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Smilingoldcoot news. ~ Updated ~ We lost a good man...

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Posted 8/9/2012 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry to report that our old friend Richard (smilingoldcoot) has been dealing with extended health issues beyond his Gleason 10 disease. Well unfortunately a new event has him is dire straits. Richard fell this week while on vacation and suffered severe spinal injury that at best will leave him severely paralyzed for life. His wife has been sending heartbreaking email posts since yesterday.

I met Richard while he was undergoing Proton therapy and IMRT in 2009 in Florida. He is a great man who had been working to help polish troops before deployment to hostile situations and is a retired Colonel. I know many here don't know him as he hasn't posted since 2010. But I know many here do know him and he is fighting in his biggest fight yet for his life tonight.

To know him and Debbie is to love them, and I know there are some around here that have known him...

Edited here:
...Updated below with Debbie's message. The outcome was not what we had hoped for and Richard left us today.

Tony

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 8/12/2012 11:09:31 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/9/2012 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I do not know smilingoldcoot

Still - our prayers and best wishes go out to the gent and his lady.

Bud & MsBud
Posted 8/9/2012 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the update Tony. Prayers
Posted 8/9/2012 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the news, Tony, distressing as it is.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 8/9/2012 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Sad news. He's on my prayer list.
Andrew
Posted 8/9/2012 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
I remember his name, Tony, but didn't know him personaly. What a terrible thing to have happened, to someone that has already fought, struggled, and survived so well. My best to Richard and his wife.

david
Posted 8/9/2012 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
I remember him well. Nice guy, big problems then. Tell him and his wife that they are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted 8/9/2012 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
When I was first dx'd with Gleason 10. I had no idea what that meant so I goggled "Gleason 10" and found Richard. I never contacted him personally but read his post and what he has been going through. If you haven't read it, I strongly suggest it. Really pains me to know that he has been dealt another setback in his fight. He has fought so hard and wrote a very concise diary of his journey. My prayers and positive thoughts go their way.
Posted 8/10/2012 1:42 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Tony,

Terribly sorry to hear this news. Richard was one of you who reached out to me when I was first diganosed. I new he was retired military and had an advanced case. I wish him the best but feel deeply saddened that he and Debbie must deal with this disease and the debilitating injury.

Thanks for passing this news along.

Regards,
Don

Posted 8/10/2012 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hate to say I don't remember Rich even though he joined the site just three months before I did.

While trying to jog my memory I found another thread Tony started:

Posted 5/25/2010
Our HW friend, Richard, is in ICU for a heart attack and we are sending our love and prayers for him. He went in for a stone issue when he suffered the episode. Probably a huge blessing that he was at the hospital when it happened. He is conscious and will undergo an angiogram tomorrow.
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=1808667
Posted 8/10/2012 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Steve,
Richard was doing well with G10 PCa, then his heart broke. He was doing well with his heart then his kidneys broke. He was doing well with his kidneys to the point he was touring with Debbie in their RV and this happened.

Ugh! I haven't heard from Debbie since Wednesday, just waiting...

Tony
Posted 8/12/2012 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry to follow this up especially this way but...From me email today from Debbie:

"Today is a very tough day for me, my husband Richard Mallory, was called home to the Lord. Heaven has yet another wonderful angel. When he fell, this was the LAST thing that we thought would happen. He was an amazing man and loved by all. He will be greatly missed."

I am very saddened as well. Richard was great friend...

Tony
Posted 8/12/2012 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Tony

Send her our love if you will.

And you my friend - sorry for your lose.

Thanks

Bud
Posted 8/12/2012 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
So sad, please pass my condolences to her and her family.
Posted 8/12/2012 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Debbie, family and friends. So sorry to read about Richard. Please accept my condolences. This is indeed a sad Sunday morning.

Mag

 

Posted 8/12/2012 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Will do James C. I'll let Debbie know from all of us here.

Richard was a well decorated Viet Nam veteran and leader. His heart was much bigger than his 6' 5" frame and meeting him and chatting once in a while was a pleasure that I will miss. I remember when sitting with him at the dinner table that he said he wanted to make sure that I had my chance to meet Walter and was willing to pay the expensive flight to Birmingham. I did get to Birmingham on a ticket donated to us from a Southwest Airlines employee, but that's the kind of guy that I got to know.

Never selfish and never afraid.

Tony
Posted 8/12/2012 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I don't remember him, but sound like he was a wonderful man in every respect.

Sorry to read this. My condolences.

Mel
Posted 8/12/2012 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
So sad when a member of our family passes away. I remember Richard mostly because of his screen name.

It is times such as these when the small slings and arrows that life throws at us are put into perspective. Richard was a brave man in many respects and fought the good fight on several fronts. Our condolences to Debbie and family and to all who knew and loved Smilingoldcoot.

Sephie & John
Posted 8/12/2012 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to read this sad news. Impossible not to be fond of a guy with that screen name! And, to top it off, I remember him as a genuinely nice caring guy. Thanks to Tony for passing on to Debbie condolences from all of us.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 8/13/2012 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I do remember him, talked a couple of times to him here on HW, sorry to hear the sad news.

Mal.
Posted 8/13/2012 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
To Debbie and family,

We wish to extend our sincere condolences to you and your family.

Regards,

BOOGEE
Posted 8/13/2012 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Our thoughts and prayers are with Debbie and family as they endure this tragic time.

God Bless,

Paul and Vickie

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