Rick would prefer no one knew this, as he likes to fly under the radar and not call attention to himself...but our fearless leader has just gone through triple bypass surgery. He is reported to be doing well. As someone who has gone through open-heart surgery myself, I know this can be a slow and somewhat painful recovery process. Let's offer him whatever encouragement we can to assist him through this.
Good luck, Rick. Hope you feel much better quickly and can get back to riding herd over the unchecked masses ASAP!
Ned, thanks for letting us know.
Best wishes to Rick, and I hope he gets back to WOT very soon!
Van
I hope you are doing well Rick, like cars we sometimes need a little restoration, I'm sure you will be like new soon. This is Andy Killian
I don't know the man/legend personally but well wishes and I hope your ok
Take care
Best wishes and a speedy recovery.
Doug
Quote from: Side-Oilers on May 14, 2020, 09:46:10 PM
Ned, thanks for letting us know.
Best wishes to Rick, and I hope he gets back to WOT very soon!
Van
Yes, I agree, hoping the best for him and Colleen
Rick is a fighter and survivor may times over. Sorry that he has this challenge. Wishing him a speedy recovery with lots of aloha to him and Coleen. 8)
Best wishes and a speedy recovery Rick
Chris
Quote from: JD on May 14, 2020, 10:07:04 PM
Quote from: Side-Oilers on May 14, 2020, 09:46:10 PM
Ned, thanks for letting us know.
Best wishes to Rick, and I hope he gets back to WOT very soon!
Yes, I agree, hoping the best for him and Colleen
^^^ Well said, and
+1 on all countsMark
Coleen take care of Rick!
get well soon.
Mongo
Best wishes to Rick and his family for a speedy recovery
Best wishes for a speedy recovery - and listen to your nurse!!!
Prayers for a full and speedy recovery.
Speedy recovery.
Best to you, Rick! Can't wait to have you back in the saddle again. 👍🏻
Get well soon Rick,
43 years ago you sent magazines, a Cobra post card and a Brochure from the US, and I sent
some Swedish magazines to you. We were young and beautiful then. now we are only and.
Texas Swede
yea here's to getting back in the saddle soon
So would this make him, tri powered then ?
Speedy recovery Rick
Brian
Wishing all the best and a a speedy recovery chief.Bob
Best wishes, get well soon!
Best wishes from germany Rick. Stay Strong.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Rick. Thank you for all you've done and all you continue do for the organization.
Terry in NH
Get well soon
Best wishes and full recovery to one of the toughest, grouchiest, and stubborn Shelby Guys I have known. Worked under him during his years running SAAC since the mid 1980's.
Besides, he's got to set the fashion tone for Hawaiian shirts!
Recover!
Stan & Peg wish you a speedy recovery from your "engine re-build"! Coleen's not going to let you goof off any more than absolutely necessary!
Get well soon
Quote from: Cobrask8 on May 15, 2020, 06:54:14 AM
Besides, he's got to set the fashion tone for Hawaiian shirts!
I don't think I have ever seen Ed without one either.
Speedy recovery to him.
Tell him the next articles go unedited and not fact-checked into the Shelby American quarterly and he'll be back on his feet in a millisecond.
Speedy recovery Rick, so u will be ready for a Fall or next years event. It wouldn't be the event without u my friend. Craig
Hurry and get well Rick. Then we can go back to pokin fun atcha.
Rick,
Been there and done that. 5 way bypass in December 2008 and still hanging in there today at 73 years. I hope that your surgical team will be as good as the one that I had. Also, a special thank you to Stanford Medical Center for a second opinion regarding a need for follow up surgery that was not necessary. I am sending our prayers and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to you. You will do fine.
Dennis
Get well soon...... DO everything Colleen says!
Rick, we met for the first time back at San Francisco for SAAC 43. I was pretty happy to finally meet "The Godfather" in person and I'm sure you were equally happy to meet me...... "The dogsled driving Canadian" ;D.
Get well and well see you at the next SAAC convention.
QSS
SAAC 43
QSS
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/249-150520102708.jpeg)
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.
Best wishes and looking forward to see you at the next convention.
Great job on the 68 Shelby Registry.
Best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery, Rick. You are
blessed to have a great nurse at your side!
Tom and Sue Honegger
Yeah bigfoot i don't have any kool Hawaiian shirts like Rick Kopec has mine are all car Hawaiian shirts that i wear with my crocs as i have found the hawaiian shirts to be cooler to wear when hot compared to cotton shirts. Get well Rick and we all hope for a speedy recovery!
All the best, Rick. Get better soon!
Rick, get well soon. We will see you at the next event this summer!
