Hey All,
Sept.17th will be Big George's end of the summer poker run to benefit Karen & Jimmy Hahn!! Jimmy & Karen have been Iron Horse family from day 1, & when a family member needs help we answer the call!! Karen has given me permission to share the e-mail she sent me so everyone can better understand what's going on with her condition! I will list the details about the run at the bottom of this post after Karen's e-mail!


George,

I can’t thank you enough for all you are doing to help Jimmy and myself while we are going through all this. You are all heart babe. As for my brothers band,

His response when I talked to him was that it seemed we had a full bill, and it was fine for his band not to play that day. He will be there to help Jimmy with the band switches and such.



Now, as for the about me,



I’m 44 years old, and have had poor health most of my life. To date I’ve had approximately 15 surgeries, and after seeing the Dr. Thursday after talking with you, the 16th surgery will be on Tuesday to repair my bladder which did not heal right after being operated on in January.



My current illness is a difficult one to explain, as we have not yet found the cause of all the symptoms I am having. I have been diagnosed as having Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS) which is a group of symptoms including excessively fast heart rate, and a severe drop in blood pressure when standing, and occasionally fainting due to the blood pressure drop. We have found that this may be caused from a lack of oxygen in the blood due to a 20% loss of blood plasma which is the fluid in the blood. I am extremely dehydrated because my body is not absorbing the fluid that I take in. The kidneys are taking all the fluid in order to rid the body of what it needs to, therefore the blood is starving for fluid. The cure for this will be surgery number 17 where they will need to insert an IV line into my chest so that I can give myself IV fluids directly into the veins at home. This will fix the dehydration problem, but may or may not help the POTS. Also due to the fluid loss, which creates an oxygen deficiency in the blood, I am suffering a lack of oxygen to the brain which is causing memory loss, confusion, and mini strokes. I often get lost when trying to get to places I’ve been hundreds of times, and am unable to remember peoples names, (including my own) at times. Yesterday I got lost driving around the block.



I also am suffering from a digestive disorder which for 6 years now they have been unable to diagnose. It causes me intense abdominal pain for 1-3 hours a day which mimic Labor pains. This happens almost every day and sometimes twice a day.



I so far have had to have a heart ablation to try to stop the rapid heart rate which is where they go in through a vein in your thigh up into your heart and use sound waves to burn out the receptors in the heart which control the rate. This was unsuccessful as while doing the procedure my heart began racing at 250 beats a minute and was unable to keep rhythm. At that point if they had continued they would have had to kill off all receptors leaving me with a pace maker. It is possible that I will still have to have that done. It is the recommendation of the cardiologist, however I am attempting to find the cause before we have to take such drastic measures. This procedure alone cost $25,000. Recently Ive had an MRI of the brain, and will also be seeing a Neurologist. I don’t even want to know how much that one is going to be.



I also have been to the Cleveland Clinic where I’ve had numerous testing done to check my blood volume and Systemic Autonomic Nervous System. Blood volume testing showed the blood deficiencies above and the nervous system testing showed a problem with the brain getting the message through to the extremities. The testing also showed a low cardiac output which means the heart is not beating hard enough to pump the blood out of my legs so that when I stand, all the blood pools in them and cant get back up into the heart to replenish its oxygen supply. This is why the blood pressure drops when standing.



The bills are just now starting to come in, and since I am no longer able to work more than a couple hours a day (against Dr.’s advice) Jimmy is having to work non stop, to try to make up the difference in our income, but there is no money to pay the Dr. bills. We do have insurance, however that doesn’t cover everything and our share alone is going to be well over $10,000. Between the 2 Cardiologists, the Nephrologist, the Cleveland Clinic Syncope lab, the Urologist, the Neurologist, my own Doctor, and whoever else they will be sending me to… I live in a waiting room.



I also have osteoarthritis in my spine and hips which is getting worse with my health failing. There is also severe arthritis in my feet, and very soon (probably within the year) I will have to have all the bones in my right foot fused together in order to support my body weight. I’ve already started breaking bones due to the weakness in them, and have had 2 surgeries on it already trying to repair the broken bones.



