Dear William, welcome to the site, and I know all of our readers are rooting for you. Do what your doctors say but fantasize about all the great rolls you are going to have. When you go to sleep at night don’t count sheep…count roll after roll after roll after roll….

Frank

Best of luck on your recoverty.

When it comes time for the therapist to help you with the fine motor skills of your left hand, have them incorporate the setting and gripping of dice. That way when you get back to the tables you can shoot from both SL and SR.

Hope you have a very speedy recovery!

Best regards,

Get a grip

So nice to hear from you agin get well soon.

Hi, Butcher!
I hope things continue to improve for you. It’s encouraging that you’re not throwing in the towel after this health setback. You’re a fighter.

Hi William!

Best wishes for continued success in your recovery.

Catch you later!

"Agame" wrote: Hi, Butcher!
I hope things continue to improve for you. It’s encouraging that you’re not throwing in the towel after this health setback. You’re a fighter.

Quitting is not part of who I am. Thanks. My wife and I took an overnight trip to a casino in the poconos in late July. I couldn’t get close to the craps table.and the stools for the Black Jack tables were so tall. I did’nt dare risk trying to get into one.If I want to play BJ I will have to go to AC where they have wheelchair accessable tables. I am back to practicing speed count. Good game with good penetration but I can’t risk a fall. The next morning I found a $5 craps table that had sl1 open but I didn’t have the confidense that I could stand at the table long enough to play. Also i doubted my ability to manage my betting and money. Dobt is a kiler in this endevor. I am getting better and can read for extendedtimewithout eye strain. So I am brushing up on my game and practicing my grip and setting the dice. Hoprfully I will be able to resume practicing my throw soon. Thanks all for the kind words and encouragment. Typing on handed is a challenge.

Speedy recovery Butcher. I hope to see you back at the tables in the near future.

I hope you are feeling better soon. We all take our health for granted. Hope to see you in AC one of these days.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Butcher!

😎 😎 😎

HI Butcher,

Sammy was just asking about you Friday evening. I told him I had lost contact with you and Jim for the past year. I did not know the handle change. I wish you a fast and 100% recovery. I look forward till we meet up in the Diamond lounge again and then hit the tables. contact me and I will assist in arranging the get together as soon as you feel up to it.

Bruce DBR

Butcher, Your spirits are high which provides a positive outlook for what you are going through. Stay on course and you will be back soon. Your amigos on the site are pulling for you. TheUsualSuspect, Semper Fi carry on

I wish you a full recovery and would love to roll with you. Get well my friend!

LML

Butcher,
Get well soon, my friend! Looking forward to the day we roll together again, dude! Stay strong and keep the goal in your mind!
Tom/The Griz

sorry to hear about your stroke, but glad to hear you are on the mend.

I am sure you will do what it takes to get back to the table, you enjoy this.
hope to see you again in Ac

gman

Thanks all for the kind words and encouragment. i am determined to get back and so far things in therapy are looking good. Today I was able to extend my left arm at the elbow and able to move my wrist and fingers. I can walk short distances using my quad cane and I can stand fairly well. should be able to resume throwing at home in the next few weeks. I hop to be back to AC by winter. Just need enough improvment in my visio to get my drivers license back.

Butcher, I am so sorry to hear about your stroke. I was wondering why we hadn’t heard from you.

At the casino we have played in together in AC, many people sit in chairs, and stand only to shoot, so you can play craps there as well as BJ.

Please let me know when you decide to go to AC again.

Goddess

Butcher: Lois and I wish you a speedy recovery. Next time you are in Vegas maybe you’ll come out to the house again.
Clark

"Goddess" wrote: Butcher, I am so sorry to hear about your stroke. I was wondering why we hadn’t heard from you.

At the casino we have played in together in AC, many people sit in chairs, and stand only to shoot, so you can play craps there as well as BJ.

Please let me know when you decide to go to AC again.

Goddess

Thanks Melanie is clearing a spot in the sun room for me to set up my practice station. My rationale is that the standing will strenthen my legs.The short walk to thelanding table will help me work on my gait. I have been working on my arm swing whikle sitting in thewheelchair. I hope to make it to AC sometime this fall.I’ll let you know.
Thanks to all of you who have posted the kind words and encouragments. I’ll be back.

