This just in from Bruce Laidlaw, a/k/a The Weatherman. I swear, some people will do anything to show off their iPhones.
I am writing from my very nice room in Munson Hospital. My residence for the last week. The adventure started on the ski trails in Barnes Park. We had skied about 4 miles on trials that were so fast that I had barely worked up a sweat. Suddenly I could not suck in enough air to keep me going. Fortunately, the route to our place was mostly downhill, but when I got there, it was clear that a 911 call was needed. The Torch Lake Township ambulance has 4 wheel drive and it was able to negotiate our snowy and hilly driveway. I got to hear the siren blare as I was taken to Torchport Airport to meet a helicopter. I had my iPhone with me and it was a bright sunny evening; so I was able to record the trip.
A stop to look at the scenery half a mile from the start of the adventure.
View of the bay just after takeoff.
Torch Lake on my left.
The pilot.
Final approach to Munson.
Pictures of my insides reveal a large pulmonary embolism. A blood clot had traveled from my leg to my lungs. It was blocking most of the blood flow to the lungs. Fatal in most cases, but within 48 hours the clot had dissolved to the point I was ready to go home. But there was a new twist. Like all the patients in the Coronary Care ward I had leads on my chest hooked to a device that radioed heart activity to a central monitor. It showed that the heart was skipping an occasional beat while I was sleeping. Skip too many and there is big trouble. Yesterday, a pacemaker was inserted. No more skipped beats and I should be going home today.
I am grateful that they took Bruce’s iPhone away from him before wheeling him into surgery. I am also grateful that he is in excellent condition, and thus survived the Little Adventure. I am grateful for the nice ambulance with four-wheel drive that got up the snowy drive, and for the excellent EMS personnel who packaged Bruce up and hustled him off to the rendezvous with the Northflight helicopter, which is another dandy vehicle. I love stories with happy endings, don’t you?
Torch Lake Views 
giiid
March 9, 2010
Gerry, your friend seem to be a tough guy… taking photos under these circumstances….!
Best wishes for a stabile health to Bruce.
(Nice to see Torch lake from above despite the background for making them)
Gerry
March 9, 2010
It takes more than a little life-threatening emergency to keep Bruce from seeing an excellent photo opportunity. He can be very focused!
Reggie
March 9, 2010
That was a nail-biting story. Literally. I was sitting here biting my finger tips, because I was so tense!
I am sooo relieved that Bruce is okay.
And I think it’s extraordinary – and most entertaining – of him to take photos in the midst of all this drama!
Cindy Lou
March 9, 2010
I was thinking the same thing – here he is, winging his way on a MediFlite and taking pictures! Crazy guy! Glad all is well and thanx, Bruce, for the aerial views of your lovely corner of the world.
Gerry
March 9, 2010
Reggie, Cindy Lou, I have to agree.
p.j. grath
March 10, 2010
I too am glad we were spared photos from the OR, but my, what great shots from the air! Best wishes to Bruce for a speedy recovery and a big thank-you to him for the the photo-essay, too!
Bruce Laidlaw
March 10, 2010
They wouldn’t let me take my iPhone into the OR.
Gerry
March 10, 2010
And we are all deeply grateful for that. Hope you’re feeling fabulous this morning, Bruce. As you can see, your story captured a good deal of attention in these parts and beyond.
Beth Toner
March 11, 2010
Glad Bruce is OK — PEs=very, very bad. And I gotta tell you — hardy stock to be TAKING PICTURES during the whole thing! Go, Bruce.
Gerry
March 11, 2010
Isn’t that something? I would still be sitting by the side of the trail, resting. Maybe not, though, if Andi had been out there with me. She is good at inspiring action.
Victor Milt
January 24, 2011
Usually I HATE home movies and vacation fotos – but these are actually pretty good.
The story line is a little weak – no one would believe it – maybe if you were in a gun fight or something like that, it could be “fluffed up”.
I liked the one where you steal a MoPed and drive up into the hallway of the women’s dorm at the U of M – and then your room mate has to go to the jail and bail you out – and repair his sort of wrecked MoPed – much more tension in that one.
v
Gerry
January 24, 2011
Better visuals, too.