I do have 3 sons, one is doing what he can by making sure he buys his own food, but his limited income isn’t able to do more than that. My youngest son is severely Bi-Polar and I have always cared for him as he is unable to find work due to his condition. And being 21 years old he eats like you wouldn’t believe.

My other son is also Bi-Polar and not currently working, he has just moved back home in order to take care of the housework and cooking for me so that I can rest and concentrate on getting well. God Bless him he has also found a job and intends on helping out with the household bills so that Jimmy can slow down a little before he ends up with a heart attack which would really mess things up.



Needless to say, Im a mess. Again, George, I love you man, you have shown me more love, encouragement, and self sacrifice than I have ever experienced in my life. Usually when people know about my condition, they assume Im a hypochondriac or worse, just avoid me, and you have always been there with open arms ready with a big hug and genuine concern. I cant tell you how much that means to me.



Karen


I'm trying to get as many people invovled as I can! So,if anybody has any suggestions about raising money to help
Mr. & Mrs. LoneWolf feel free to share them!! I'm trying to get Jack Daniels,Jager,Budweiser,& Miller to donate stuff for a auction the day of the run!So,if anyone wants to donate stuff to be auctioned off that will help too!!

I will post more details to this thread as they come together!
This is what I know right now!!

Sept.17,2005 @ Big George's Bar & Grill in Plain City,Ohio
We will be opening @ 9:30a.m.,& registration for the run will be from 10:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. with a $20.00 fee per rider!There will also be a 50/50 raffle at each bar to try to raise extra money!!
When everybody returns to my place there will be a hog roast with all the trimmings, & 4 bands with LoneWolf doing the sound!(Band times still to be announced!)I hope there will be some other surprises too,but I can't tell you everything just yet! I will share one BIG SURPRISE with you though!

Iron Horse will headline this show along with Karma10,Nevada Smith,& Bad Influence!!What a awesome evening this is going to be!! The guys jumped right on board when I went to them with this idea,& all of the bands are donating there performances out of respect for Jimmy & Karen!Very cool of all of them to be so willing to do what they can to help out! Class acts all the way!!

I also believe there will be a leather vendor,patch vendor,& maybe a tattoo artist also!I'm also trying to get the Jack Daniels & Jager Girls to attend!!So,there will be plenty going on with the best dam band in the land closing the show!!

One last thing,if you ride in the run! The $20.00 reg.fee covers the ride,hog roast,& the 4 bands!If you just show up for the hog roast & bands there will be a $5.00 cover charge!!Also,you don't have to have a motorcycle to be in the run,cars are welcome too!!The more people that reg.,the more money for Karen!!I believe 1st place will pay $500.00!!

THIS IS THE DATE REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER!!RAIN OR SHINE IT'S ON!!!!

If anyone has any questions ask away!! This will be a special evening!So,come out support Jimmy & Karen & welcome the guys back home to P.C.!!

Thanks For Your Time,
Big George

[Edited on 6-6-2005 by BIG_GEORGE]

I'll mention this to our Road Hawgs crew out of Delaware. Big George - If you wanna use the bar we ride out of as one of the stops, let me know.

Tank

I wanted to publicly thank Big George for all he is doing to help Jimmy and myself. I cant say enough how touched we are at his generosity.

We also want to thank the boys for being part of this. Knowing the boys as we do, we understand how expensive, and how much hard work goes into getting a show together and for them to donate their time and talents is a gift beyond measure.

I've realized you go through your whole life thinking you know who your friends are, but when something like this happens to you, it really becomes obvious. I have 4 brothers and 3 of them haven't even called to say hello, let alone offer any emotional support, and it's ok. I've got a whole bunch of brothers and sisters there at Big Georges and on this board who have already shown me what real family is.