Butcher

If you are ready to try craps, ask the floorman to get you a chair to sit on. I had no problem after my knee replacement surgery 5 years ago. I also notice a number of chairs at the casino that I usually go to.

All the best

CC Roller

"Chuckman" wrote: Best of luck on your recoverty.

When it comes time for the therapist to help you with the fine motor skills of your left hand, have them incorporate the setting and gripping of dice. That way when you get back to the tables you can shoot from both SL and SR.

tanks chuckman not a bad idea. Iused to hrow rom sr1 occasionally aas a matter of fact my 40 roll was from sr1 last oct in Vegas. However I believe my mentor The Godess who was there gorthat roll would encourage me to keep working on my throw from sl1. Iusedto do some things left handed and perhaps I will try throwing that way as I recover. Thwre is a member of our group that yhows from his off side due to problems with his right hand so I have seen it done. Wewill see.

"Lois and Clark" wrote: Butcher: Lois and I wish you a speedy recovery. Next time you are in Vegas maybe you’ll come out to the house again.
Mel and I had a great time at the cook out at your house. we look forward to seeing you both again.I don’t know how long it will take us to get back but I hope it is soon.
Clark

The term in football is PUP(physically unable to perform) and temporarily out of action. That says nothing of your mental status and willingness to participate. Your spirit and toughness to get back into the game is inspiring and we are all the better for it. Keep posting, please…….Misfit 😎 😎

"Misfit" wrote: The term in football is PUP(physically unable to perform) and temporarily out of action. That says nothing of your mental status and willingness to participate. Your spirit and toughness to get back into the game is inspiring and we are all the better for it. Keep posting, please…….Misfit 😎 😎

Thanks my physical therapist asked me to participate in a support group. she says she wishes she could bottle my attitude and work ethic and feed it to her other clients. I will try to help anyone I can. The group is aimed at th 20 to 60 years old group so I am one year too old as of last Friday turned 61 but she says I act much younger than that and believes I can help others. She believes my positive attitude wil help others.I hope she is right.
At a campfire wewent to last night I gad a guy tell me He was so sorry for me I told him" you wish you had my life pal." I have been blessed with a wonderful life full of great family and great friends."I count you folks in that. Long rolls to all.

Being well within the 60’s age group I just returned from a 5 day camping trip in the Sierras and it was outdoor living at about 8K feet altitude. I’ve got some heart issues that requires taking medication to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest but that did not keep me from hiking to altitudes over 10K. It was slow and steady the whole way and physically I’m capable but the med makes it hard to go at a faster pace. The exertion just to get to the toilet was demanding but since being back home at sea level I feel so much better and think of how I need to keep up the physial activity to stay in shape. The workout at altitude cannot be replaced even though I go to the gym and workout for 1 1/2 hrs. So I’m saying to you,go at your own pace keep up with the attitude and let no one judge or show pity. It’s a worthy struggle and you have the support of this entire group…..Misfit 😎 😎

Butcher you are a real credit to GTC. Your discipline is outstanding—many of our members can learn from you. While you can’t stand at the table real good at this time, you are working on your grip. Great dedication. Paying attention to these details while you are in recovery will pay you big dividends as your recovery continues.

Alligator Rose and I hope to see you in th casino soon.

Doc

One of the things they have me doing is something called mirror therapy.A mirror is placed in front of me and with my eft hand and arm behind the mirror on th left side and my right arm and hand in front of the mirror to the right I perform exercises with my right hand and tell myself that the reflection I see is actually my left hand. This week I showed up for therapy with a set of red dice and after I completed my right hand exercises I turned the mirror and started practicing setting the hardway set and gripping the dice. The therapist got a good laugh. One thing we do on occasion is what they val a timed stannd My current record is 22min.. They give me puzzels to do to keep me busy. Iasked if I could bring in my practice rig. "No, No place to store it." This week I was able to close my left fingers against light resistence. Also walked .3 miles on the treadmill @ 1.3mph. Slow yes but getting better. When I get onto the treadmill it takes them 15=20 min to get me into the sensor harness that measures my step length, distance walked and tme spent on each foot. I am setting up my practicr rig this coming week at homr and asm going to set a goal of 15 min practice a few times a day. I am so disappointed that I will miss Vegas next month. Good rolls to all. Butcher out.

