Wheres Punky & Lew now?
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Date: Mon Jun 4, 2001 3:55 pm
Subject: Punky & Lew in Moab NKLR
Hi gang: Here's the story about Punky. At 8:15 am, about a week ago (I have been so distraugt, I've lost track of time and dates) I walked Punky on his leash across the street from Eddie McStiffs. Punky's attention was drawn by a dog barking across the street. He wrapped the leash around my legs while attempting to go see the other dog. I was transfering the leash, behind me, from one hand to the other, when he jerked it out of my grasp and ran into the street. A car passed over him without the wheels hitting him, but he must have looked up at the underside of the car passing overhead. Something under the car hit him in the head or jaw. He layed motionless in the street. I picked him up and carried him directly to my bike parked about 100 feet away to transport him to a veterinarian's clinic, which I had visited the day before. I asked people in Moab who might sew on a patch for me? I was directed to the vet's wife, who worked in his office. I layed Punky, bleeding from his nose and mouth, on the tank bag. I raised the sidestand and turned on the ignition, then realized I had to secure him to keep his limp body from sliding off during the 6 block ride. In my frenzy, I let the bike drop on its side. I walked across the parking lot and asked a man if he had a car. He said no. I asked a second man and he said yes. I explained our need for immediate transport and the man said to meet him in the rear parking lot. It seemed like a long time, but he finally appeared just after punky made a weak sounding groan and breethed his last. He was dead. I was frantic and blew my breath in his snout, while we were driven to the vet's office within 3 minutes, where proper CPR was administered and his little heart starting beating again. The vet worked feverishly to keep Punky alive, doing everthing he possibly could with their limited small town facilities and lack of sophisticated medical equipment. The vet said Punky had head trauma and feared it was very serious. I asked if a CAT scan would be helpful to determine the extent of head injury. The vet said it would be very helpful, but no such machine was in Moab. I asked where the nearest facility was with a CAT scan machine. He replied, "Grand Junction, Colorado." I made immediate arrangements to be flown by a pilot with punky in a Cessna 182 to Grand Junction. It was a 45 minute flight. The vet in Grand Junction was notified, records were faxed and he was told to expect us and exactly when. When we arrived at the Grand Junction vet's office, he informed me that the facility with the CAT scan was booked solid for the day and couldn't handle Punky. I told the vet "This dog wasn't brought back from being dead and I didn't fly this gravely ill dog here to find inferior service or be told equipment wasn't available." The vet called back the facility with the CAT scan and pressed the matter. Punky got his CAT scan within an hour. The test revealed a lesion and small bleed deep in his brain in the Thalamus and a fractured palate in his snout. It was not anywhere near as serious a problem as both vets had thought likely. They had thought his chances of survival, especially without brain damage, were not good. With the CAT scan results, the vet knew exactly what to do. Punky was placed in intensive care on oxygen. Drugs were administered to help prevent his brain from swelling and various other drugs were used including morphine to relieve his pain. He was stabilized with good vital signs. The vet called me daily, as I had to return to Moab, and reported Punky has continued to improve. Punky was released from intensive care last Friday and the vet took him home with him for the weekend. Today I am riding to see Punky and stay in Grand Junction until he recovers. The vet says Punky is now eating and responding to attention and is optimistic that he will be OK in about 30 days. I hope he is right. If Punky is able to ride, we will try to continue Punky & Lew's Americas Motopaseo. The delay will make it impossible to be in Deadhorse, Alaska July 12. I'm taking things one day at a time. It is too soon to think of anything but Punky's welfare. I have not been able to read any messages, but understand there has been a great outpouring of concern and well wishes from a great number of people. I attended the Moab KLR650 rally (Canyonlands Motorcycle Classic), sometimes severely depressed, and last night Punky and Lew were awarded two trophies, one for being voted People's Choice and the other for riding the longest distance to attend the rally. Yesterday, I did manage to enjoy a great group ride into Canyonlands and numerous very scenic areas of state and national parks. At one point I broke away from the group and released some tension by burning the hell out of some twisties at high speed and lean angles that astonished the nearest young rider behind me. When the road got flat, I finally slowed down. Four or five minutes later the first rider caught up and said "That was awsome. Your panniers were only a couple of inches from dragging the pavement." I replied, "That's why I had an angle cut in the bottom outside edge of the boxes." The fresh wear was visible on the rear tire and inspection revealed all but 1/4 inche of the knobby edges were just used in severe leans. It was even more impressive, because the tires were very aggressive offroad Chen Shings really intended for such use. I have to go now. Thanks to all for their good thoughts and messages of concern. Later.
Lew Waterman
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