Bill's Current digs

John D moved Bill to his new digs this week. Here's a photo from Bill's recent visit with John Previti and Rob Howe

John D had this to report:

I moved Bill today from VHC Acute Rehab Unit to a Sub Acute Rehab unit at Manor Care in Arlington, a few miles from VHC.

Room 310A
ManorCare
550 S. Carlin Springs Rd.
Arlington, VA 22204
703-379-7200

He will be getting at least ½ hour a day of PT, OT and Speech Therapy. His left side is much stronger and much more coordinated than a week ago. He got lots of hugs from the pretty therapists At Va Hospital Center when he left today, and we were able to attend a social gathering of folks at Manor Care right after we got there and he met a few nice folks, shy as he is. He has a roommate, Josephus Simpson who seems like a nice guy. Mr. Simpson does not see well, so I’m hoping they can help each other out, trading seeing for hearing help. The staff at Manor Care has been made aware of Bill’s hearing problems and his refusal to ask what is being said if he does not understand it, so I’m hoping that will cut down on common misunderstanding between him and staff.

He’d love to get visitors, so any one who can visit please do. Bill said someone came by yesterday to VHC and showed him the Bill Turning 90 video on their cell phone, and they wrote the info down on the back of a business card for Joe Jacobs (I think), but Bill could not remember the name of the person that visited him yesterday. Bill said he was twirling drumsticks, so I assume it was a drummer. Bill really enjoyed telling me about the visit, but his inability to remember the visitors name is indicative of the result of the stroke’s impact on his short term memory (not that Bill has ever been all that great with people’s name anyway in the 15 years I’ve known him).

Bill has a great attitude and is working hard, but he will not be able to live alone, and will always need some form of assistance, and it is extremely unlikely he will be able to return to work. Bill had a series of seizures last Tuesday and one on Weds, and none since, but we were told at VHC that no one can drive within 2 years of having a seizure, so my position with Bill currently is that he is not allowed to drive until after he turns 94, which is a hell of a lot easier to tell him compared to “you’ll never drive again”. Driving may be a uniquely American form of independence and freedom many believe is included in our Bill of Rights, and it is a powerful symbol of Bill’s loss of freedom and independence due to the stroke and aging. He is going through a transition period coming to grips with losing many physical functions we all take for granted. Last Thursday after our meeting with the VHC team explaining Bill diagnosis and rehab issues Bill was philosophical about losing the ability to return to work, saying “well, it had to happen sooner or later”, to which I replied, “yes Bill, but the rest of us think this is later, only you think this is sooner” and he laughed, because he did really think having to stop working has occurred much earlier than it should have. He has a great perspective.

Bill is going through an emotional transition period coming to grips with losing many physical functions we all take for granted. I know it’s almost impossible to talk to Bill by phone (boy, do I know), and very difficult to find the time to visit, especially you MD folks now that Bill is in Arlington. Any cards or letters you can send him would be much appreciated. I brought him an Easter Card he had gotten in the mail last week from an old friend in CA and it really cheered him up. I’ll even print emails from you and take to him if you want to avoid snail mail. Bill loves hearing from folks. He has no problem reading. No promises on responses though, his writing is not good anymore.

Bill thanks everyone who is thinking of him and reaching out to him during this period.

Cheers, John D

Bill Mason Health

Bill Mason has been the rhythmic heart of the Oklahoma Twisters since we formed the band in 1996 or so. (Somebody verify or correct me on that!) He has never missed a gig and was only late once - on our very first show.

Last August, due to concerns about Bill's health, I began subbing out the drum chair for our longer and later-running gigs. Lately all our gigs seem to be longer and later, so you haven't seen much of Bill with the Twisters. Still at every show people ask after Bill.

This blog is an attempt to keep you posted on Bill Mason. Due to a recent health crisis, this has become more imperative. So, "How's Bill?"

Well, Bill had a stroke on or about April 1st. At any rate he apparently called in to work on Friday to say he wasn't coming in, didn't feel well. When he didn't even call in Monday, I knew something was seriously wrong, and got the management of his apartment building to check in on him. He was checked into the hospital on Monday April 4th.

He got several visitors while at the hospital, and proposed to at least a dozen women. He moved to a rehabilitation center in Arlington for a couple of weeks, where he focused on physical, occupational and speech therapy, and today was moving to a Skilled Nursing Facility for a couple months. From there, we expect he'll move to assisted living.

So four weeks ago Bill was living on his own and driving to work every day. Today driving, probably working and even living on his own are very much in question. This is quite an emotional blow for big Bill, who has never made more than grudging concessions to his age. Cheering visits, cards etc., will do much to bolster his spirits, and impress the staff at the new place as to Mr. Mason's value to our community. Phone calls are problematic, due to Bill's "drummer's ears."

I'll get you the details on the new digs as soon as I have them.

- George