Hi, Butcher!
I can imagine the feeling of missing out on Vegas… but there will be others more, for years to come! 😀
Let’s just hope the trip reports will be abundant, so we can at least live vicariously through them… I am not going either. 😐

Hi Butcher. We are so sorry to hear about your stroke. When you are ready to go to AC, let me know, and we will help you at the table. The supervisors get us chairs with out a problem.

Goddess

Now for those on this board who think they are having a hard time trying to get better, look what is happening here.

We can all learn.

Please keep us posted as to how, what and why you are doing to get back in the game. Both the game of life and craps!

Keep up the posts!

Thanks and continued hard work and good luck!

Hope to meet you one day!

Jim

Get well soon Bill,
Hope to see you at the tables ASAP
Take care,
Raf

"Goddess" wrote: Hi Butcher. We are so sorry to hear about your stroke. When you are ready to go to AC, let me know, and we will help you at the table. The supervisors get us chairs with out a problem.

Goddess

Thanks! I look forward to it more than I can express in words. I also need to find a time when Melanie is interesred in goig, Hope it is soon.

"Stealthman" wrote: Now for those on this board who think they are having a hard time trying to get better, look what is happening here.

We can all learn.

Please keep us posted as to how, what and why you are doing to get back in the game. Both the game of life and craps!

Keep up the posts!

Thanks and continued hard work and good luck!

Hope to meet you one day!

Jim

Thanks stealthman. These are words I live by." We all experiance adversity in life. But itis not the adversity that defines who we are but we are defined by how we deal with it. I try to stay poitive, go to therapy and do everything my doctors suggest to improve my overall health.
Started throwing today on my practice rig. throw doesn’t look that bad. still need to work on my back swing( too short and too quick). delivery is also a little quick and I’m not following through as well as I can.I began using a metronome to pace my throw. Practiced for 20 min,50 throws.Got tired so went to computer and practiced speed count. It felt good to throw again.

Just got back from AC and there were 2 or 3 players that sat at tables. Also there is a casino in Vegas that has seats and one stick person were you throw the dice. Hope for a good recovery.
Good Rolling. 😀

Thanks all. Melanie took me to the new casino in Valley Forge(15 min drive). Ate lunch and discovered to my delight that thier rest rooms are set up great for disabled folks like me. Real easy and safe. Sinks have enough room under them that I can use them to wash my hands without getting all wet. i called a few days before we went and I was connected to the pit. i asked if the tables were handicapped accesable. I was assured they were. Dicovered that they were mistaken. When i asked the floor super where the wheelchair accessabltables were he directed me to a table that was unaccesable. When i balked he says"I’ll pull this stool back and you can just roll up. I declined saying
‘thanks but I can’t see the table from down here." They have 4 12ft craps tables here but the one that was open was too crowded.Nice casino very nice staff, good food but I was unable to play.Wife hit a slot for $120 so we went home happy.This was a Thursday at 2pm next time we will go earlier. If anyone wants info on this casino email (butcher_prc@yahoo.com) or message me.therapy is still going well.healing process is progressing.

At the Trop. in Vegas they have a tub that is wheel chair acess. but opens after 7.

Headedto Valley Forge on Thursday morning.wish me luck. This will be my first casino play since the stroke. My practice sessions have gone well. Smart craps says my RR is 7.4. It was much better this past winter but still a slight edge.So it will be pass line and come betting,love the big skinny. Plan to take a shot at black jack also.

William,
Thanks for you comments on my post, and I am sorry to read of your ailment,I also wish you a speedy recovery. Although I am very new at this, I can tell immediately whoever has the drive and determination to excell at this sport in the fashion that Dom & Frank and all the others have laid the ground work for, most defenatley can not be held down from achieving anything. Where there’s a will there’s a way, stay strong and good luck, hope to read a success story soon.