Lisa, Kim and Tiffany
Best wishes, and get well soon. Our prayers are for your quick recovery. Ron & Cheryl McWilliams
Prayers that you make a complete and speedy recovery, Rick!!!
Best regards,
Eric
Get well soon...GOT SOME ONE LINERS WAITIN'... ;D
Good Luck Rick!!!!!! My prayers are with you!
Chad Odom
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Rick!
Rick, in my thoughts and prayers and hopes for a speedy recovery. Am sure you'll keep smiles on your nurses with your great humor and wit!
Best wishes and a speedy recovery to you Rick!
Regards,Freddy
Rick,
For a guy tough enough to hold off Shelby's lawyers, you'll be back in record time. Best wishes to Mr. SAAC.
Cliff
Maybe his "First Responders" of Health Care Professionals should be this group?
Get well REAL soon, Rick! We're all thinkin' about you. Take care and warm up those car seats real soon!
Craig R.
No more Mexican food for you. Get well soon Brother
get will soon. Prayers coming your way
Here's to a full and speedy recovery Rick.
Rest up now to get back at it soon.
Darryll
Hoping for a fast, complete recovery Rick.
Best wishes & prayers.
Jim
I may need to get him some Hawaiian print hospital scrubs to wear. Yes, we do have them here. ;)
Adding my best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery from the SAAC guys down here in Virginia.
Get well Rick.
Richard E.
Best wishes Rick . I hope you have a speedy recovery. Gary
Who is Rick Kopec?
This picture from John Barnes hangs in my office and I chuckle every time I look at it. Who indeed! Get better soon Rick! I hope to meet you in person some day. ~Kevin
(https://www.saacforum.com/%5Bimg%20wdith=900%5Dhttps://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/153-060718173815.jpeg)
(https://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/153-060718173815.jpeg)[/img]
Best wishes and a prayer for a speedy recovery !
Get well quick Rick, thanks for all you do for our SAAC family!
Craig
Get well soon Rick, best wishes from across the pond.
Best wishes and a speedy recovery to you Rick!
Get well soon. Never meet you, but appreciate and thank you for what you have done for our hobby. Prayers
Best wishes and speedy recovery Rick. We all need a dose of your humor these days.
Rick, you still have many more miles left. Good to hear you are still with us.
Welcome Rick to a club none of us wanted to be a member of but a club that comes with a long membership renewal.
And pay attention to Colleen and your Dr's. They're your concors judges.
Looking forward to working with you again soon.
Bloody hell and get well old chap!
Cheers
Greg
Get well soon Rick!
Rick get well soon
Get well soon Rick
Turns out Rick developed pneumonia as well as an infection following his surgery. His doctors are working with him and hope for a quick turnaround. Let's all keep him in our thoughts!
Heal up soon. You are definitely in our thoughts.
Dave
Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Mr Kopec and our thoughts for his family too.Please Ned keep us informed .Thank you.
From someone who had quadruple bypass (widow maker) surgery two years ago, do everything they tell you to do, then push yourself to do more. Medical advancements are amazing, but most of the recovery is up to you. Everything you learn in cardio rehab is the gospel. Best wishes to you and your wife. Looking forward to seeing you around.
All the very best to you Rick, get well soon!
Malcolm and family.
Hope you have a speedy and uneventful recovery. Best to you Rick. You are in great hands.
It seems the pneumonia is hanging on, and Rick is still on the ventilator. Has to be a difficult time for Colleen as well as Rick. Sure hoping that things improve quickly. Get better soon, Rick!
Keep fighting Rick....let's all send some positive thoughts his way.
Quote from: Rodster-500 on May 21, 2020, 07:46:44 AM
Keep fighting Rick....let's all send some positive thoughts his way.
+1. Thinking of Rick each day and hoping for a promising update soon.
Seriously Kopec? It's time to get back to work...!
Great advice here, listen to your nurses and doctors. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers and sending positive thoughts your way!
Get well soon Rick!
Pete
Colleen says Rick has finally turned the corner, and is breathing on his own over the ventilator settings. That is great news.
Wonderful news. 8)
Great news.
Fingers all crossed up here.
Lisa,Kim and Tiffany
Excellent news! As an old CCU nurse, that's very encouraging to hear. Hoping things keep progressing forward
Terry in NH
Great news! :)
Quote from: Doug C on May 22, 2020, 09:50:09 PM
Quote from: Don Johnston on May 22, 2020, 05:51:22 PM
Wonderful news. 8)
+1 get well soon.
+2 very glad to hear Rick is doing better !
