L.C. Smith Association Director Chris Baumohl

[Mark Conrad]

I worked with Chris for many years on the Challenge. He was always helpful, cheerful and very easy to work with. He is in my thoughts and prayers.

Mark

[Mills]

A cousin of mine sent me this poem by Dylan Thomas which seems appropriate for here. There is a video of Anthony Hopkins reciting it on YouTube, but it is spooky

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

[Chris Dunlap]

All,

We just got through with our morning visit. The nurse was very impressed with his improvement. He has been taken off of the insulin drip. His temperature has come down to 99, blood pressure has been good all morning and his heart rate has been good.

The nurse would not let us in the room this morning because every time we talk to him he tries to respond and then starts coughing which in turn throws the dialysis machine out of whack. The dialysis has helped tremendously to improve his overall condition.

I can't stress enough how happy the nurse is with his progress. He still has a long way to go but he has begun taking little steps in the right direction.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. They are obviously working so keep praying for him.

I'll post another update later this evening after we visit with the doctors this afternoon.

[Chris Dunlap]

All,

CB took a big step in the right direction today. They were able to remove him from the ventilator completely this afternoon. He is also much more alert and responsive. He can’t talk yet for obvious reasons but is doing much better today.

His fight isn’t over though. Keep up the prayers, cause they are damn sure working!!

[Dean Romig]

It's comforting to see God work like this. Keep up those good thoughts and prayers.

[Chris Dunlap]

All,

CB is is still doing well without the ventilator. He is able to eat some soft foods again! He is still pretty hoarse, but is able to wisper a little and can communicate. He has also begun working a little each day with the physical therapist to get his heart pumping a little harder.

I cannot express enough how relieved his wife and son are at the amazing progress he has made. He continues to defy the odds and surprise the medical staff at Huntsville Hospital.

Also, I want to pass along the sincere gratitude from his family for all of the prayers and well wishes. The doctors told us twenty days ago when I got there that they had done all they could, that it was in god's hands and Chris' will to fight. It is obvious that the multitude of prayers and his own stubbornness is what ha helped see him through this thus far.

[Chris Dunlap]

All,


Good news from Huntsville today!

CB is OUT OF ICU as of this evening! He still has a ways to go before he can go home.

Throughout this entire time I have been reminding his lovely bride that each day and each achievement is another baby step in the right direction. Well today CB put on his big boy pants and took a big step towards going home.

I want to thank each and everyone of you that has said a prayer each night for our friend. The prayers, emails, calls and cards have meant so much to his family through this ordeal. Carol knew he had a lot of "gun buddies", but did not realize just how many he had until this happened.

[Chris Dunlap]

All,

More great news today from Huntsville. Chris is still in a regular room and will be for about another week. He is working with the therapists each day to regain some strength. He has not had a dialysis treatment since last Wednesday. They are going to continue to monitor his vitals through the weekend with the goal of removing the dialysis port early next week. If all continues to go well, he will move to a rehab center in a week or so. At this time they don't plan to do any surgery. They want him to go home and lose some weight in order to allow his heart to work for him.

I was able to speak with him on the phone for a few minutes this evening. He is still real foggy and not sure of what he wants to say. He does not have his phone with him so no use in trying to call him. I had called Carol and she handed him her phone.

Thanks again for all of the prayers. They have obviously worked.

[Chris Dunlap]

This Thanksgiving I am thankful that one of my best friends, Chris Baumohl was able to defy the odds and recover from a massive heart attack on September 28th. The doctors told us he had less than a 1% chance to survive. That was 56 days ago. All of his major organs had shut down and he had to be put on 24 hour dialysis. When he made it to day 7 the entire staff of doctors and nurses were shocked that he was still with us. At that point they told us he would need some sort of dialysis plan for the rest of his life. He hasn't had a dialysis treatment in two+ weeks.

If all goes well he will be going home next Wednesday. He has had the best team of doctors, nurses and techs that Huntsville Hospital has.

Chris is a great friend, a great father to his son David and a great husband to Carol. Proud to call him one of the few really good friends I have and thankful he is still here.

[Dean Romig]

What more could anyone ask for? What a fine reason to be thankful during this Holiday season!