haunting those conventions!
Oh Uncula!
I'm so sorry to hear that you have to go through this. :'( You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers!
Those you that are not praying people please send good vibes his way.
I just love my Uncula!
My thoughts are with him and I hope everything works out. There will be a Mask Fest next year and he will be there!
Just spoke to Debby.........the bleeding in Don's esophagus has been banded and has stopped for now, but he's ingested a lot of blood and there are a lot of toxins in his body. They're addressing that right now, but Don's only semi-conscious and couldn't talk today. I'll check back later to see how things are going. Debby says he's gone through this before and she's hoping he'll be much better tomorrow.
I'll keep you all informed as I learn what's going on. I'm sending out a little Scatter monkey tomorrow to keep him company and hopefully keep his spirits up. If anyone else wants Don's addy, let me know via PM. Thanks guys!
I had this stupid idea that we could bring our own MaskFest TO Don. I know it's NOT what he's been planning to enjoy---but I thought if our cards were homemade masks, maybe it would raise his spirits. Scatter, I'll IM you--------but I'm gonna want his address.
Get well soon, Uncula.. We're praying for you.
Quote from: Sean on March 26, 2011, 06:45:12 PM
I had this stupid idea that we could bring our own MaskFest TO Don. I know it's NOT what he's been planning to enjoy---but I thought if our cards were homemade masks, maybe it would raise his spirits. Scatter, I'll IM you--------but I'm gonna want his address.
That idea ROCKS!! I sent a card and a mini-Scatter to keep Don company, and keep the doctors on their toes.
Here is hoping for a speedy recovery, Uncula.
All our prayers and best wishes from Spokanistan!
Let us know where to send cards!!
PM sent
No change in Don's condition, unfortunately. Was hoping he'd have come around by now.
Oh no, Scatter I was also thinking he'd improve over the weekend. Well I'll continue to keep our precious Uncula in my thoughts. :) He's got a lot of monster kids rooting for him!
Uncula will be in my prayers.
Thanks guys. I'll keep you updated. :(
Thought about him the whole time I was a Maskfest.
Hope he recovers swiftly. Seems like a thoroughly nice bloke.
Quote from: Unknown Primate on March 28, 2011, 02:47:53 PM
Thought about him the whole time I was a Maskfest.
Well, when you weren't thinking about me of course. :D
Quote from: long live kong on March 28, 2011, 02:54:08 PM
Hope he recovers swiftly. Seems like a thoroughly nice bloke.
To say the least mate.........we speak by phone usually 5 or 6 times a week to pass the time. He's by himself all day when Debby is working. Just a tremendous person, great sense of humor, just a really good friend. Can't wait to chat with him again.
Good news!! Don had a better day today........much more communicative!! Kidney function is only about 25%, so they're addressing that now. Keep praying and send in those cards kids!! :D
Thanks again, Gary, for the update.
Thanks for passing on the good news...hopefully it will get even better.
Thanks Scatter! :)
Quote from: Scatter on March 28, 2011, 08:44:23 PM
Keep praying and send in those cards kids!! :D
Prayers work miracles. Thanks for keeping us informed Skatter.
Also, the sheer magnificence of my glorious card made his day. ;D
Quote from: Scatter on March 28, 2011, 08:44:23 PM
Good news!! Don had a better day today........much more communicative!!
Good! I'm glad to hear that.
:)
Quote from: CreepysFan on March 28, 2011, 09:41:48 PM
Prayers work miracles. Thanks for keeping us informed Skatter.
Also, the sheer magnificence of my glorious card re-energized him. ;D
Ah, but was it a MONSTER card??
Quote from: Scatter on March 28, 2011, 08:44:23 PM
Good news!! Don had a better day today........much more communicative!! Kidney function is only about 25%, so they're addressing that now. Keep praying and send in those cards kids!! :D
My girls, ages 6 1/2 & 2 1/2, worked very hard on paper plate masks for Don last night. They colored a Wolf Man and a Frankenstein's Monster. Today we punch holes, add string and in the mail they go. They wrote well wishes on the insides (so they're like cards).
Sending best thoughts and wishes to Uncula for a great and fast recovery!
Thinking of you Uncula! Get well soon my friend. The UMA needs you and loves you!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Guess who left me a message today on my answering machine?? Don sounds tired, but he says he's feeling much better!! It was great hearing his basso profundo voice!! For those who have never heard Don speak, he sounds kind of like Robert Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond". LOW voice. Nancy's nickname for him is "deep throat" LOL!!
Quote from: Sean on March 29, 2011, 07:50:36 AM
My girls, ages 6 1/2 & 2 1/2, worked very hard on paper plate masks for Don last night. They colored a Wolf Man and a Frankenstein's Monster. Today we punch holes, add string and in the mail they go. They wrote well wishes on the insides (so they're like cards).
Sean, any chance we can get a pic of the masks here before you send them out??
Quote from: Sean on March 29, 2011, 07:50:36 AM
My girls, ages 6 1/2 & 2 1/2, worked very hard on paper plate masks for Don last night. They colored a Wolf Man and a Frankenstein's Monster. Today we punch holes, add string and in the mail they go. They wrote well wishes on the insides (so they're like cards).
Sean, that is absolutely beautiful. Those masks are bound to touch Don, and make his week. Those girls of yours are pure Angels, you should be extremely proud.
Hope you are feeling better God Bless.
Get well card on the way! Let's flood him with them! Buddy
Quote from: Scatter on March 29, 2011, 02:30:49 PM
Sean, any chance we can get a pic of the masks here before you send them out??