So.. Big George... I want you to do me a favor... At the show, Im going to get a tattoo to mark the occasion (not to big please, I've had enough needles) and I'd like you to choose it for me. I've always wanted one but was waiting for the right occasion. Like I've told my kids, tattoos should be a symbol to mark something special in your lives. Something that will still mean just as much to you 20 years from now. You're always going to remember getting that tattoo... let the memories that go with it be happy ones.

So... I want to mark this occasion so that when I look at it 20 years from now, I will be reminded of the love and support from you and the boys, and everyone else who will be participating.

I would definitely like to help out in anyway I possibly can. I have never actually been on a poker run before but I hear they are quite alot of fun. I do not have access to a motorcycle but hell if it helps out Karen and her family, I will gladly pay the money and just drive along in my car. It sounds like it would be an awesome and fun event.

I am very glad to be a part of this. George asked Snak & I about it when we were in Ohio recently, since we are the out-of-towners and have to arrange our travel and our bookings with other projects...it took about half a second for us to shout HELL YES in perfect 2 part harmony.

Karen, you're an angel and a very special member of our family, and we are hell-bent on helping you, Jimmy, and your family during this difficult time.

We've got plenty of time to spread the word and promote this event, and I have no doubt that it will be huge. I would advise you, George, to reinforce the support beams on your building because between LoneWolf Sound and the multitude of people who are sure to attend, the structural stress on Big George's Bar will be tested to its limits.

Personally, I wouldn't even bother with the beams. There's no way in hell that bar has a chance of surviving. George will probably have to rent the PromoWest Pavilion!

I'll be there with the boys. Count on it.

Well Boyz,
You need not worry!! We will survive just fine as long as you don't jump up down to much!!lol

Humm...... Some of the pa?.... Or all the pa?.........

??? what do you mean "Some of the pa?" Like you would bring any less than the whole darned show!!! Who are you kidding? LOL Just save me at least enough room with ya Jimmy to curl up in the corner, or would I fit under the sound board?

update: surgery scheduled for this morning cancelled... seems the hospital is scared to death to put me to sleep thinking risk I wont wake up too great.. afraid of lawsuit... surgery back on for next Tuesday after getting clearance from cardiologists... I hope!

Will keep you posted.

Again, thanks everyone.. George you got one hell of a hug coming your way!!!!

George, RK and Jay...
I don't think you have to worry about you all jumping up and down its the fans I think you need to worry about! LOL! SEE YA GUYS SOON!

George, Karen and Mark- Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help prepare for the special day. THANKS!

George---When have you ever not seen me jump up and down on stage?.....
Color your bar gone, Big Dog!

Dude, how do expect a guy who's 6'4" to jump up and down on that stage without sticking my head through the ceiling???

That's a good one, Ronnie!!

WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME RK!!

Is it possible to jump up and down from a prone position? Hmmm.. guess i've got 3 month to work on that one. Any tips would be appreciated.

update is: surgery still off. Anesthesiologist wont put me to sleep out of fear of my death and him being sued, so he wants a cardiologist to say it will be fine.. Cardiologists of course won't say so because then if something were to happen.. They would be the ones being sued. Im thinking maybe I need to sue them all for refusing to do the surgery. I see a long battle ahead. Anyone know any good lawyers who are willing to tackle a challenge?

Can we sticky this thread so it'll stay at the top of the page?

HELP SPREAD THE WORD FOR THIS ONE!!!

hey George, if you guys are going to have an auction to help Karen I work at American Body Wrap"s in Dublin , The owner of the company is willing to donate a package of 6 body wraps (which is vallued at over $300.00) to help the cause, If yall are interested let me know.

Loriann,
Yes,we are having a auction for Karen,& that would help out!! Thank you & your boss for getting involved!

EVERYBODY PRAY FOR GOOD WEATHER SEPT.17th!!

George it Don't matter... Rain or shine, Hell or High Water, ... WE ARE FAMILY AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN!!!!!

I cancelled Bad Influence's gig that night to hang around and help with the festivities after we play. I'm looking forward to a GREAT TIME!!!!

