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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Phil Spillman on January 13, 2008, 08:41:49 PM
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Last Friday, January 4th, dawned in a not too unusual way with my son Fred having made breakfast for Sondra and me. Fred was a graduate Chef and loved to be at work in our kitchen. He did complain of stomach discomfort and decided to stay home from physical therapy that day. Later Fred plated our supper with incident and we all enjoyed our meal. Fred went down to his area to listen to some Eagles' music but shortly came up to the garage to get something. On his return to the cellar he must have experienced a massive heart attack and fell most of the way down the cellar steps. He in fact broke 3 ribs and stopped breathing. I called 911 and was quickly tutored in CPR and I administered mouth to mouth resuscitation as well as chest compression. Fred stopped breathing well for about 15 minutes until the ambulance crew got here. It took them another 15 min. or so to get his heart started. In short Fred was brain dead on route to the hospital. This fact was later confirmed by brain scans. After having met with the Organ Donor people we decided to allow there harvesting team to use as much as possible or his body and organs. They told us that as few as 150 and as many as 250 items may be used by others.
Fred enjoyed Models as a younger lad. He didn't care much for my Combat stuff at that time but really loved HLG and rubber power smaller planes.
It's difficult to see our parents and other older folks in the family fade and pass but it is absolutely devastating to loose a child no matter what the age, Fred was 41, or status. At times it is difficult to love some of us due to one thing or another but we all must play through the hard time and keep on being loving Dad's and Mom's and friends. Some times tough love is what we must do but we must all keep on loving all of us. I am most grateful for all the kind thoughts, words and call I have received from the modeling world.
Sincerely, Phil Spillman
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Phil, I can understand how utterly devastating this can be. My family will keep you and your family in our prayers. Keith Bryant
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Man Phil thats a tough one!! My heart goes out to you and your family. How truely devastating losing a chid must be. You definitly have our heartfelt prayers!!!
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Sorry to hear this Phil. I just can not imagine losing one of my five. All we can do is pray for you and yours.
Joe Connelly
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Phil, My wife and I are sorry to hear of your loss. You and Sondra have our deepest sympathy. It is difficult to understand the loss of ones children.
Wayne
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Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Paul
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Phil,
I am so terribly sorry! This has to be absolutely the most devistating loss you could experience. We will be much in prayer for you, just remember that God loves us more than we can imagine.
Blessings,
Will
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I am truly sorry to hear about your loss Phil.
All our prayers are with you.
Steve Moon
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Phil, my wife and I send our heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. We can truly empathize. We lost our daughter Laura to cancer when she was 34 years old. We want to reassure you that we understand the sudden loss of your son. You and your wife will be in our thoughts. Bob
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It is so sad to hear of the loss of a family member at such a young age. I only hope you and your wife can cope. I myself have been very lucky with GODs help with my children and now grandchildren. DOC Holliday
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Phil, Ginny and I cry along with you and your family.
Joe and Ginny Just
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Man, Phil, I am so sorry to hear this. I am very sorry for your loss. Tough time.
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So sorry to hear of your loss Phil. Though I don't know you personally, I know from first hand experience that it is a terrible thing to go through, but hopefully as in my case, in time the good memories will eventually over shadow the grief that you and your family feel right now. My prayers..
Phil Coopy
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Phil,
So sorry to hear about your son.
You and your family are in our prayers.
Bill
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Phil
My deepest sympathy to you and your wife. I have two sons of my own and can't even imagine what you are going through. When a member of this brother hood hurts we all hurt. Take care.
Andy Borgogna
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Phil,
It' impossible for anyone that hasn't experienced the loss of a child to imagine what you and Sondra are going through. Just remember that God is with you always and lean on your faith during these difficult times. You and Sondra are in our prayers.
Sam
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Very sorry to hear about your loss. We will keep you in our prayers.
Dave
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I know the hurt, I know the pain. My daughter was killed at age 22. She would have been 32 last May. I put it all in God's hands. Prayers go up for you.
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Phil,
I wish there was something I, or someone, could say to ease your pain but I know that's really not possible. I hope that the thoughts and prayers for you from your many friends might be of some comfort to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Joe
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I am so sorry to hear this Phil. Such a hard thing to go through. We lost a 42 year old son in a motorcycle crash a few years ago. My heart goes out to you.
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Hi Phil Sorry to hear about your son. Our thoughts are with you in your time of need.We wish you all well. John
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Phil,
My heart goes out to you,your family, and all of your friends. I know how devastating it can be. I have been through similar situtations and still expect
to see their smiling faces when I return to certain places. I know it was sudden and yet I feel it might be better than watching some one you love take a long road in pain to the inevitable.
God Bless You All and may he help ease your pain as much as possible in this time of sorrow..
Bruce
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At times like this we realize how inadequate words are. Unfortunately that is the best we can offer. Take comfort in knowing that we all care.
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I have not gone through what you have to endure, so I can only imagine the depth of your sorrow. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing you have friends who care.
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Phil,
We are grieving with you with the loss of your son. It hurts deeply when we lose our aged parents, but I can not imagine how hard it is to lose a son or daughter. Our prayers are with you.
Tom N
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Our prayers and condolences go with you, and yours, Phil. Glen
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Phil,
I tried to email you, but it came back.
My deepest condolences, I am so saddened to hear this.
Bill Little <><
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Many thanks to all of you who posted such heart felt messages of sympathy for Sondra and me. I have printed out all pages here and on Stuka Stunt Hanger's Forum and have placed them with the many cards we received since Fred's death. We are going through each day with fewer tears but those will probably never stop absolutely. I want to share with you the ideas expressed a profoundly moving letter we received from the Organ Donor group known as CORE whose physicians and nurses formed the team which harvested Fred's usable parts. They told us that one of his eyes went to a 72 year young lady and that the other went to a 49 year young person and that these two will once again enjoy sunsets and fall foliage. They said that one of his kidneys went to an individual of 55 or so and who would once again be able to lead and enjoy an active life with grand kids and family; the other went to a relatively young person of 49 who too would get back to an active life thanks to Fred's gift. His heart valves, if deemed to be good enough would help someone in need of such an item or two! In addition skin, for burn victims and sinues and ligaments for torn up items of accident people, and bones for diseased bone patients and on and on. Both of us feel that Fred is going on and on like that Battery Bunnie out there in many different folks and that's a good feeling!
Our son-in-law is living with his second transplanted kidney and is doing quite well. Both of his kidneys have come from members of his family. We have been and continue to be grateful to his brother and his cousin for making life not only possible but also quite good for him and our daughter and grand children. Modern medicine is making progress by leaps and bounds in perfecting transplantation techniques and successes.
Again our most sincere thanks to all of you out there who have sent us your good sympathies and prayers. These have been felt and are helping us get through this terrible time.
With Sincere Thanks,
Phil and Sondra Spillman