My sister snapped some pics last night and she will be e-mailing them to me so I can get them up here. The girls are excited about the interest their 'good deed' has drawn. This was a great teaching moment--------that doing something nice for someone else can be fun and is rewarding. The masks are slightly used as they were running around scaring their grandparents with them on as soon as the eye holes were made and elastic was attached!
Quote from: CreepysFan on March 29, 2011, 03:59:19 PM
Sean, that is absolutely beautiful. Those masks are bound to touch Don, and make his week. Those girls of yours are pure Angels, you should be extremely proud.
Thank you. I hope they help Don in even the smallest of ways. The further we got into it, the more we felt like it was really a good thing to do. My oldest has spent more than her share of time in the Children's Hospital in Philly having serious surgeries---(I owe the Ronald McDonald House bigtime, but that's another story)----and she knows what it's like to have people reach out and say they care. She has been asking a lot of questions about Don (I think she was wondering if he has the same issues as she). We really hope he gets all the care he needs and feel like we know him even though this 'care package' will be our 1st correspondence. We're fans of Don and are pulling for him, bigtime. I couldn't be prouder of my girl's sense of humanity at their respective young ages.
Positive thoughts and prayers are going out to Don from us, here's hoping you get well soon! :)
Quote from: Sean on March 30, 2011, 08:12:39 AM
Thank you. I hope they help Don in even the smallest of ways. The further we got into it, the more we felt like it was really a good thing to do. My oldest has spent more than her share of time in the Children's Hospital in Philly having serious surgeries---(I owe the Ronald McDonald House bigtime, but that's another story)----and she knows what it's like to have people reach out and say they care. She has been asking a lot of questions about Don (I think she was wondering if he has the same issues as she). We really hope he gets all the care he needs and feel like we know him even though this 'care package' will be our 1st correspondence. We're fans of Don and are pulling for him, bigtime. I couldn't be prouder of my girl's sense of humanity at their respective young ages.
Nancy and I owe a huge debt to Ronald McDonald House in regards to our daughter too. Terrific place.
Card went out this afternoon
Sent my card out to him Monday. It plays the song Hang On Sloopy, Hang On! And I put stickers I had of Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy, Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Prayers are still going out to him. Thanks again Scatter for the updates!
Sent Don a package of monster goodness with a get well card today. In it i reminded him how we are all pulling for him here at the UMA. Wishing him good health and a speedy recovery. Thanks again to Scatter for getting his address out to all of us!
Don's care package went out today around noon. I am efforting putting the pics on here----but I have used up my last 'patience chip' and my next move is either suplexing my new HP or calling it a night. I'm going with 'B'.
Was working both jobs today.........Don called while I was at the first job. Tried calling back between jobs but he was asleep. Got home around 12:30AM from the 2nd job and found he called about 11:15 PM while I was still at work. Too late to call now so I'll post an update tomorrow.
OK, I apologize for the enormous size of these images (there are 2 of them).... but technology is kicking my arse again.... here are the masks we made for Don. He should get them tomorrow or Saturday the latest.
(http://mail.aol.com/33474-111/aol-6/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=31521041&folder=NewMail&partId=4)
(http://mail.aol.com/33474-111/aol-6/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=31521043&folder=NewMail&partId=4)
It.was.good.to.see.Don.post.on.the.Shout.Out.feature--and.good.to.know.he's.telephoning.around--good.
signs.all!--Keep.up.the.good.work!
Sean,
You can't email pics to the message board. You need to put them up on the web, somewhere and post the ".jpg" address of the photo in your message.
http://photobucket.com/ (http://photobucket.com/)
http://imageshack.us/ (http://imageshack.us/)
etc.
Sean
E-mail the pics
I can toss em up on my photo bucket and easily put them on the thread.
Quote from: Mike Scott on April 01, 2011, 06:37:35 PM
Sean,
You can't email pics to the message board. You need to put them up on the web, somewhere and post the ".jpg" address of the photo in your message.
http://photobucket.com/ (http://photobucket.com/)
http://imageshack.us/ (http://imageshack.us/)
etc.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to do that. I have a flickr account but the images are taking up too much space to move from my e-mail to my account.
Quote from: Wicked Lester on April 01, 2011, 08:01:57 PM
Sean
E-mail the pics
I can toss em up on my photo bucket and easily put them on the thread.
I appreciate it. If I can't figure it out, I might. :)
Here's another try at the Wolf Man mask...
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5576117206_01f0996af5_m.jpg)
Quote from: Sean on April 01, 2011, 10:19:17 PM
I have a flickr account but the images are taking up too much space to move from my e-mail to my account.
You need to resize your pics with a photo editor of some sort. Infraview (http://www.irfanview.com/ (http://www.irfanview.com/)) has a free for download editor that's pretty simple to use.
Quote from: Mike Scott on April 02, 2011, 09:44:00 AM
You need to resize your pics with a photo editor of some sort. Infraview (http://www.irfanview.com/ (http://www.irfanview.com/)) has a free for download editor that's pretty simple to use.
I'll look at that. Thanks, Mike.
I just use 'paint' to resize. You should be able to see it if you right click on the photo.
Instead of sending Don a mask/card, I will just let everyone here make their very own Don Stout paper cutout mask. You can send it to him, or just wear it around the house.
Here it is without ventilation holes:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5582913435_f5d3acc579_b.jpg)
But of course we know that is not very safe. Safety first! So here it is with eye, nostril and mouth ventilation holes.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5582913381_c490ef64fb_b.jpg)
I don't know how big this prints out. You will have to experiment to size it to your liking. Take a picture wearing it.
raycastile- That is an outstanding idea! I wish we could all print them out and take pictures of ourselves and send them to Don! We could hold up signs with our names on them and Get Well messages! :)