HELP OUT EVERYONE........PAYBACK"S ARE NOT ALWAYS HELL!!!!!

3 weeks away !The countdown has begun!!

Yes and it is going to be awesome!! Definitely cant wait to do this to help out Karen and Jimmy!!

Quote:

Originally posted by BIG_GEORGE Hey All, Sept.17th will be Big George's end of the summer poker run to benefit Karen & Jimmy Hahn!! Jimmy & Karen have been Iron Horse family from day 1, & when a family member needs help we answer the call!! Karen has given me permission to share the e-mail she sent me so everyone can better understand what's going on with her condition! I will list the details about the run at the bottom of this post after Karen's e-mail! George, I can’t thank you enough for all you are doing to help Jimmy and myself while we are going through all this. You are all heart babe. As for my brothers band, His response when I talked to him was that it seemed we had a full bill, and it was fine for his band not to play that day. He will be there to help Jimmy with the band switches and such. Now, as for the about me, I’m 44 years old, and have had poor health most of my life. To date I’ve had approximately 15 surgeries, and after seeing the Dr. Thursday after talking with you, the 16th surgery will be on Tuesday to repair my bladder which did not heal right after being operated on in January. My current illness is a difficult one to explain, as we have not yet found the cause of all the symptoms I am having. I have been diagnosed as having Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS) which is a group of symptoms including excessively fast heart rate, and a severe drop in blood pressure when standing, and occasionally fainting due to the blood pressure drop. We have found that this may be caused from a lack of oxygen in the blood due to a 20% loss of blood plasma which is the fluid in the blood. I am extremely dehydrated because my body is not absorbing the fluid that I take in. The kidneys are taking all the fluid in order to rid the body of what it needs to, therefore the blood is starving for fluid. The cure for this will be surgery number 17 where they will need to insert an IV line into my chest so that I can give myself IV fluids directly into the veins at home. This will fix the dehydration problem, but may or may not help the POTS. Also due to the fluid loss, which creates an oxygen deficiency in the blood, I am suffering a lack of oxygen to the brain which is causing memory loss, confusion, and mini strokes. I often get lost when trying to get to places I’ve been hundreds of times, and am unable to remember peoples names, (including my own) at times. Yesterday I got lost driving around the block. I also am suffering from a digestive disorder which for 6 years now they have been unable to diagnose. It causes me intense abdominal pain for 1-3 hours a day which mimic Labor pains. This happens almost every day and sometimes twice a day. I so far have had to have a heart ablation to try to stop the rapid heart rate which is where they go in through a vein in your thigh up into your heart and use sound waves to burn out the receptors in the heart which control the rate. This was unsuccessful as while doing the procedure my heart began racing at 250 beats a minute and was unable to keep rhythm. At that point if they had continued they would have had to kill off all receptors leaving me with a pace maker. It is possible that I will still have to have that done. It is the recommendation of the cardiologist, however I am attempting to find the cause before we have to take such drastic measures. This procedure alone cost $25,000. Recently Ive had an MRI of the brain, and will also be seeing a Neurologist. I don’t even want to know how much that one is going to be. I also have been to the Cleveland Clinic where I’ve had numerous testing done to check my blood volume and Systemic Autonomic Nervous System. Blood volume testing showed the blood deficiencies above and the nervous system testing showed a problem with the brain getting the message through to the extremities. The testing also showed a low cardiac output which means the heart is not beating hard enough to pump the blood out of my legs so that when I stand, all the blood pools in them and cant get back up into the heart to replenish its oxygen supply. This is why the blood pressure drops when standing. The bills are just now starting to come in, and since I am no longer able to work more than a couple hours a day (against Dr.’s advice) Jimmy is having to work non stop, to try to make up the difference in our income, but there is no money to pay the Dr. bills. We do have insurance, however that doesn’t cover everything and our share alone is