Update on Doug Lewis
 

Doug is doing great. Transplant is scheduled for Sept. 18. He passed several tests that have allowed him to become the fifth recipient of a new radioactive drug being tested in a phase 2 study around the country. So far so good.

Click here for:
FOR CHARITY LINKS CLICK HERE

This is for Doug as well as others that are in a time of need....

New Update 7-4-04

It's Official from Leeanne!!!
We're coming home! The doctors released Doug from the "Hutch" at 1:00 p.m. today; we leave for NJ tomorrow morning. Doug is in total remission! While he still has a long recuperation period ahead, he has already made tremendous progress in regaining his energy and strength. The doctors told us "he turned the corner quickly". Doug doesn't have to come back to Seattle until next September for his first anniversary check up.

Thanks to ALL of you for helping to make his treatment possible. We couldn't have done it without any of you. Doug and I will never forget the outpouring of concern and well wishes, the love, the caring or thoughtfulness that you sent our way. We especially thank you for your generosity whether it was time spent sending us email or funny stories, calling on the cell or donating to the Doug Lewis MM Foundation; for everything we are truly grateful and indebted to each of you.

Thank you from both of us.

Doug & Leeanne Lewis

Good to know he's doing well...:)

Thanks for the update Tim! :cool:

Good news!!! :)

I wish Doug the very Best .:)

GREAT NEWS thanx sharkey for the update

great news GOOD LUCK DOUG!!!!

The Latest as of Sept 17th
 

September 17, 2002

Hi Everyone:

Today was the day that each of you helped make happen. Doug's transplant was completed at 11:04 a.m. PT. At the moment he's snoozing off some of the drugs they've given him to reduce the effects of the preservative used to freeze his cells. (The preservative smells like creamed corn and has permeated the entire room and everything in it!) He is doing well and is expected to keep doing well. The doctors have told us that he is an extraordinary person and patient (but we all knew that).

The next 10 days are critical in that it takes that long for his new stem cells to start producing white cells that make up his immune system. The gentleman that had this same protocol before Doug was not hospitalized during his treatment, and of course Doug being the competitive person he is, has decided to accept this challenge and also stay out of the hospital although it is quite common to go in.

It is too soon to anticipate when we will get Doug's "walking" papers but we should know in about 2 more weeks based on how well he is doing and if he had to be hospitalized for any infections. A tentative date is sometime in October.

Please be sure to pass the good word. Thanks again for everything each of you has done to make this all possible. Doug and I are extremely grateful to each of you for your generosity, thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Leeanne & Doug

For more info, click on these two links: T2x's thread... and also
CHARITY LINKS[COLOR=red]

DOUG, glad to hear the surgery went well.

Get well soon!!!

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

Skaterfest will have a new meaning this year.

Stay tuff Doug
Randy

Good to hear he is doing well. We need him out soon to keep up on that kick ass web site that he has started!!! :D:D Get well buddy!!! :D:D

Jon

Website?:confused: :confused: Did I miss something...?

Doug I have read your Medical procedure a Couple times and Wow!!

I pray everything is going well and will stop by the Shop one Day to offer congratulations in Person!

God Bless and Take Care
Steve

t

THE GENEROSITY CONTINUES
 

An article off of H20 Performance:

Performance News

$10,000 for Doug Lewis puts Racer Charity Work at Top of Victory Lane


by Michelle May Schmidt

Corpus Christi, Texas - - Fans expecting to see millions of dollars of high tech race boats weren’t disappointed as competitors from across the country headed to Corpus Christi for the Allen Samuels Chevrolet Powerboat Shootout!! Surprisingly enough, what most fans weren’t aware of, is that the prize money barely covers the cost of fuel to get these rigs, boats and trailers to the show. Despite that, many teams dedicate whatever prize money they do get, to the charities that each race event supports.

Barkley Geib, organizer of the Worlds Largest Poker Run at Lake Lanier, Georgia stepped up to the plate this year and donated $5,000.00 to one of the Shootout!! Charities, Halo Flight. Although he was unable to attend this year as an Official Paceboat for the race, he sent his donation instead. "Winning doesn’t end at the finish line, it’s about all about the people you can help along the way," he said. He isn’t alone in his thinking.

In addition to donating thousands of dollars to race charities from coast to coast, race teams also provide a smile and a ride for numbers of children who are less fortunate, either afflicted with a life threatening disease or suffering from neglect and abuse. One such "hometown hero" is powerboat-racing dentist, Dr. Gerardo Santiago from Naples, Florida, who, as part of his 2002 Child Smile America Tour, headed to Corpus Christi to give rides to the children from the Coastal Bend Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The event also marked his return to the offshore racing circuit, earning his first checkered flag of the season in his P4 -"Zero Cavity" raceboat.

