Former AAW President Phil Brennion is an inspiration to many in
the woodturning world.
You may know Phil from his five productive years as an AAW board
member and two years as AAW president. Or perhaps as the accomplished
turner and teacher from Chino Valley, Arizona. Or maybe as a co-owner
of Van Gogh's Ear, a successful crafts gallery in Prescott. Or
from one of his sparkling articles in American Woodturner or WOOD
magazine. Or maybe as someone who enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and
hunting with Phil in western states.
One thing for sure: If you know Phil, you know a person who makes
the most of each day. And you no doubt have been inspired by his
determination.
Phil's mobility challenges began in 1982 with an ill-performed
chiropractic procedure (the chiropractor soon abandoned his practice).
Since then, Phil has endured eight surgeries on his neck and hips.
A weaker soul would have thrown in the towel, but not Phil. He
found the strength to soldier forward and continue his giving
back to the woodturning community, often to the determinant of
his own career.
An ominous ninth surgery in July 2007 brought Phil once again
to life's edge. A surgical team at Barrow Neurological Institute
in Phoenix performed an emergency 10-hour procedure to de-tether
his spinal cord. Following his latest surgery, Phil was paralyzed
from the neck down. He then spent 107 days in the hospital and
neurological wing floor. Five hours of therapy consumed large
chunks of every day.
He is now at home and spends nine hours a week with occupational
and physical therapists who are working with Phil to regain movement.
Because he is a quadriplegic with no little hand movement, Phil
has a high-tech wheelchair that he steers with his head by sensory
pads.
Phil's family is optimistic that he will regain movement in hands
and legs with time (doctors say it can take up to two years to
see what movement will be regained). In recent weeks, Phil has
had occasional mobility in his left arm and sporadic movement
in both feet, which is encouraging.
Friends
of Phil: It's your turn to help
In
spite of healthcare insurance, the uncovered medical and therapy
expenses have exhausted the Brennion finances. For example, by
the end of May, Phil will have depleted the therapy allotments
for 2008.
To help meet expenses not covered by insurance, a "Friends
of Phil" checking account has been set up at a Chino Valley
bank.
If you're able to help this generous and caring woodturner, please
send a check (payable to Brennion Account 778853713) to:
Chase
Bank AZ1-0536
31
Butterfield Road
Chino
Valley, AZ 86323
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