William,
The mere fact that you are a GTC Grad tells me a lot about you. You seek to find things in life that most take for granted. You think "outside the box". That tells me that you will do whatever it takes and with an open mind to recover as fast as you can. Yes, Frank is right, we are all rooting for you!!

"TheWall" wrote: William,
The mere fact that you are a GTC Grad tells me a lot about you. You seek to find things in life that most take for granted. You think "outside the box". That tells me that you will do whatever it takes and with an open mind to recover as fast as you can. Yes, Frank is right, we are all rooting for you!!

thanks for the encouragment and kind words. The folks I have met during my association with GTC are first rate and I am honored to call many friends. MY trip to Valley Forge has been potponed due to a doctors appointment getting rescheduled to tomorrow morning. Thats okay since now I will be able to get in a good practice session. Maybe next week.

well….. Therapy is going well. My left hand and arm are starting to show improvement. The doctors and therapists are amazed at my progress so far and are very optimistic. Unfortunately I am about to hit my cap aith medicare. they will probably discharge me from therapy soon till next year (it’s a yearly cap not lifetime). Today I walked 210ft in 6 min and did a flight of stairs in therapy.

been practicing on my rig. Smart Craps ,(sometimes I feel like that is an oxymoron), says I currently have a SRR of 1.74 with the hqardway set, 1.53 with the all sevens. MEl and I are headed to Valley forge on thursday for some play time. this will be my first live play since the stroke in May.
i am as ready as I can be at this point. Pass Line and Come bets. If I start seeing alot of 6s and 8s like I did in practice tonight I may place the 6 and 8 but I will be a very conservative bettor on Thursday. It took me 2 years to build my 401 g to this level and I don’t want to get too aggresive with my bets and put a big dent in it.

That’s wonderful news! Good luck at the casino. Good idea to go slow.

Goddess

sounds like you are making progress which is great, it can be done.

One of my friends grand kids fell out of a tree deer hunting and broke his neck. He was
in milwaukee a long time and they did not think he would make it back real far. I remember
how hard was to do anything and taking a couple of steps a major accomplishment.

Right now he can walk ok will a cain type thing and gets around, he is back to fishing, hunting
and most things he did enjoy, but at a little different level, Where he is today as compared
to where he started is light years of difference. He has always had a great attitude like you
and i am sure you will have the same results.
It is amazing how many things we take for granted, and i am sure we could all learn some now from
you and him in terms of appreciating many parts of our lives.
good luck

gman

Just got back from Valley Forge to find a message on the gouse phone from Moss Rehab telling me that I have hit my yearly cap with medicare and that I will bw discharged this Monday. Kind of a downer but they are going to give me things to work on till next year. hopefully this brak will be a good thing in the long run.

The session in Valley Forge was awesome. small win $$ wise but huge win confidence wise. Played for 1.5 hours able to stand for most of it. I’m walking on air tonight I’m so happy with the way the day went. Not because I won a little but because I was able to stand at the table and play.

Well done, Bill. From your e-mail, I know you had a good session.

Keep up the exercises, and you will continue to improve. Make sure P.T. writes the exercises down for you. We tend to forget over time what they said.

Goddess

Thanks M. Therapy usually gives me th exercises in the form of a 8×11 handout my challenge will be to remember to put them into the binder they gave me in th begining.

They discharged me from therapy last week but I have continued working out at the YMCA. The program they gave me takes about 1 hour and except for all the little kids I have to share the pool with it all goes pretty well. walked about 300ft in the pool along with the exercises I did. That was Monday today I used the indoor walking track and walked for about ten minutes wearing the brace and using the cane. This YMCA is a godsend. Also made use of the staff as they found a few exercise machines I will be able to use next time (tomorrow). Friday is off to Valley Forge day for some live play. Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday.

This post is an update of sorts.After three months of working at untangling our health insurance and Medicare I am back in therapy for my left arm and hand. I am also back in outpatient physical therapy. This is 2hrs twice a week. Therapy is working out well as I am improving slow but steady. In my last physical eval I walked with brace and cane, 270 feet in 6 min and I walked 30 ft without a cane. My left hand has improved a lttle but not enough to call my arm and hand functional.