Teamed up with Santiago for the rides were Brian Hollis, Louise Whitmore and Greg Sanders in their 38’ Cigarette Top Gun "Powerboat Tours.com" who also added a checkered flag to their credit. Just ask Camden Naismith, the Texas state spokesperson for MDA, who along with Dad, James and brother John, were given a ride on the Powerboat Tours.com raceboat, while Mom, Andrea and sister, Sara, watched from shore. Camden, 9, was able to take the morning off from his studies at the Robert Wilson Elementary School to meet the teams. It also gave him the opportunity to take a break from his disease, diagnosed just two years ago.

"All he kept asking was when do we go," says his Mom, Andrea. "He likes speed and he wanted to go fast," she said. Camden did just that, even getting a chance to drive the boat. "I made a big circle," he said with a big smile, and it’s just that smile that encourages the racers to keep on giving. "The real victory is on the water providing rides for the kids," said Hollis.

H20 Performance.com and the Offshore Racing Review also teamed up with Elaine Motl, Producer of the Allen Samuels Chevrolet Powerboat Shootout!! to raise funds for Doug Lewis of Professional Marine Racing, a rigger well known to the pit crews and teams as part of the Shockwave and In Contempt teams. Doug recently was diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer, Multiple Myeloma (MM), which strikes only 1% of those people that get cancer. While Lewis and his wife Leeann prepare for a transplant necessary for his survival in Seattle, Washington, their offshore family members donated Race Team Souvenirs for a raffle and auction that raised $10,000.00 for the Lewis Family.

"Your message blew Doug and I away. The generosity of people we know, let alone those we don't, will never cease to amaze us. I was told to expect a miracle on the fourth day and here it is! Thank you for your efforts in making it possible. We're very excited about a new treatment Doug is undergoing and we pray for the miracle of prolonged life with an excellent quality of life. The doctors are very encouraged by Doug's stamina, overall general good health and sense of humor. I believe it can happen. Thank you and thanks to all those wonderful people that contributed their time and money to help us. We will never forget this."

Although unable to attend the event, a generous contribution of $5,000.00 was made by Barkley Geib, organizer of the Worlds Largest Poker Run at Lanier Harbor Marina and Poker Run.com. A donation made by Poker Runs America, brought in over $2,400.00 in an auction bid by Brian Hollis and Louise Whitmore of Powerboat Tours.com and Tal Marine. A donation made by Powerboat Magazine brought in a bid of $1,700.00 from Slug Hefner of the Dirty Duck Racing Team. Additional monies came from prizes including a Tom Newby Photo Poster Photo Shot of the New York Super Boat Grand Prix in front of the World Trade Center Twin Towers; a Ride in the Zero Cavity Racing Bat Boat and a Reindl Powerboats Racing Day School. Team prizes were donated from Over The Edge Motorsports Offshore Racing Review, H20Performance.com, PokerRun.com, Zero Cavity Racing, Competitive EDGE Marine, Velocity Racing, Race Girl retail wear, Speedwear F2 Racing, UTZ Quality Foods SVL, Rick Bowling's Jelly Belly Gone Again, Snap-On Talk'n Tools F2, CK Motorsports - Cat Can Do, How Sweet It Is Too, American Racing Wheels, In M'Ocean Again, Critical Lift, ILMOR Racing Engines, Ft. Myers Offshore Gran Prix and the Bravo Shop. 2002 Race Program Books and one year subscriptions to Poker Runs America Magazine were also donated by Taylor Publishing Group.

"This race was a tribute to Jack Carmody, who was fatally injured in 2001. Jack was a Texan, a gentleman, and a fierce competitor with a heart of gold, who shared his kindness with many charities. What better way to keep his memory alive than to help one of our own," said Michelle May - Schmidt of H20 Performance, who headed up the project with partner Josh Stein. Special thanks go to Steve Schmidt, Pat Cross, Karen Benson and Rod Hall for their help with the raffle.

"We have legions of competitors who dedicate their time and money to helping others through racing and they should be applauded for the checkered flags they so generously bring to the hearts of those they help. There is no greater Victory Lane than that."

Sharkey I was wondering how he was doing. That is a really great thing that the guys did for him at the races. Also equally worthy of note is what Dr. Santiagor and Brian Hollis are doing with the rides :D:D Good job guys. Sharkey keep us posted and hopefully he is still fighting as hard as ever to get better faster then anyone would imagine :D:D

Jon

Jon, He has been running a little HOT. Fever that is... But that is to be expected with his immune system down so low. Whatever info I get on him I will keep you all posted. So far so good!!! Thanks to everyone for all the support. It really goes a long way... :cool: :cool: :cool:

Sharkey,

Jennifer started the ball rolling a while ago with this web site. She continued to do so at the SBI race in NY by getting racers to auction off a poster for 3K. I think she deserves a lot of credit as does Kurt Burger for getting taking the lead with having racers donate thier winnings to Doug's cause. At all OPA races, money was raised to help Doug and his family. It's great to see that other race locations have taken up the cause as well.