(and thanks for letting us know)
Best wishes and a Shelby fast recovery Rick!
I heard Rick requested a "Ford built ventilator" to get him past the finish line...
Best Wishes Rick
A "Ford built ventilator" for sure. But accessorized by Shelby American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give it hell old chap!
Cheers
Greg
...yeah, but without Mr. Shelby's autograph. :D
I'll have to rumage around in my stuff and find something with ol Shel's signature that might fit on his hospital bed!!!!!!!!!
Does it have to be authentic LOL?
Cheers
Greg
Is his hospital bed an "R" model? It would make recovery go faster. 8)
Good one, Don!
Ned, a ventilator with Rick's signature would be better!
Wishing you a speedy recovery good sir!!
Quote from: 427street on May 23, 2020, 07:03:56 PM
I'll have to rumage around in my stuff and find something with ol Shel's signature that might fit on his hospital bed!!!!!!!!!
Does it have to be authentic LOL?
Cheers
Greg
Don't bother - I've seen his forgeries/copies/replicas whatever you want to call it. Very accurate.
RK is finally off the ventilator entirely and making steady, if slow, progress. At this rate, he'll be able to pen more stories for The Shelby American by October. One can only hope his healing improves quickly!
Good news !
Thanks for the update Ned.
Pass on my best to Rick and Colleen.
Cheers
Greg
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/13-280520115711.png)
What? They couldn't get Rick a Hawaiian print hospital gown?
Just a matter of time before that bed has Shelby wheels on it.
Cheers
Greg
Thank you for keeping us informed. It's good to hear that he is now on the mend. Hoping for a quick, speedy recovery!
Quote from: Cobra Ned on May 28, 2020, 11:38:50 AM
RK is finally off the ventilator entirely and making steady, if slow, progress. At this rate, he'll be able to pen more stories for The Shelby American by October. One can only hope his healing improves quickly!
Since he is going to be mending, anyone that has a story about their car, a hunt for a car, your fixing of a car, anything about Shelby America, write it down and send it to him. The Shelby American doesn't write itself but Rick does an excellent job of picking and choosing those he thinks we'd be interested in.
It will also give him something to read
Get well soon, perhaps a Hawaiian Shirt rather than a gown that ties in the back will speed up recovery
Latest news: Rick managed to take 10 steps this morning, is extremely hoarse from the breathing tubes he had down his throat, and was shocked to learn he has basically been in la-la land for 18 days. He still suffers a bit from what they call "ICU psychosis" and gets confused. (Not to the point he'll be asking about your Corvette...) He nonetheless said he wished there was something he could do for all of us, and Colleen told him the best thing would be for him walk out of there once he's well. Let's hope that happens soon!
Best news yet! Great to hear and thanks for the update(s).
Quote from: JD on May 30, 2020, 11:30:37 AM
Best news yet! Great to hear and thanks for the update(s).
^^^
+1
Wow! Good news! I dare say he's lost a considerable amount of weight. Are we ready to see a skinny Kopec?
Great news. Best wishes.
Fantastic news!
Great to hear of Rick's forward progress and thanks for the update!
He needs to walk 350 steps, then he is cured ..
Quote from: GTBULLITT on May 30, 2020, 01:44:35 PM
He needs to walk 350 steps, then he is cured ..
Good one.
Quote from: JD on May 30, 2020, 11:30:37 AM
Best news yet! Great to hear and thanks for the update(s).
^^^+2
Awesome update
Keep up the good work Rick
Great News!!! Prayers continue for him and the family
With all that is going on in the world great news like this is so welcome. Keep up the good fight fearless leader. Prayers continue on your behalf.
With all that's going on at this time, it's great to hear news like this. Colleen can stand behind and snap the "nerf whip". It's for who want to be strict, but gentile.
Ok, now we know the truth, Rick had SAAC 45 cancelled because he couldn't be there
Keep him up and walking, as for confused, aren't we all a little like that
Hurry up and get well
I guess if you dont have the convention, your streak of not missing a convention is intact. Very clever. Best wishes moving forward
We're all pulling for you. Wonderful progress, so just take it a day at a time.
Great news!
Great news. Get well soon Rick!
Cheers
Greg
You the Man Rick get well soon and thanks for every thing you do. Thks. James
Great news! Keep increasing those steps until you can walk enough to get to the door and the waiting car! ;)
More good news: as of Tuesday afternoon, Rick's doctors determined his progress was good enough to remove him from the intensive care unit and relocate him to a floor where patients require less supervision. Once he starts walking some more, he will be in line to get discharged. Of course, that means he'll be going into the care of Nurse Colleen, who he won't be able to sweet-talk into another chocolate chip cookie...
