Update from Vinny, 11/16

post today from Vinny:

"Sweet Friends of our Beloved,
Shrine just left Esalen after a few days of healing. Lots of organic food, massage and the natural beauty of this place can get downright pushy. Anyway, he's moving slow, taking good care of himself and his hobo heart is full of those lucky enough to be called his family. His recovery is being strengthened by our love for him.

To the man that taught many of us about generosity. Whether it was how hard he works making this world beautiful, or splitting a ham sandwich sitting on milk crates. Let's show him how loved he is by holding him in the Great Heart of Generosity."

∞

message from Shrine :)

Thank You all for so much love and support. All the mail and e-mail love, Donations of money and offers of help. ThankYou Dr. Brian Herman for taking the time to help me at a critical moment when feeling and looking dark. A excellent surgeon, Dr. Bruce Chisholm worked on my broken face simply because he was asked by his friend and respected peer Dr. Herman. At Dr. Hermans request, the hospital accepted me at a reduced fee, the amount raised on paypal. I will be back in the game because of Dr. Herman,if you see him give him a hug for me. Thank You again for the Donations of money and all the peeps working on my behalf.

much love, shrine


∞

Shrine home and well, after facial surgery

YES! Shrine is now home, again, after a successful maxillofacial surgery, and now is being lovingly taken care of by his kids.  The interior of his face is now well on its road of recovery.  To reconstruct the damage to his facial skull, he has now three titanium plates in there, holding together the broken facial bones, one around his left eye, and the others in the cheek area below. Recovery now entails the muscles rebuilding over the plates and other damaged areas, including the muscles which all the bones of his jaw are connected to. This is the reconstruction that continues now, by his amazing body which over time, builds the muscles, strengthens the bones.  Shrine is home in full resting and recovery mode, with a puddle of black cat love in his lap.  He is so grateful for a wonderful hospital experience at Eisenhower, for his nurses, the specialists on the surgical team, his amazing and very caring surgeon Dr. Chisholm, and overwhelmingly for Dr. Brian Herman who made it all possible.

∞

Thank You Dr. Brian Herman!

We are all so utterly grateful for Dr. Brian Herman, who paved the way for Shrine to have the facial reconstructive surgery he urgently needed. For him finding a maxillofacial surgeon who would do the surgery (for free!), recruiting the surgical team of specialists, and making a brave and mighty case to the hospital to allow it at all, let alone for a fraction of what it would normally cost. And Dr. B continues give his valuable time and expertise to help Shrine, consulting him on his cardio condition, which is incredibly one of his specialties. Dr. Brian Herman, thank you, you are an ANGEL. Endless gratitude for you and your noble golden heart.


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latest news!

word is from Shrine's family that

Shrine had his maxillofacial surgery yesterday evening and it went well !    yes!

when we have more details we will pass them on :)

.........LOVE...........


∞

WONDERFUL NEWS! Shrine's facial surgery scheduled for tuesday!

As you may remember, the hospital Shrine was initially at had planned a reconstructive surgery for the bone structure behind Shrine's left eye, but then canceled it and released him to go home, with the condition of his face (interior) still hanging in the balance, which urgently needs attention. A dear friend of Shrine's Dr. Brian Herman, has graciously connected Shrine with a Maxillofacial Surgeon who has agreed to do the surgery for free! The next step was to get the hospital he works through to allow for this to take place, something that is never ever approved for usually. Dr. Brian made the case with the hospital administrators today, sharing Shrine's story, financial predicament, and urgent need for surgery. Thanks to Dr. Brian the hospital is going to allow for the Maxillofacial Surgeon to do the surgery at a fraction of what it would normally cost, with the money that has been raised through his PayPal donations! With no insurance needed and no more bills afterwards! Shrine's facial surgery (interior) is scheduled for this tuesday 10/25. He wanted you all to know :) And he sends huge thanks to all who have donated, helping to make this crucial procedure possible!

This is awesOme news, and please note that there are other vital areas that Shrine will continue to need treatment for, such as his aorta. Funds continue to be needed for these treatments, his expenses (as he will be not working for months), and of course the whooper of the initial hospital and ICU bill. Please continue to donate what you can, and support (and enjoy!) the beautiful Benefit events that are happening very soon. There are Los Angeles and SF Bay Benefits in the works right now, stay tuned. And of course this very weekend in Los Angeles, the Lucent Dossier Shows that are FULL Benefits for Shrine. (See this post for info)

Love you Ol' Pal!

∞

Update from Buddha Monkey,10/12....

UPDATE .. from the hospital bed side of our beloved friend Shrine..
Our magic man has gotten the final words from a samurai tongued eye doctor that his left eye is very strong and will not need medical attention (insert shrine making tiger face) ... The surgery for the orbit around his eye and broken nose are considered more cosmetic than critical so he is just waiting for his golden window to jump through ... Shrine came outside and laid in the grass in the sun ... A big smile on his face .. Making jokes of looking like a hybrid between Johnny Depp & Keith Richards ...

He is passionate about his recovery and talks of making art with friends in between sips of coconut water and ginger tea...

He still needs to take it easy .. Big time!!... but is a miracle man and is feeling deeply grateful to be surrounded by such enormous support and love from his family and so many dear friends..

The family still request that his place of recovery be private so let's just keep blasting him with all our love!!!!

~ from Buddha Monkey


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Shrine is getting better

Update from the hospital just now. Shrinyshrine, the man we love, is improving. They have removed the respirator and he is breathing on his own, they have removed the neck brace and he has been cleared of possible neck and spine injury. This is excellent news. He has asked for the rescue and return of his clown car so he can rebuild, repair and continue rocking the roads inside his art. He has asked to be taken off pain meds so he can begin to heal himself. He is still in ICU, and excepting waves of crystal light sent through your vibrations of good lovin'. The family is still asking for no visitors. Please write letters! You know he loves little random paper pieces scribbled with love, old chewed bubble gum excites him too ;)

Finally good news*

Word from the hospital just now is that Shrine doing better and is 'out of the woods'. He's still in ICU, his family still requests no visitors but he is on the road to recovery. Keep your prayers high and send your light....

The man we love....

I know Shrine has touched soooooooo many of us. He is pure magic and good medicine.... very strong medicine for my heart at the moment but that's Shrine.

I was able to see him last night, he is in and out of consciousness but he did respond to me when i joked playfully with him. The doctors said that this type of response was very positive and is a clear indication that he has not sustained damage to his brain. His face looks very good, his eyes are both dilating and have mobility though his left eye is very swollen. The damage is to the bone around that eye with several fractures. He has seen plastics and they are caring for his beautiful face. His hands and arms are all good, his legs and feet too. The main concern at this moment is vascular due to the damage to the aorta and stress of the surgery.

I think more than anything we need to see him and hold the image of him as healed and whole, building things, wise talking and being punk rock. That's who he is. That's what this fight is for, his life.

He is one of the wisest people i've ever met. Teacher, father, brother, lover, friend. I can't wait to hear what visions of grandeur he's downloading right now....

Remember every awesome thing he ever taught you and live it.

'Be kinder, everyone is dealing with heavy shit'
'Life is a journey, you never get there, get used to it.'
'Stop whining and do something'
'Humanities heroic awakening'

and my personal fav:
'INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY TO LOVE'
(sorry about the caps, i felt compelled.)

His family is requesting that no one try to visit him at this time. Thanks for respecting their request. Send all your love telepathically, he's magic so know he will receive it.....*