It sounds like there's some hope.

http://drf.com/news/article/104119.html

There is already a bunch of fundraisers out there for him. I guess all the Illinois OTB's are having something either next weekend of this weekend where you can make a bunch of bets and put them into a container, and all the winners go into a fund, plus the OTB or track will match all the losers. Pretty cool idea for such a bad situation

sounds like a really good idea.

I am going to box my mom's birthday in every race for $1 and put them in there, it has uncanny like strength sometimes

You need a wide open race and have a few people go in on boxing the whole field in a trifecta.

You just need people going in period.

NONE better than Northwestern for spinal cord and brain injuries.

He's got the best of the best working on him at least in this city.....

and watch for Mr. D to step up big time he always does.

Miraculous recoveries have taken place hoping the best for AP's top jock.

I might figure out the math on that and get a campaign going....

can you include the amount wagered on albins keeneland stiff?:rolleyes:

Critical care docs travel from all over the country to recert their trauma or ATLS every four years as necessary at that facilty. It was very strange that first day to read that the care was being subtly questioned. Some of the biggest names in the business are in Chicago and the area surrounding Northwestern.

They have isolated a level for where his recovery will be first felt which means some of the nerve conduction studies are giving them reason for optimism. A great job by those who know how to handle a complex and difficult case like this one........that team is first rate.

Doc, you know as well as anyone that sometimes people don't understand health care, and quite honestly, most of the time big cities such as Chicago, have the best of everything....

I had my gall bladder surgery at Northwest Community, the first hospital he was taken to, and the only way I was going to be happy was not being in there, but all in all, I was really happy with how I was treated, and my parents told everyone that I was treated with the utmost care

I don't know about the OTB's in Chi town, but I don't think you would do so well with your campaign in some of the NYC OTB's. There are some heartless SOB's playin at those places.
I would think that your best chance at raising some dough would be at Arlington. I know every year at Monmouth they have a weekend (I think July 4th) for the Don MacBeth fund and they sell all kinds of cool racing items for the fund. Plus the jocks are always good about signing the things.

rene just got a shout out from both coaches of the hawks/wings game..
very nice!!

Damn, I missed that. Yeah, I'll question Northwestern, I live here and had surgery there (20 years ago) by the Blackhawks ortho guy (and my knee hurts now). I never said they didn't have great facilities, they have LOTS of money, but surgeons in the "surrounding area", like at Rush or the University of Chicago, would be the first choice of most knowlegeable people that live in Chicago if they were facing permanent paralyzation.
However, I'm very glad to read this report while still a little concerned about the ventilator issue.
Oh, and if they do this Belmont day and match my losers Rene will be OK.
Just went back to my previous link to see if maybe I missed something and this was on the home page:
http://www.nmh.org/nmh/mediarelation...s.htm?cid=3266

SoCal does the same thing for the MacBeth fund... know of some friends that have been there the last few years out there.

top 3 are probably Mayo, Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern here.... at any givin time, in any given order, depending on the injury. There's a reason that people with unlimited $$ go to those places.

Rush maybe my choice if I needed a by-pass, Univ. of Chicago if I was pregnant with complications or had cancer but none is better than Northwestern in regards to the brain and spine. All you need to know is when CPD officer Jim Mullen was shot in the face on duty it was NW who performed surgery and therapy. He could have been brought anywhere.

You'll also find that wealthy patients choose quality of care over comfort when sick or injured. A comfortable place for them to go and die is home whether it be primary or a vacaton home. If comfort was the first priority, Lake Forest Hospital would be tops in the nation.

you'd be famous

And he is alive and doing newscasts from his iron lung last I saw. I'm not going to argue the point any longer. I hope Douglas walks again.

Natalie Douglas' Rene Update on HRTV Today
 

NETWORK: HORSERACING TV (HRTV)
DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 28
SHOW: "RACEDAY AMERICA"
HOSTS: SCOTT HAZELTON & CAROLYN CONLEY

GUEST: NATALIE DOUGLAS, WIFE OF SERIOUSLY INJURED JOCKEY, RENE DOUGLAS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON RENE DOUGLAS' CONDITION

Natalie Douglas: "As you well know he had problems with his back, where he has some fractures...and he had several broken ribs. Which makes it a little bit hard for him to breathe on his own. They're draining his lungs on a daily basis... He's fine, he's very strong in the upper part of his body. His mind is clear, he's sharp. He's Rene at his best. He gets mad when he wants to get mad; he's happy, cranky.

And he communicates with us. Whatever he wants, he wants to get it now. As for his legs? It's too early to tell. The doctors are very hopeful because his spinal cord was not severed. For people to assume he's paralyzed, I don't know where they're coming from. Right now, yes, he cannot feel them. But that doesn't mean that this is permanent.

"It means that he had a very long surgery; a very difficult surgery, that was a success. They are waiting for the swelling to come down to see what happens. But, as I said earlier, Rene's such a strong person, and he's so determined, that it's in his mind and he will get it done. But, again, he will be Rene.

"My concern about these rumors, and reports, is that I have children, that are school age. They go online, and they read things. I don't want my 9-year-old to come up to me and tell me that his friends are telling him that his dad is paralyzed. Because that's not the case...we have a great team of surgeons, doctors, ICU personnel, nurses. The management of the hospital has been great...They are doing a fantastic job with him. I want to thank the people who have sent their best wishes, and prayers, and support...that's what we need right now, positive energy, and prayers. And we're going to come out of this fine."

ON THE ORIGINAL BLEAK PROGNOSIS, FROM AGENT DENNIS COOPER, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SURGEONS. HAS OPINION CHANGED?

Natalie Douglas: "I think that there was a lot of miscommunication between a lot of people...I think thoughts were not expressed the proper way. I think probably what it was, it was too early to tell. They're saying, 'as of now,' he can't feel his legs and not move them. As of now. Doctors have said from the very beginning, from the moment of the surgery, was they have to give this time. It may be two weeks, or more, when the swelling is down. As you know, each body is different. And the extent of his injuries all over his body... he has a bunch of broken ribs, and he suffered two punctured lungs. So, we need to give his body time to relax. Time to heal. And once that happens, then we will know, or at least get a better idea, of what's going to happen with his legs. But, he's very strong, and his mind is in the right place...It's just the game of waiting right now. I know people are frustrated, and they want to know. They want to know now...It's his body, and we have to wait and give him time. I think it was more a miscommunication than anything else."