Glad to hear he is making progress. They obviously dont know Kopec very well, less supervision?
I would suggest just the opposite.
In all probability, Rick's diet will undergo some drastic changes.
Quote from: Coralsnake on June 03, 2020, 01:13:53 PM
Glad to hear he is making progress. They obviously dont know Kopec very well, less supervision?
I would suggest just the opposite.
You have never seen Colleen when she is angry. Rick is in capable hands.
Bill
I hope you guys realize that this is just another one of his elaborate April Fool's Day jokes...
In reality, he is just sitting on the beach of his private island laughing and posting on the forum using his nomme de plume FL SAAC aka "Tony from Florida"
Quote from: Cobra Ned on June 03, 2020, 01:04:42 PM
More good news: as of Tuesday afternoon, Rick's doctors determined his progress was good enough to remove him from the intensive care unit and relocate him to a floor where patients require less supervision. Once he starts walking some more, he will be in line to get discharged. Of course, that means he'll be going into the care of Nurse Colleen, who he won't be able to sweet-talk into another chocolate chip cookie...
On no...is that good? ;)
Great news!
Some minor alterations to Rick's program: because of some remaining fluid in his lungs, he will be transferred to a rehab unit, and will need to be quarantined there for 14 days due to Coronavirus precautions. He's starting to walk a bit further and his voice is less hoarse, so his progress is good. Let's hope it continues!
Continued prayers for a full recovery
Quote from: Cobra Ned on June 04, 2020, 09:21:00 PM
Some minor alterations to Rick's program: because of some remaining fluid in his lungs, he will be transferred to a rehab unit, and will need to be quarantined there for 14 days due to Coronavirus precautions. He's starting to walk a bit further and his voice is less hoarse, so his progress is good. Let's hope it continues!
Quote from: Cobra Ned on June 04, 2020, 09:21:00 PM
Some minor alterations to Rick's program: because of some remaining fluid in his lungs, he will be transferred to a rehab unit, and will need to be quarantined there for 14 days due to Coronavirus precautions. He's starting to walk a bit further and his voice is less hoarse, so his progress is good. Let's hope it continues!
Keep moving Forward Rick, leave'em in the dust.
Quote from: Cobra Ned on June 04, 2020, 09:21:00 PM
Some minor alterations to Rick's program: because of some remaining fluid in his lungs, he will be transferred to a rehab unit, and will need to be quarantined there for 14 days due to Coronavirus precautions. He's starting to walk a bit further and his voice is less hoarse, so his progress is good. Let's hope it continues!
Rick, I'm glad you kicked that respirator aside and please bitch slap Coronavirus if it happens come around. You're a good man (I mean a bad mutha f#cuker) and I want another picture with you at the next SAAC convention so ya better get well and I'll see ya there.
QSS
PS I've got a couple of rums in me tonight ;D
Quote from: Cobra Ned on June 04, 2020, 09:21:00 PM
Some minor alterations to Rick's program: because of some remaining fluid in his lungs, he will be transferred to a rehab unit, and will need to be quarantined there for 14 days due to Coronavirus precautions. He's starting to walk a bit further and his voice is less hoarse, so his progress is good. Let's hope it continues!
Ned,
All kidding aside, is there anything that Rick and Colleen need where we can assist? If so, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Bill & family
Thank you. If I learn of anything, I will of course mention it here. At the moment, what Colleen wants most is the opportunity to visit Rick, but it is not allowed.
needs to get a ground floor room with window and she can get chair and talk through the window
Big surprise today: Rick was discharged home to Colleen! She says he is weak and tired but very happy to be home. She will be his caregiver and has advised that he will not be in his office for some time yet, so please NO phone calls. Colleen also mentioned that the support she has gotten from the club has been greatly appreciated during this very difficult time, and sent her thanks to all.
FYI
Good news today ..Rick was discharged home to me!!! he is still weak and tired ..but alert...walks with a walker used cane tooooooo dangerous ..too weak and loss of balance...very happy to be home ..the VA will contact me in a few days..and I will find out about PT...he is upstairs in the bedroom..and will remain there for sometime...my neighbor helped me get him up the stairs and he is not going down the stairs with out two people...so he willnot be in his office any time soon..so use email this address ... or text me....it is my lap top and portable..PLEASE NO PHONE CALLS..he needs his rest and might be napping (me too) I am his caregiver 24/7 now...I was going to send a pic of him but they shaved off his facial hair and you wouldn't recognize him ( I almost didn't) Rick is aware of all your support and prayers and when he is 100% he will reach out to you
During this time with Rick being so sick and the feeling of helplessness I felt not being able to be with him was alleviated by your kind words support and prayers..I did not feel alone..reaching out each day with the updates on his condition and your responses helped support me during this time ..and I Thank you so much COLZ
Wonderful news. Hoping he'll be gaining strength daily and be able to put all this behind him soon.