going to be well over $10,000. Between the 2 Cardiologists, the Nephrologist, the Cleveland Clinic Syncope lab, the Urologist, the Neurologist, my own Doctor, and whoever else they will be sending me to… I live in a waiting room. I also have osteoarthritis in my spine and hips which is getting worse with my health failing. There is also severe arthritis in my feet, and very soon (probably within the year) I will have to have all the bones in my right foot fused together in order to support my body weight. I’ve already started breaking bones due to the weakness in them, and have had 2 surgeries on it already trying to repair the broken bones. I do have 3 sons, one is doing what he can by making sure he buys his own food, but his limited income isn’t able to do more than that. My youngest son is severely Bi-Polar and I have always cared for him as he is unable to find work due to his condition. And being 21 years old he eats like you wouldn’t believe. My other son is also Bi-Polar and not currently working, he has just moved back home in order to take care of the housework and cooking for me so that I can rest and concentrate on getting well. God Bless him he has also found a job and intends on helping out with the household bills so that Jimmy can slow down a little before he ends up with a heart attack which would really mess things up. Needless to say, Im a mess. Again, George, I love you man, you have shown me more love, encouragement, and self sacrifice than I have ever experienced in my life. Usually when people know about my condition, they assume Im a hypochondriac or worse, just avoid me, and you have always been there with open arms ready with a big hug and genuine concern. I cant tell you how much that means to me. Karen I'm trying to get as many people invovled as I can! So,if anybody has any suggestions about raising money to help Mr. & Mrs. LoneWolf feel free to share them!! I'm trying to get Jack Daniels,Jager,Budweiser,& Miller to donate stuff for a auction the day of the run!So,if anyone wants to donate stuff to be auctioned off that will help too!! I will post more details to this thread as they come together! This is what I know right now!! Sept.17,2005 @ Big George's Bar & Grill in Plain City,Ohio We will be opening @ 9:30a.m.,& registration for the run will be from 10:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. with a $20.00 fee per rider!There will also be a 50/50 raffle at each bar to try to raise extra money!! When everybody returns to my place there will be a hog roast with all the trimmings, & 4 bands with LoneWolf doing the sound!(Band times still to be announced!)I hope there will be some other surprises too,but I can't tell you everything just yet! I will share one BIG SURPRISE with you though! Iron Horse will headline this show along with Karma10,Nevada Smith,& Bad Influence!!What a awesome evening this is going to be!! The guys jumped right on board when I went to them with this idea,& all of the bands are donating there performances out of respect for Jimmy & Karen!Very cool of all of them to be so willing to do what they can to help out! Class acts all the way!! I also believe there will be a leather vendor,patch vendor,& maybe a tattoo artist also!I'm also trying to get the Jack Daniels & Jager Girls to attend!!So,there will be plenty going on with the best dam band in the land closing the show!! One last thing,if you ride in the run! The $20.00 reg.fee covers the ride,hog roast,& the 4 bands!If you just show up for the hog roast & bands there will be a $5.00 cover charge!!Also,you don't have to have a motorcycle to be in the run,cars are welcome too!!The more people that reg.,the more money for Karen!!I believe 1st place will pay $500.00!! THIS IS THE DATE REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER!!RAIN OR SHINE IT'S ON!!!! If anyone has any questions ask away!! This will be a special evening!So,come out support Jimmy & Karen & welcome the guys back home to P.C.!! Thanks For Your Time, Big George [Edited on 6-6-2005 by BIG_GEORGE]

This is Keith Miller of Karma10 and it is an Honor for our band to play this show! Lonewolf has done alot for our band as has Big George. I was raised in Plain City and I know the good people of this town. We will do our part to make this a night to remember and to help out Jimmy and Karen. To all the guys in Iron Horse (You have our upmost respect!) . I have chatted w/Ronnie a couple times and i have followed your career from Stealer to Keel to Iron Horse. Geno , you are a class act my friend and I hope you'll join us for a tune bro. Thanks to Iron Horse for setting the standard and let's give back to our family! Keith Miller (Karma10)