#1063900 - 06/24/24 10:50 AM
Doc Estalilla
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River Nutrients
Registered: 04/25/00
Posts: 4986
Loc: East of Aberdeen, West of Mont...
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6/24/2024
For those that know Francis, he was about ready to retire. Retirement to Doc meant fishing LOTS, Columbia, Willapa, Chehalis, Westport, Neah Bay, Alaska and LOTS of clam digging.
Well all that is going to be "put on hold" for many months. He called me, 8/23/2024, said he had some fresh caught ling cod he wanted to share with me. He told me to come over anytime I wanted, that he'd be working around his garage area....this phone call was around 4 p m, I decided to go over just after 5 p m....this time bit is important because of what happen to "Doc".
When I got there Doc wasn't to be seen, got out of my car and heard "Bill, Bill, you need to help me........most don't know this but I can't walk without the use of a walker, or use 2 wading poles because of a balance problem. I went around the edge of his garage, Doc was lying on the ground by his brothers boat and trailer. He said he broke his leg in 2 places, and that it just happen in the last 5 minutes.
He had gotten up in his brothers boat, had to move a canvas, took a step, got stung by a hornet, and could hear others. He jump out of the boat, landed on a raised edging of the concrete parking area AND THEN ROLLED ABOUT 20 FEET DOWN A HILL, he knew he had broken his leg but he didn't know how bad he was, pulled himself up the hill, over the curbing and then just laid there.....phone was a long ways away......I drive in, see and hear Doc lying on ground, he needs his phone.....got it, he called a neighbor who is always home, not yesterday, called another person, guy came right over, cut a piece of cardboard, put around his leg and then ductaped it in place. The guy pulled him close to the car door, then started closing garage doors, etc. Doc pulled himself into the car.....
Bottom line, he had called Community Hospital, told them to get ready for him, he texted me this morning...he's at Harborview in Seattle.....his comment "BAD break" and he was just going into surgery.
Just glad I arrived when I did!!!!!! That's all I know
I'm sure he might do a followup.....but it might be awhile..
_________________________
"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"
"I thought growing older, would take longer"
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#1063901 - 06/24/24 12:17 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 2952
Loc: Olalla, WA
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Sure glad you went over when you did.....hope Doc recovers well so he he can get back to keepin on.
_________________________
Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours......Gordon Lightfoot Damn Stam! Remember, Ask yourself "What would Stam do?"
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#1063905 - 06/24/24 02:12 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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Thanks for more detail. Doc posted an x-ray of it. It seemed rather poor planning to retire and then break your damn leg. Here's to a speedy recovery.
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#1063906 - 06/24/24 03:02 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Carcass
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 2379
Loc: Valencia, Negros Oriental, Phi...
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Doc, get better soon!
_________________________
"You're not a g*dda*n looney Martini, you're a fisherman"
R.P. McMurphy - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
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#1063909 - 06/24/24 08:36 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: FleaFlickr02]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4434
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope
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Get well and will be waiting for a picture you in a cast at the tiller!
_________________________
Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in
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#1063910 - 06/24/24 09:01 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 03/06/14
Posts: 273
Loc: Tumwater
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Knowledgeable, articulate, committed and informed guy. We need more like him. Heal up fast.
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#1063914 - 06/26/24 02:41 AM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Ornamental Rice Bowl
Registered: 11/24/03
Posts: 12612
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Thanks, Billiam!
DrifterWA and freeglobbin… CLEARLY my heroes that day!
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey) "If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman) The Keen Eye MDLong Live the Kings!
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#1063915 - 06/26/24 07:29 AM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 04/25/00
Posts: 4986
Loc: East of Aberdeen, West of Mont...
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6/26/2024
Just glad I got there when I did, didn't do much but was able to get your phone for you.....
You want me to have someone get rid of that "nest of hornets"???? Might as well do it sooner, rather than later.....
Had Ling Cod for dinner, last night... Used a internet recipe, it was a great dinner!!!!!
_________________________
"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"
"I thought growing older, would take longer"
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#1063916 - 06/26/24 10:38 AM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Repeat Spawner
Registered: 12/06/07
Posts: 1376
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Oh man! So sorry to hear. Transitioning to retirement is one thing. My older buddy mentioned how is Apple watch saved his ass when he fell outside, was alone, phone in the house and couldn't move. I'm considering getting one. Best wishes for a speedy and successful recovery to enjoy retirement.
_________________________
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller. Don't let the old man in!
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#1063920 - 06/26/24 06:21 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Dick Nipples
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 27838
Loc: Seattle, Washington USA
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But Bill, did you get stung by any hornets?
Stopped by the trauma ward and saw the good Doc today, he will not be doing any downhill skiing for a bit, but spirits were good and life goes on!
Fish on...
Todd
_________________________
![](http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq90/ToddRipley/newav1.jpg) Team Flying Super Ditch Pickle
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#1063921 - 07/03/24 03:49 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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Any news on how the recent surgery went on the good Doc?
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#1063922 - 07/03/24 05:25 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Dah Rivah Stinkah Pink Mastah
Registered: 08/23/06
Posts: 6198
Loc: zipper
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His surgery went well, it looks like they had to do a lot to fix it with plates and screws. Now starts the long journey of PT and healing.
_________________________
... Propping up an obsolete fishing industry at the expense of sound fisheries management is irresponsible. -Sg
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#1063936 - 07/15/24 10:19 AM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Ornamental Rice Bowl
Registered: 11/24/03
Posts: 12612
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07/15/24 UPDATE:
Better by the day, but a LONG ways from the finish line.
Able to mobilize to $h!t/wipe for myself. Can stand for up to 15 minutes at a time to prep/cook. Able to transfer in/out of a wheelchair alone, and let myself out of the cage. Getting back in, I still need help.
Spent a few hours each of the past two days restocking rolls of salmon trolling leaders and droppers, and doing assorted other tackle craft. My Fb friends can see it there.
Range of motion goes from locked straight to just over 70 degrees of flexion at the knee. Hope to be at 90+ degrees by the end of the work week.
Essentially pain free and taking only minimal (2-3) doses of Vicodin (hydrocodone) a day and tapering down. Suspect I won't need any by the end of the week.
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey) "If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman) The Keen Eye MDLong Live the Kings!
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#1063937 - 07/15/24 11:42 AM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 04/25/00
Posts: 4986
Loc: East of Aberdeen, West of Mont...
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7/15/2024
Now that's a good report.....good for you,
Knee at 90 degree is a good goal!!!!
Pain free, how well I remember "that Sunday afternoon", not much comment from you, at that time...and I know it must have been "hurting BIG TIME"
_________________________
"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"
"I thought growing older, would take longer"
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#1063938 - 07/15/24 12:56 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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Glad for the progress, especially weaning off the drugs. Keep up the progress.
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#1063939 - 07/15/24 03:11 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: DrifterWA]
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Carcass
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 2379
Loc: Valencia, Negros Oriental, Phi...
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Keep on healing Doc!
_________________________
"You're not a g*dda*n looney Martini, you're a fisherman"
R.P. McMurphy - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
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#1063940 - 07/15/24 08:18 PM
Re: Doc Estalilla
[Re: eddie]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4434
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope
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Heal fast Doc!
_________________________
Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in
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