I just received this e mail this morning, our prayers go to Russ and his family, Bob
This is to let everyone know about Russ Potter's health status as relayed from Brian Cress. He went in for a hip replacement today but the surgery was not done. He went into cardiac arrest from either the anesthetic or the spinal tap. It took 9 minutes to get him back. Russ was air-lifted to Champaign at some point.


They have him sedated and on life support to control his vitals. Their first treatment is to chill his body for 24 hours, then warm him to normal body temperature for 24 hours more. This is supposed to reduce the neurological damage. After that 48hours, they will begin to back him out of the life support and test for neurological damage.


Its going to be a long road, but they are optimistic at this point. Please keep Russ, Mary, and the whole Potter family in your thoughts and prayers.


Susan

God Bless Russ and His Family, our prayers are with him.

Saying prayers

Russ & Mary mean so much to many of us; prayers for sure.

My sincere best wishes for Russ's recovery and prayers to the family. Sorry to have unknowingly called a few days ago about my carburators whereabouts, feel like a total ass, did not know. I had some great conversations with Russ in the past and hope to have a great many more to come. Best wishes! Frank

So sorry to learn of this. Will be sure to include Russ and family in my prayers.

Very sorry to hear this news, prayers to the Family.

Frank; no need to be sorry for something you/we didn't know, most all of us did not know ether.

My thoughts and prayers to Russ and family. Please keep the forum up dated.

Prayers sent. I have had the privilege of owning and using Russ's carburetor rebuilds. Top notch all the way.

Russ Potter is a good man. I was aware that he was having problems with his leg, but not aware of pending hip surgery. I have already prayed for him and will continue to do so. Russ is one of the good people in the MTFCA.

Russ is a good friend. I pray for his recovery.

I have purchased carburetors from Russ, mostly recently at Chickasha in March. Excellent workmanship.

My Prayers are with Russ and his family.

Sorry to hear that and wish him the best. He's a good guy.

Thanks for letting everyone know, Bob.

Best wishes for full recovery from Denmark

Bob, Thank you for letting us know.
I have never met or dealt with him myself, wrong side of the country (me, not him). However his stellar reputation I know is well earned, and he has been a member of our extended model T family for a long time. Prayers definitely!
I worry every time someone I know goes in for any kind of surgery. With all the improvements in medical care over the past couple decades, any surgery still contains an element of risk. We always hope it doesn't happen. But sometimes it does. That fact still is and probably always will be unavoidable. Here is hoping for a fast and full recovery.

Praying for grace and a full recovery.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Adding him to my prayers. My gosh, too much of this these days.

I wish them the best and hope all goes well. Having a loved one on life support is not easy to watch. Dave

Praying here too. Russ is one of a kind and I am hoping it is God's will that he can stay with us awhile longer.

Russ is a fighter and I'm praying he'll win this one too. After knowing him and dealing with him for 30+ years we have become good friends and always find time for a visit at Hershey either at his spot or mine. He is truly a great guy and a major contributor to our hobby. Sure hope he wins this battle.

Russ is a great man and everyone here at Lang's is sending prayers and thoughts to him and his family. We talk every week and I was very happy to tell him a couple of weeks ago what I thought about him when I first started working at Lang's.

When he calls our office, he calls himself "Al Capone". When I first started working for Lang's many years ago, this gruff scary man named Al Capone always called for Don. He was very intimidating and I really thought his name was Al. It wasn't until much later that I learned the name Russ Potter. Flashing forward to today, we chat at least once a week about carb stuff. He has been an amazing asset to the Model T World and he is tough as nails. Tougher than the real Al Capone. That is for sure. He has a big heart and a good sense of humor. So glad so many people know him.

Our thoughts and prayers here go out for Russ and Family.

My prayers are going out to Russ and his family right now! God Bless and God Speed to a quick recovery Russel!

Russ has been a great asset to the Model T community. In addition to the high quality of his carb work, he has a generous heart. Each year he donates a beautiful carb for the International Youth Auction. I was given the "cooks tour" of his workshop and his collection which covers an entire wall (50 ft long and 8 ft high) when I was on my way out to Montana last summer. He and Mary will continue to be in my prayer.

I wish full recovery.

Russ is a real gentlemen. All our best wish to him and his family.

Hello everyone. I am Russ's son in law, Red. Thank you all for your prayers and kind words. They are greatly appreciated. The doctors were able to work with Russ for the first time this afternoon. He responded very well when asked to move his hands and feet. They were very pleased and optimistic! Tomorrow they plan to remove his ventilator and continue to evaluate his condition. I will update you all with any significant changes in his condition. Once again, thank you all for your support.

Thank you for the update Red.
Prayers sent for a good day tomorrow.

Thank you Brian C. A lot of people here genuinely care, wait and wonder. I know that this is a very difficult time for you and your family. But we do appreciate an occasional update.
Do take care of you and yours.

Red
Thanks

We'll be keeping Uncle Russ in our thoughts too. Red, you probably already know this, but your Dad is a special person, they don't make 'em like him anymore!

Thanks Red. Russ is tops. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

The best way to describe Russ and Marry are part of the family. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Know that your in our thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the update, Red.

Thank you, Red.

wonderful news red! come on russ, you can do this! we still got some T time to do!

Red, I hope all comes out well for you and your family.