Here is the web site.

http://www.powerboatingcharities.com/

I totally agree RonP... I have been trying to stay on top of this as much as possible to keep spreading the word. The more the better. In fact, the page on my site was the starter page until Jennifer was able to get hers up and running. I was very happy to see her @ NY and raise the money with the poster. The event that took place after the Point race, I wasn't sure she was going to be able to keep up with her work after she had said she was having to sub some of it out. It was great to see her there with such great strength.
Ron, perhaps you have a contact to reach Kurt @ home. Doug & Leeanne would like to give him a call. If so, could you email it to them?

You've got mail!

THANKS!!!! ;)

Doug,

Good luck with the new treatments. We will continue to keep you in our prayers!

From the entire Reindl Powerboats team.

GREAT NEWS!!! FROM LEEANNE
 

Here is the latest from Leeanne!!!


Hi Everyone!

Doug was released from the hospital this afternoon after 10 days. He was admitted due to a high fever (104.7) of unknown origin. The poor guy was subjected to more intense tests and CAT scans that all revealed - NOTHING! That's the good news. He has no hidden problems, so that is a great relief to me. Now that his temps are back to normal the docs believe he had a reaction to the antiobiotics they were giving to prevent him from getting any infections while his immune system was down. We learned he has drug allergies the hard way!

Thank you all so much for staying in touch with us while we're in Godforsaken SEATTLE. I've printed your get well wishes and have read them all to Doug. They also help me feel a more connected to the "real" world.

As some of you may already know, the docs anticipate our going home in 2-3 weeks provided, of course, no more surprises come up. Doug needs a couple more days before he'll begin to feel more like himself. After that you can call him on his cell phone at (732) 995-8523 if you'd like to say hi.

That's it from not-so sunny Seattle. Thank you all again and stay in touch!

Leeanne

WOW out of the hospital already!!! That is a strong determined buy!!! Way to go!!! Keep the faith and strenght.

Jon

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Throttles down!

Doug,
Keep up the fight! Godspeed and best wishes in your speedy recovery!
Dean

this is the first good news i think i've ever read on this site about someone who was running in the 100s and dropped back down to the 90s :D

glad to hear there is some major progress!!!! feel better.

Good one Puder!!!:D :D :D

I have to agree with Puder also. Couldn't have said it better.
Prayers are with you Doug!!

It's Official from Leeanne!!!
 

We're coming home! The doctors released Doug from the "Hutch" at 1:00 p.m. today; we leave for NJ tomorrow morning. Doug is in total remission! While he still has a long recuperation period ahead, he has already made tremendous progress in regaining his energy and strength. The doctors told us "he turned the corner quickly". Doug doesn't have to come back to Seattle until next September for his first anniversary check up.

Thanks to ALL of you for helping to make his treatment possible. We couldn't have done it without any of you. Doug and I will never forget the outpouring of concern and well wishes, the love, the caring or thoughtfulness that you sent our way. We especially thank you for your generosity whether it was time spent sending us email or funny stories, calling on the cell or donating to the Doug Lewis MM Foundation; for everything we are truly grateful and indebted to each of you.

Thank you from both of us.

Doug & Leeanne Lewis

Here is more about Doug for those that may not know him: Doug Lewis

Feb 2004 Update
 

Up until December 2003, Doug has been doing great. I have since received this letter from his wife Leeanne. Please keep them both in your prayers. Doug is strong and a fighter. He is doing the best he can do as best as he knows how. God Bless him........

Here is a Link to a webpage I created for Doug:Doug Lewis' Progress

Wow, what a fighter. God bless you Doug. Our prayers are with you.

Not much change yet. Doug was running around 102 all day.....:(
Please keep the prayers coming...

Our thoughts and prayers are with Doug and his family.

Update for today.

Doug's temp has dropped to 99 and change.

He was in better spirits today while spending some time with Pat Patell & DPT Motorsports.

Great News !!!! See you in a couple hours!!;)

Update:
 

Doug is now home and feeling much better. He and Leeanne appreciate all the support.

He still has some things to get back to working 100% and is in the process of doing so.

It looks like he will be making another trip out to Seattle where the doctors will take plenty good care of him.

I'll keep everyone updated when I know more.

Glad to see he is back home! :cool: :cool: :cool:

Welcome Home Doug!!!!

Great News!!:D