PDG Morris Briggs
It is with sad notice that PDG Morris F. Briggs, 83, passed peacefully at home, Sunday, September 5, 2010. A 50 year member of Rotary International, Morris served as President of the Westerville Rotary Club in 1988-89 and as District 6690 Governor for Rotary in 1996-97. Awarded the Four Avenues of Service Award in 2000 by Rotary International and was instrumental in the development of the Harris-Askins House Retirement Facility in Westerville.
Calling hours will be held at HILL FUNERAL HOME, 220 S. State St., Westerville on Friday, September 10 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, September 11, at Central College Presbyterian Church. Fr. Ron Baird officiating. Interment Blendon Central Cemetery.
A loving husband, father, grandfather and Rotarian, he will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Harris-Askins House may be made to The Rotary Club of Westerville, PO BOX 595, Westerville, OH 43086.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE OBITUIARY.
CLICK HERE FOR Westerville Rotary Club Rotogram Special Edition, Tribute to Morris Briggs
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Ram Gawande PDG Update
As you may know, DG Ram Gawande had surgery June 30 for a tumor on his cervical spine (neck area). Although the tumor is benign, it is growing and causing pressure on his spinal cord and making his left hand numb and uncoordinated. It was beginning to affect his right hand as well, so it was decided that he would require surgery to take some pressure off his spinal cord. Evidently the tumor itself cannot be removed.
We have created a blog to keep friends and family informed about his condition and his progress. His son, Atul made a recent entry. It says:
Dear Family and Friends,
We just spoke with Dr. Benzel, the surgeon, and he reports that all went extremely well with Dad. He spent about 8 hours in surgery. The neurosurgery team were able to do a laminectomy--a removal of the bony front portion of the spine--at nine levels, from the base of his skull (C1) to the bottom of his neck (T1/T2). This was exactly what they hoped to do to create as much space as humanly possible for Dad's spinal cord tumor. There were no bleeding problems. The monitoring of his nerve function in his arms and legs all registered well. The rods to fuse and stabilize his spine went in without special difficulties. These are all great signs after a very big operation. We couldn't be more relieved.
He will be in intensive care overnight and may well be kept asleep through the night. We'll know better over the next couple of days what his recovery will require. But we are thrilled to say: he's come through and whether it's a long or short recovery, we know that the team here has succeeded in helping delay and avert what would have very quickly become a devastating quadriplegia. Thank you for everyone's thoughts and prayers. And thanks to the extraordinary people at Cleveland Clinic who've worked together for him.
Love, Atul
If you would like to read earlier entries and know about his progress without having to call around, you can visit his blog
http://ramgawande.wordpress.com It will be kept up to date.
Please keep Ram, his family and his doctors in your prayers.
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