[DeTomaso] The status of Asa's Pantera

[Christopher Kimball]

Dear ASA Jay, Shelly and Sam,

I had no idea you were going through that medical nightmare.  I can't even imagine it.

You will remain in my family's and my prayers.

Sincerely,

Chris

> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:40:01 -0700
> From: asajay at asajay.com
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: [DeTomaso] The status of Asa's Pantera
> 
> All,
> I've had a few folks email me off-list to ask about my Pantera.  I've 
> not written much in a while so I thought I'd try to recap for those 
> interested.  Note, some of this may get a little personal (more near the 
> end), so you can skip those parts and I won't feel bad about it at all.
> 
> The cooling system had air in it, lots of air.  I most likely had a 
> vapor lock at the water pump.  I finally got it purged and it has not 
> come close to overheating once since I got it all back on the ground.
> 
> I replaced the clutch master with a stock unit.  The slave was replaced 
> with a long throw from Marino at Pantera East (Thank you Marino).  I 
> also have a new stock slave as well.  I adjusted the best I can and it 
> seems to work.
> 
> The car made it back on the ground in time to make it to Silver State.  
> <gasp>  Yes, it's true.
> But I didn't go.
> 
> Sam, our six year old son went into the hospital the first day I had the 
> Pantera on the ground and got it aligned.  This would have been the day 
> prior to me leaving for the ORR event.  The Pantera did not get driven 
> again for four days until after Sam came back out of the hospital.
> 
> I drove it everyday the following week, to and from work, a 60+ mile 
> round trip.  Then Sam went back into the Hospital again and the Pantera 
> went to the back of the garage.
> 
> The Pantera needs to go back in the air and have things checked.  The 
> brakes need to be bled again, as does the clutch.  It feels like there 
> is a little air in there so we need to check it out.  I have a clunking 
> in the front end on bumpy roads (shall we just say ALL OF SPOKANE).  As 
> I know all the suspension is brand new and tight, I think the cooling 
> tubes are hammering on the cross brace or the sway bar.  I need to check 
> it out and fix it somehow.  I need to check the engine for new leaks and 
> see about sealing things up.  I'm getting a small drip under the engine, 
> none under the ZF as yet (I'm really liking that Hondabond, thanks 
> Coz).  I need to do a tune up, points, timing, cap/rotor, etc.  
> Otherwise the Pantera seems to be in good shape thanks to everyone here 
> who participated in the process that was my daily adventures in Pantera 
> work.  Thank you very much for your advice, suggestions and encouragement.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sam ended up having an Iliostomy, and now has a stoma on his belly where 
> all his poop comes out.  The fear was they needed to take out his entire 
> colon but once the surgeons got started it looks like we may be able to 
> save it, but Sam will need to go through therapies to exercise his anus 
> and get used to things passing through.  This is partly a function of 
> his Autism.  Autistic kids normally get constipated, which Sam never 
> really had a problem with that we know of.  But he -did- have a 
> difficult time in understanding how that back door works and eventually 
> just held it tightly shut which blew up his colon to unhealthy 
> proportions.  If his colon recovers, -and- if we have success with anal 
> dilatation and biofeedback exercises, then we might be able to hook him 
> up normal again.  That is our next prayer goal.
> 
> Sam came home a week ago last Wednesday, one week after his surgery and 
> nearly two weeks in the hospital.  This was sooner than the surgeon had 
> thought, but Sam was recovering very well.  He started back to school 
> last Monday and appears to be doing fine.
> 
> This was a huge shock for Shelley and me, not to mention little Sam.  
> Now that we are a couple weeks into it, we are getting acclimated to 
> it.  Sam is coming to terms with his new poop paradigm, and Mom and Dad 
> are beginning to return to normal lives, with a bit of a twist in 
> helping Sam with his Ostomy needs.
> 
> When we started down this road, we were scared and unsure if we could do 
> this.  It was all new and it was our little boy.  This is the stuff that 
> monster movies used to be made of, and here it was out little boy.  I 
> stayed strong for Mom for the longest time, but eventually had my own 
> emotional breakdown.  Now that I've got that out of my system, and 
> thanks to a wonderful network of friends and relatives who have been 
> praying for all of us, life is returning to normal.
> 
> Many on this list have been supportive behind the scenes and we 
> appreciate that.
> 
> We still have no idea how much this is going to cost us.  I do have 
> insurance through my employer, but we've -never- gone through something 
> this big.  We are praying all is well and we are able to make whatever 
> bills come our way.  I think you all probably know what will happen if 
> we can't.  So far... so good, let's pray it stays that way.
> 
> I am still wishing to make at least one ORR event this next year and 
> you'll see me trying to push others into it.  That's my alter ego for 
> 2010, don't let it bother you.  ;)
> 
> Thank you for your understanding and prayers these past few weeks, they 
> have meant a world of love to us.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Asa Jay
> 
> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
> 
> & Shelley Marie
> Spokane, WA
> 
> 1971 Mach I Mustang  [ASA JAY]
> 1973 Pantera L 5533  [ASASCAT]
>     
> ******************************     
> http://www.asajay.com
> http://www.teampanteraracing.com
>   
> 
> 
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