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As I write this, a friend, mentor, and one of my Rabis is in an induced coma in the ICU in Forsyth Hospital in Winston-Salem. Jim Paw-Paw Wilson is one of the best Blacksmiths I've known, as well as an author.
Below is his last posting on the smithing site. I know him well enough to know he would want it here too, just because his experience might save somebody else.
Since he posted this back on the 4th or 5th, he has been in 2 hospitals, and is now in an induced coma fighting for his life.

""Ain't no fun at ALL!

It was almost funny last night. Sheri was talking to our daughter (LPN) and her comment was, "I'm on my way!" Like many medical personnell, she doesn't trust anyones diagnosis but her own.

After determing that all my vitals (except temperature {102} and blood pressure {109/59}) were within normal limits and that there was no pneumonia she and her mother made me go to bed. While I was laying there, I suddenly remembered burning off some galvanized pipe, and called out to Avis, "Avis, go on line and check out the symptomology for metal fume fever!"

Shortly she came storming into the bedroom, saying, "You nailed it daddy, what the HELL have you been doing?!?"

The conversation deteriorated a good bit after that.

She's not afraid to chew daddy out. (wry grin)

She said (among many other things) that what made it worse was that I KNEW better!

I feel a bit better today than I did last night. Should be over it by tomorrow.

But many thanks to all for careing. ""

Jim got himself in this situation by burning the galvinize off some water pipe in his forge. As he says, he knew better.

Hopefully, the old coot will be out of the hospital and back at the forge soon, so he can continue to pass on a lifetime of wisdom.

If you learn nothing else from this posting, please learn Zink Fume Poisoning can and will get you without warning.

The rest of the story


Friday the 13th of May 2005

Jim 'PawPaw' Wilson has passed away today due to complications from his fume fever. Jim is survived by his wife Sheri, 4 children and 27 foster children

He died of respiratory failure after a bout of pneumonia trigerred by zinc fume fever.

Words that come to mind remembering Jim; Patriot, Blacksmith, Chairman of Cybersmiths International and author of The Revolutionary Blacksmith, Warrior and Teacher to many, and lover of Dobermans. He left me a whole lot smarter than he found me, and for that alone, I'm glad I knew him. Winston Salem will be a quieter place without the ring of Jim's anvil.

The great saddness here is that Jim's death was preventable. He'd be the first to say so, and chew ya out for burning galvanized. He was the kind of man who posted pictures of the damage to himself when he tangled with a wirewheel a while back, pecking away with one hand so others could learn from it. http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/safety/index.htm

Rest in peace Jim.
http://www.pawpawsforge.com/


Jim's funeral will begin at 5pm on 16 May. If you have an anvil, let it ring to send him off.