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    It's been two full weeks since my surgery and i'm well into my physical
therapy regimen. Even though the therapy sessions are very painful, I
actually look forward to them since I know they're an important part of
getting back to my shop and all of the work that waits for me there.

    Today's session was an agressive one, but ended on an encouraging
note as the therapist said that my range of motion and my strength were
more in line with the eight to ten week mark than that of only two weeks.
I'm not going to rush it and will patiently follow their instructions to the
letter to avoid damaging the freshly repaired tissue, but this was great
news.

I'm encouraged and haven't been in as much pain as I'd prepared myself
for....even though it is pretty painful...especially for the day following
each physical therapy session.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Awesome, I'm glad to hear you're recovering well. Now get out there and EAT SOME TURKEY....one handed if you have to. :-)

Really, glad to hear your good news, and enjoy the Thanksgiving time with your family.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I really glad, too. It's good to hear hopefulness in your post in place of
being burdened.

Kevin,
Very good news. Your work is an inspiration to many of us - can't wait to
see you back in business.

Peace Out,
Simon

Kevin that is great to hear!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Kevin,

That's really good news.

I think that as the birthdays accumulate, the desire to be a good patient who follows all directions becomes key to good health. I wonder when it will happen to me !

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Keep it up and let us know how it's going, OK?

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Glad to hear that everything went well.

Al

Hi Kevin,

The worst is over--you survived the doctor part...

We don't know one another, but I've been through a few, myself, and am glad you're ahead of the curve already.

Scott

Great news Kevin and yes, take the time to heal, don't do like me and go back to work with a leg in a cast, yes, i was crazy back then and i still have a chance of doin' that again!

Cheers

Kevin, I'm really glad to hear you are making a speedy recovery. When the pain gets tough just stop and focus on the positive. Don't think about the failures you experienced in the medical system, just think of all the kids whose lives you made better when you re-injured your shoulder. You can't keep a good man down.

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

     I have to say that, even with the postponments and rescheduling of my
surgey that was a bit frustrating at the time and all of the communication
loops that seemed so trivial betwen the docs and insurance company, this
has been a very encouraging experiene with the medical profession. The
surgeon has shown himself to be a very pofessional and has really gone
above the necesary measures to make me feel comfortable and confident
that i'll make a full recovery in time.

     My last visit to him was one that was riddled by questions from my
wife, Paula, and I.....Mostly about my work and when i'll be able to
begin.....or hope to....by doing even light things in my shop. Four months
from the surgery date seems to be the consistent answer and is
reasonable to me in light of how much work was done to repair and
reattach everything that was damaged in my shoulder. The surgery and
therapy so far have been much less painful than I'd tried to prepare
myself for so I shouldn't complain at all.

    I can get a little stressed and discouraged sometimes when things pile
up on me...like not being able to work or generate income, but I do try
not to let it get the best of me and have honestly tried to control myself
while communicating all that has been going on with me since my injury
in July.

    I was in my shop today and just read for a while and went through
some paperwork for my accountant with the year's end fast approaching
with tax time right on its heels. While I sat there at my main bench, i
looked around at all of the guitars that are waiting for me to get back to
them with my atention and it struck me....Wow! I have nearly 150 guitars
ordered from individuals and dealers and have about a half dozen spec
guitars in progress with them. No ads, no brochures, no website online
for the past ew years and not even a business card in hand most times,
and I am back ordered more than three and a half years.

    An incredible blessing to say the least and on top of the simple fact
that the work is here in my shop, only one of all of my customers decided
to opt for a cancellation on his order instead of giving the additional few
months for me to recover from this injury and surgery. Everybody else
decided to stay onboard and allow me the additonal time to get back to
their guitars. I've actually taken a good number of orders since my return
from Africa even with a clear explanation to each commissioning
customer of the situation and the status of their place i my build list and
schedule.

    Even that single cancelled order was purchased only a day later by
another player who already has two guitars ordered from me. With things
a little tighterthan we like and our looking anxiously toward the time
when i'll be able to start completing and delivering guitars again...we've
been blessed.

    a large part of being able to see and feel the good ending of a situation
like this has been the humbling support ad encouragement that i've
gotten from all here at the OLF and a hearty thanks in in order.

    So, for all of your patient willingness to read as I rambled and your
consistently uplifting comments and prayers, I say thanks to you all.

    I'm sure that things of similar semtiment could be expressed by a long
list of folks who have found themselves in even tougher places than i
have. I find myself referring more and more to the people here as "my
friends at the OLF" when i talk to people.

Thanks again and all the best,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Kevin, It's great to hear that things are getting back together for you. Hope you continue to stay ahead of the curve on the PT.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com