Outstanding! Being home is the best kind of medicine...and, in this environment, the safest!
great news
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on June 06, 2020, 07:47:47 PM
Outstanding! Being home is the best kind of medicine...and, in this environment, the safest!
Yes, being home is a great comfort and stress reliever, Colleen must be ecstatic - best wishes to them both!!
Great news! Getting out of the hospital probably feels better to Rick than when he got released from custody during the Cannonball.
Thanks for the update, and all the best to Rick and Colleen!
Send him our best!
Lisa,Kim andTiffany
Keep on going on the right track ! all good! :)
Never met Rick in person but always an awesome guy by Email. Best wishes for a speedy recovery
My dad had heart valve surgery 3 days ago and sounds fantastic so hopefully similar results with Rick and he is back at full strength in short order.
cheers. Peter
Quote from: pmustang on June 07, 2020, 09:21:38 AM
Never met Rick in person but always an awesome guy by Email. Best wishes for a speedy recovery
My dad had heart valve surgery 3 days ago and sounds fantastic so hopefully similar results with Rick and he is back at full strength in short order.
cheers. Peter
Wonderful news!
He's great in person or by email! ;D
Glad to hear Rick is doing so much better. Great news!
Great news Colleen.
Tell Rick he can proudly display a stiff upper lip without all that facial hair.
Is he displaying "attitude" yet? When he does you'll know he's well on his way to recovery.
Cheers
Greg
Spy photo of Rick
He's reading the summer edition of the Shelby American
Must be doing better, he's wearing a Hawaiian shirt 👕
Probably took so long to get Rick home because he wanted an ambulance transport with Essex Wire logos and rally stripes.
Good to hear of his progress, but the woodsman beard needs to make a comeback. He needs to reclaim his facial identity.
Best wishes for him and Colleen. 8)
So...got an unexpected phone call from the Boss this afternoon. He said he was doing well, wasn't in pain, was glad to be home, etc. Then he got into the meat of what I think he really wanted to discuss, which was "Why didn't you tell me how miserable an ordeal this open heart surgery is, you prick???" Hah. As if I was about to clue him in ahead of time that the process wasn't all roses. Fact is, he required the surgery to stay alive, and I was expected to talk him out of it by being honest regarding both the surgery and the recovery? Not a chance. Glad you're still with us, Rick. Oh, and I apologize for minimizing the severity of the process. ::)
Thanks for the update Ned.
I'll send Rick outlines for a couple more of my crazy articles for the SAAC quarterlies when he's ready.
On second thought, I don't want to raise his blood pressure.
Glad he's doing so well.
Cheers
Greg
Kopec 's new side gig !
Rick managed to climb up/down 2 sets of stairs and is really starting to feel his oats. Guess he simply could not keep his butt out of the SAAC office. Obviously, he's making excellent progress.
Better than fall down/climb up! Great news.
He's a vet, he'll tough it out and get it done. Go Rick!
Quote from: Cobra Ned on June 16, 2020, 04:36:29 PM
Rick managed to climb up/down 2 sets of stairs and is really starting to feel his oats. Guess he simply could not keep his butt out of the SAAC office. Obviously, he's making excellent progress.
THANKS for the updates. I'm sure there are many people like me who read this thread regularly for status updates, but rarely post. Please know that we are concerned and appreciate the information you share.
Steve
Great news, I hope to see Rick on another SAAC Meet.
Each recovery is unique, but this is great news. My wishes for your continued recovery. Rehab does the trick. Listen and push yourself.
Don
Latest update is that Rick is going up/down the stairs on a daily basis with the assistance of a cane and, of course, spending a few hours doing SAAC business until he feels tired and has to drag himself back upstairs. Nurse Colleen is delighted to see him relying on the cane instead of her. :P
Is the cane one of those with a Cobra's head?
Or maybe 4 speed with reverse lock out. 8)
Good to hear, Rick you're one tough guy.
Quote from: NC TRACKRAT on June 30, 2020, 01:53:52 PM
Is the cane one of those with a Cobra's head?
I'll bet it is this cane... ;)
(https://www.saac.com/forum/gallery/178-300620224413.jpeg)
I'm late to the party here. Glad you are on your way to a full and healthy recovery Rick!!
Thanks for updating Ned.
Jim