I have been able to practice a little but not aa much as I would like. I have made three trips to AC since the holidays. We go for three days at a time. Last week was our most recent visit and it was to celebrate our 8 years of marrige. My wife and I stayed Tues thru Thursday. I got on the table three times and had mixed results. I had a nice long roll on Wend. eveningbut no GTC witness.One of the things I have been practiceing is using my chips to keep track of the roll count and what box numbers I am hitting. My shortest roll was an 8 with one point made. On the long roll(53) I was going for the Big Enchilada and almost got there but chickened out. I have never played that large amount before. When I threw the third hard four about 35 throws into the hand I just couldn’t pull the trigger on the parlay. Still on this hand I made the most I ever made playing the GTC way.

I was doing the Big skinny which I practice at home and throwing lots of 5:4 and 5:3 Also a few hard 4s.As it turns out I threw a few hard 4s before the hand ended. Still I had started with a nickle on the hard four and parlayed it the first three times it hit. betting this way is more than enough action while gambling with-in my means.I know that this bet has a high house edge but on a long roll it can be alot of fun.

A couple of my earlier trips didn’t work out as well and I still get fatigued easily. During one session last week I got so tired I passed the dice in the middle of a decent hand. My legs were okay I just got really tired. Fortunately my wife proceeded to hit my point and three of my box number bets that were up when I passed the dice before sevening out. It was our anniversary on Tuesday so Wendsday evening we had a nice dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steak house. After dinner we hit the tables for a few hours then retired to a quiet anniversary party in the room. My wife brought snacks and I packed the booze and sodas.

In summary I’m recovering and have managed to have some fun along the way. In spite of the horrible day I had playing Pai Gow Poker and this property messing up my players club account my 401G has a nice smily face thanks to the long roll and a nice session of blackjack We had a great trip. I look forward to seeing everyone in AC in a few weeks.

Just a quick update. I am now beginning to relearn how to walk without the cane. I am also getting back a little movement in the left hand. Legs are getting stronger, they got pretty weak from all that sittin/laying around. This past Thursday I participated in an event hosted by the Eastern Amputees Golf Association in partnership with Moss Rehab. We hit golf balls for two hours and I had a great time. Some may go ???, "how does this have anything to do with Craps?" Well one of the issues I am working on is my balance/stance at the tables when I shoot. Standing endurance is also still a lesser issue. The exercise of positioning my feet and body in a balanced way and maintaining my balance while swinging the club gave my legs a good workout.
Plus it was a fun way to get some exercise,it was cheap too. 😎

It is good to see you are enjoying some of your rehab . Always good to be positive .
Good Rolling. 😀 😀

Sounds like you are on the right track, as difficult as it is.

Goddess

Keep up the excellent progress you are having. I know this this hard work. You are an inspiration to all on this board. Alligator Rose and I would be honored to play with you sometime in the future. Continue to keep us posted.

Doc and Alligator Rose

First sorry to keep bumping this up but it was easier than starting a new thread and better than jacking someone’s thread, I’ll keep it brief. I had a minor setback this year in my recovery, kept me off my feet for awhile and the minivan died so no way to transport the chair to the casino so I haven’t played or practiced much for the past six months. Good news is I am close to getting my drivers license back and I was able to get some help getting the room I practice in cleaned out and my practice rig set up. Also the boss has approved the purchase of a new Honda minivan. So it’s back to work now that my legs and balance are coming back. Hope to be back to the tables later this fall. So glad I took the Video Analysis class last spring, it gives me a good place to resume from.

I was really looking forwaed to Vegas in October but I won’t be able to make it this year. My wife and I have a commitment to take part in a wedding in Vegas in early November maybe I will run into some of the Vegas crowd. We will be there Nov 11-15. Good luck and long rolls to all.

Getting a new van sounds like one thing you will not have to worry about . They are great for chairs . Hope you have a great time at wedding with long rolls .
Good Rolling. 😀 😀