Tom

Russ has made a fair amount of progress today. His ventilator has been removed, he is awake and alert. He recognizes family and knows his name. He wants to go home already! LOL! Rumor has it he had a late night visit from freighter Jim and Skeeter Hidy. God bless you guys. While he has made great improvement, we still have a ways to go.

Thanks Red.

Again, Thank You!

Thanks Red! So happy things are looking brighter.
We will continue our prayers.
I wish the best for my friend Russ!

Wonderful news! Thanks fir the update.

The best of wishes for a complete recovery

I am very shocked and saddened to hear about Russ and what he is going thru. I have known Russ and Mary for years. We have been on a lot of MTFCI tours together. He has rebuilt a lot of carbs for me. Every year at Hershey, his flea Market spot, is always a stop for me.He is a very honest and good man. Russ your are in my thoughts !!!

Keep up the fight Russ. Your a winner. We are all praying for you. Glen Chaffin

Russ, you and I have yet to meet as I'm somewhat new to the Forum, but reading the comments I can see that you are well thought of and loved by many in the T community. Hang in there and get well soon. Strangers as well as friends are praying for you.

I talked with Red this morning and things seem to be getting better, we are all hoping for the best quick recovery, Bob

Mr. Potter was in the ICU when I stopped by.

I left something for him at the Nurses Station.

I have not met him but his influence crosses all borders.

The World needs more folks like him.

FJ

Jerry is right: too much of this now days. Prayers to Russ and his family.

looking at his FaceBook page he's had the tubes pulled and is wanting to get out and go home....always a good sign.

Jerome, Thanks for posting this good news. Like the rest I wish a speedy recovery for Russ!

Russ had a rough evening last night. He was very frustrated and wanting to go home. He is much better today. They are removing some of his IV's, and slowly reducing his medications. More poistive progress. Say a prayer for the Barth family. We are saddened by their loss.

Sounds like he is receiving the very best medical treatment- I wish him well!

Thanks for the update Red. Starting to sound a bit like the "old" Russ already, and that's a great sign. Hope he gets a chance soon to see this thread and realize just how many people are genuinely concerned for their friend. Bruce

This just goes to show the risks attendant to any surgery.
I had a hip replaced two years ago.Only had 20% range of motion left.Anterior method.FABULOUS results. Walked PAIN FREE 14 hours after surgery.
Russ is a fabulous person.I used to pick rebuildable cores for him.He treated me much more than fair.
May he have a rapid recovery.And proceed with the replacement surgery,if he so desires.

Had a nice visit with Russ last night. Renee and I were in Rantoul, IL at a graduation party for one of our Foster gals who graduated from U of I. Decided to drive over to see Russ if they would let us in and the head nurse said it was OK. We meant to get there sooner but Renee and I had a nice visit with him around 8:30 in the evening. He wants to get out of there and back to his shop that is for sure and he seemed rather in good health despite what he had been through. He is a bit sore mostly he thinks from just laying in bed and I can relate to that just about any morning when I get up. He is very appreciative of all the prayers and good wishes. He is not out of the woods yet but it was very encouraging to see him alert and we talked about old times and such. He is a real credit to our hobby and just crusty enough to be likable that way ha ha. We had about an hour visit with him and as we left I noticed the nurse outside had a big smile on her face and I suspect she was eves dropping on the conversation. I was glad to see that she too was grinning. To me there was good reason for hope that all is going to be OK but it will probably take time. I am getting old and impatient too so I could understand he wanted to get back to his shop.

That's a great report, John. Thank goodness Russ is getting better.

That's good news, John. Thank you for going by to see him and for reporting to us here.

Thanks for the up-date John. You nailed it with the "just crusty enough to be likable" comment, as I was trying to find a phrase that fit Russ to a "T", that didn't sound rude or harsh. Many many years ago I bought a Holley G from Russ that had a problem and I phoned him for information. Good thing the call wasn't recorded as Russ "tuned me up" about carburetors in no uncertain terms and had me send the carb back to him. I picked it up in Hershey that fall and got another quick lesson in carbs from Russ, all the time with that little grin during his narrative, and we've been good fiends ever since.

So glad to hear things are headed in the right direction. We will continue to be praying for him.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Sounds good for Russ and I am glad about that. Remember that Russ is a professional who rebuilds carburetors that are like jewelry and hard to put on a car to use. More important and not mentioned; Russ donates several rebuilds each year for youth at no charge if they meet his guidelines and has done that for years, I think he is the only one who does that and it speaks to his character.

Yes Russ is "just crusty enough to be likable" and I also didn't know how to make that comment...Russ doesn't tolerate any nonsense from anyone so turn that on Russ and get mad at it. Russ can be anyone's best friend but can also school you quick and get you right in line. I like a man who has no "grey area", his boundaries are quite clear.

I hope the "Carb King" is back in the shop soon and my prayers are also sent daily.

Tim Moore

such great news john! so glad you were able to see him.

Love to see these updates! Thank you guys for posting.

Russ was finally moved from ICU to a regular room late yesterday. He is scheduled to receive a pace maker today. If things go as planned, he will likely be discharged on Wednesday. All things considered, his progress has come along quite well. It will take some time to fully understand how this event has affected him both mentally and physically. But at this point it appears that the effects are minimal. Thank you all for your thoughtful prayers.

Prayers are powerful. Thank you Lord for Russ's healing.

I guess the old saying still holds:

"Ya can't keep a good man down."