May 26, 2004

Approximately fifteen months ago or so I received a letter from a lady looking to write for Insider Racing News. The site she had been writing for had just closed and she submitted an article. Little did I know at the time that she would turn out over 125 racing related coulmns for us, but in that time she has become a dear friend.

She's in a bit of trouble at the time with a medical emergency and I would like to ask your help. I know prayer works and if you would, please say one for her and her husband.

Patty Kay is struggling to keep her husband alive and it's taking all her time to do it. So she will be back someday, we just don't know when that will be.

The following is a note of explanation from Patty:

I've received so many wonderful and supportive emails during my absence that I think it's time I explained why my columns are missing right now.

On May 14, my husband of 45 years passed out in our kitchen, striking his head on the tile floor. He was taken by ambulance to our local hospital, where a CAT scan showed intra-cranial bleeding in four different locations. He has also suffered for several years from congestive heart failure and that hospital felt unequipped to handle his condition, so he was transported immediately to a hospital in Athens, Georgia and placed in the care of a neurosurgeon.

He was released to my care last Thursday, long before either of us was ready for that. We have a home health service that has been wonderful, but of course, daily care and feeding is all up to me. There will be several more CAT scans to monitor the blood on the brain. The hope is that it will dissipate on its own with time. If that does not happen, then there will have to be surgery to clear it. Meanwhile, he needs a walker to navigate, and we've put in a plethora of medical equipment in order to make possible the daily functions that we all take for granted.

Obviously, there are not enough hours in the day to allow me to write at this particular time, and I fear that most emails go unanswered, though I do read them daily. I'd ask any of you that are so inclined please to say a prayer for us. That would be greatly appreciated. My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you that have taken my absence on blind faith and sent your best wishes and prayers. I promise that I'll be back with you all when the time is right. I miss you too!

By Patty Kay

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