On March 27 the achilles tendon in my left foot tore while I was playing a volleyball game with my team at the Sheboygan YMCA. I immediately fell down in severe pain. I was taken to the emergency room at St Nicholas Hospital, but Doctor Gassner, the orthopedic surgeon, was not available until the next day. He looked at my heel..no achilles tendon.. and scheduled surgery for Monday, March 31. My foot is now in a cast and I am using crutches to get around.

I had a show opening at the University of Wisconsin, Sheboygan Fine Arts Gallery the week after my surgery. The exhibit Keep It Simple II was supposed to be installed on Saturday, two days after my accident. My wife Jane loaded the paintings into our Jeep and carried them into the Gallery for installation. Two friends…Chuck Ausavich and Judi Roblee.. helped install the 44 paintings. Chuck and Judi did a wonderful job hanging the paintings. Very professional. Thank You!!

I sat and greeted visitors at the Opening Reception on Thursday, April 10. I was so happy to see so many of you at the reception. Last Friday, Jane took down the exhibit and I packed them into the Jeep. I couldn’t do much with my leg in a cast and crutches.

My studio is on the second floor of my home, so I have not been up there to do any painting.

It has been almost four weeks since the surgery, but I am still feeling a lot of pain. It will be a long recovery. Whenever I get up from lying down, my foot hurts again. I have been able to return to work part-time, but it is difficult to keep my foot elevated above my heart. It doesn’t take long before my foot gets swollen and I need to go home and lie down.

Now you will understand if you don’t hear from me for awhile. Please pray for a swift healing/recovery for me.