Barbaro Updates: 173
updates are now here.
Update 1300: I visited New Bolton and placed some new posters on the fence line. Funnily enough, as I was leaving, a car in front of me also leaving New Bolton had stopped to take some pictures of all the posters ... nice to observe. I saw Mike Jensen, Ed. Fountaine and a reporter from the AP (sorry, I was introduced by I am useless with names). We chatted for about ten minutes. NBC10 had a truck there, so I assume they will be broadcasting an update tonight.
On my way back from New Bolton, I got a call from Joe Drape at the New York Times ... he was looking for someone's number ... we chatted for a while and he asked me what I thought, I said that judging from the tone of voice from Mrs. Jackson's voice-mail I was not overly concerned, and he noted the same thing from a conversation he had had with Mr. Jackson. That conversation turned into this article: Barbaro Suffers 'Significant Setback'. Here are the relevant excerpts:
"There was an area of his hoof where he was bothered by the cast and by getting that cast off he has already shown some relief," Jackson said in a telephone interview shortly after visiting Barbaro. "I just left him and he was eating away at the hay, standing and putting weight on it better. The way it was explained to me was the tissue removed was like getting an in-grown toenail removed."
and
He and his wife have spent tens of thousands of dollars on Barbaro's care and have said repeatedly they would continue to do so as long as the colt can be free of pain and shows a will to live. Jackson said Barbaro appeared to be meeting those standards.
"Hopefully this is just a hitch in the road," he said. "All we can do is give him the best care and say our prayers."
Update 1299: I am going to run down to NBC, I have three new posters to hang. I will also swing by the lobby to try to catch up with whoever is there (Mike Jensen being one person I am sure is still there). Rachel, from Kennett Florist had this to report re: their visit to New Bolton today (comment timestamp: 7:43 pm):
Alie and I just got back from NBC. Things are a bit subdued for obvious reasons, but we seemed to lift their spirits with some snacks and chocolates. We delivered Big Boss's favorites; baby green tops, pears and spearmints, with all your well wishes of "hang in there!" Keep your spirits up FOB's, as he's shown us before, Barbaro is a fighter. Keep those candles lit and good thoughts coming! We are with you in prayer for B, the Jackson's and the staff of NBC.
On a side note (just for grins), we also made up a special arrangement of blue, orange and white with a big ole gator in the center for Dr R... Sorry Buckeye fans, couldn't help it!! We figured he could use a smile today!
WE BELIEVE!!
Rach at KF
Update 1298: Jeannine Edwards just called, she will be a guest on "The Hot List" on ESPN News which begins at 3 pm today, she thinks she will be on (via telephone) at about 3:30 pm. Jeannine spoke to Mrs. Jackson at length to prepare for this show and shared with me some of their conversation. I did learn from this that Barbaro is now using the sling to help him keep excessive weight off his other legs.
Mike Schuh (and Eric) just came to Fair Hill and interviewed me with Hawty Creek in preparation for a Barbaro update they will be running on tonight's news (5 pm and 6 pm), WBAL WJZ Eyewitness News.
Update 1297: Mike Jensen, who has been at New Bolton Center all morning had this to report: Barbaro has 'significant setback' in recovery, salient excerpt:
After visiting Barbaro in his stall in the intensive-care unit this morning, co-owner Gretchen Jackson said in an interview in the New Bolton lobby at 10:45 a.m. that the horse doesn't have a temperature and is eating, but as for Barbaro's general comfort level, she said, "He's under drugs. I can't tell."
She had seen him the day before and could tell he wasn't as comfortable because "he just was not using his foot as much."
Jackson mentioned that surgeon Dean Richardson had continually warned of the potential for a setback since the laminitis cropped up in July.
"This is what we were being told the whole time," Jackson said.
Note the interview occured shortly before Mrs. Jackson left me a voice-mail, update 1296
Update 1296: Mrs. Jackson just left a voice-mail (11:00 am) in order to keep us updated. She basically wanted to give an update on how he was doing. Barbaro has no temperature, and when she visited him this morning she brought him his grass and he was eating well. It appears they are working hard to determine the cause of this latest set back so that he gets to equal bearing weight on all his legs. Until that happens he won't be walked outside.
update 11:23 am, wednesday, january 10
That's encouraging. No temp. And they're on it! More prayers.
Posted by: J. Carson Black at January 10, 2007 4:26 PM