GigaBugbee? GigaWho?? GigaWHAT???
 

To my peers, friends and associates...
I just wanted to drop by and to all of you say hello. As some of you know I have been dealing with a heart condition for a while now. I was in the hospital right before the 06 Phoenix Forum but released in time to go to AZ for the golf Tournament. Upon returning to LA I was admitted to the hospital and well from there it has all been downhill. I have been here for a while but wanted to reach out to the people I miss (you know who you are) and give you an update.

I am doing much better and getting better everyday. I am still awaiting a heart transplant at UCLA Medical center and have had some close calls but not quite the "perfect match". I am on a machine called a Bi-VAD created by a company called thoratec www.thoratec.com, which has kept me mobile and stronger each day. It is what they call a "bridge" device so it takes over for my heart and keeps it running until they are able to find me a match for a transplant. Unfortunately I was to sick to wait without doing something drastic so two open heart surgeries later here I am. I am currently waiting at what you call 1-A status, which is at the top of the heart transplant list. The machine is amazing and has really made a HUGE difference in my condition as well as status, I look and feel better than ever I just need a new heart so we can take me off of the VAD.

I actually may be going home in early October to wait for a heart from home. They recently changed the laws so I can stay at 1-A status while at home as opposed to dropping down to B-1 status. This is obviously very exciting for my family and me. I will be the very first transplant patient to go home and wait on a Bi-VAD from UCLA as well as one of the first to go home and remain on 1-A status, pretty cool. Plus I basically run this place now and a few people want their jobs back lol

So I am starting to spend a few hours a day online and getting back in the swing of things now that I am feeling stronger. I have kept in touch with quite a few industry peeps as well as had the opportunity to do a lot of planning and research regarding the biz. Thank to all who have visited, prayed or sent me gifts ;o)

Oct. 3rd is our target date for me to go home and await a new heart it also is the date that will mark the 26th-week or 182nd-day or 4,368-hour exactly half of a year in the hospital depending on how you look at it. Not that I am counting or anything.

Please feel free to ICQ me at 258214660 or email [email protected] (I am only using the bugbee@ address right now) if you have my cell # use it or even come and see me before I head home.

I just want to say thanks to everyone?s thoughts, prayers and support whether I know you or not. I would not have been able to get thru this without my immediate family, my other family Alec, Elli, Mike and Moe Helmy (who mind you have all been amazing thru these incredibly horrific times) and my peers, friends and associates.

Well I will bid you all ado for now but I miss you all more than you know (ok most of you) and can't wait to swap stories and see you all. If anyone has questions or comments etc. regarding anything personnel or business do not hesitate to hit me up I would love to hear from any of you. I also am usually on ICQ I am just always invisible and lurking around he he he.... Keep me in your thoughts and pray for a new heart but until then look forward to seeing me around and after my transplant look forward to seeing me around for a LONG LONG TIME!

Best regards much love and respect

Bugbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Glad to hear you are doing better and that you are at the top of the list.

You have a strong will and a strong support system in your family.

If there is anything I can do, just let me know man!

Glad to see the Bugbeeeeeeeeee back on GFY :thumbsup

Take care my friend :)

Glad to hear you are doing better, will keep you in my thoughts and good luck on finding a good ticker soon.

Wow. I wish you nothing but the best, Bugbee! Good luck on getting a transplant ASAP.

If there is anyhting I can do Hit me up anytime. Even if you just want to shoot the shit..

Great news and I will hit you up on icq Bugbee!

bugbeeeeee miss ya wishing you a speedy and full recovery

Bugbee awesome to hear up are doing better, great to see you on gfy, and wishing you a speedy recovery. Hurry back to us:) :)

good to hear you're doing better

Bugbee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miss you man!

Been getting updates from mike hawk on the regular.

Glad to hear such a wonderful prognosis, my brotha!

Stay strong - my prayers are with you and your family!

SIDE NOTE: It's amazing that a man like you (with such a BIG heart) needs a new one :winkwink:

Much love!!!!!!

i don't know you but i really wish you the best and hope a heart drops your way as soon as possible.

they should make it a law that upon our deaths our organs are fair game for harvesting - it's religious nonsense and for those that just don't do it cuz it's creepy or they don't think of it - shame on us. Whether you believe in God and heaven and all that the one thing we know - our bodies are no longer any use to us when we die - give somebody else a chance to continue living.

Morning bump for Bugbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

:pimp

Great news Bugbee. Stay strong.

dude - it's good to see you're still there. stay strong! :thumbsup

Keep strong bro!

Gerard

Stephen!!!!! Its great to hear from you!!! I miss seeing you!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers and I wish you a speedy recovery:thumbsup

stephen! good luck, man! i wish you all the best! :)

good to hear from you bugbee!!! you've been in my thoughts.
my uncle got a liver transplant from UCLA almost 10 years ago and still going strong. hang in there, man!

See ya Sunday Bugz :winkwink: Always look forward to seeing you on Sundays :)

Bump for BugBee , glad to hear your doing better, your name comes up in conversation all the time

Stephen - All the best to you and may they find you a healthy strong heart for you to come here and spread some love :) Will keep you in my thoughts!

Wow, definitely puts things into perspective with all the trivial bickering going on around here all the time.

I wish you all the best man.. good luck on the transplant :thumbsup

I know everything will work out. You're super strong. Thank you so much for the update. Let me know if there's anything that I can do. xoxoxoxoxoxoox

hope you're well soon

Stephen great to hear you are doing better. Wish you were back already. Much love from my family and I to you and yours. God bless you bro!!

Bugbee... so glad to have you back online...

don't forget about our visit next week, make sure you are ready to party...lol

can't wait to see you, miss ya lots and much love to you and Steph

xoxoxox

I dont know you but i wish you all the best stay strong and i hppe you get better soon

Stephen,
You are always in my thoughts and prayers... actually I just had a dream about you last night ;) Hope to see you soon!

xoxo

Yo YO YO.... Great to see you online.. Gonna roll out to see ya this weekend... Let me know if there is anything you need.. (besides the usual Strippers, Red Bull Vodka, PB&J shots)

Sunday good? I will give ya a jingle before I roll by.

C

Glad to hear you're doing well, heres to a speedy recovery.

Hye Bugbee, it's good to finally have some news from you!
I was trying to contact you after the Phoenix Forum, to thank you for organizing such a great golf event. That's when I learned of your condition.

It's great to hear that you may be able to get home while staying 1-A.

Take care, and I hope you have some hot nurses taking care of you. ;)

Chris

Bugbee, that is awesome news my friend!!! Stay strong brutha and hope to see you soon.

Bugbee,

What great news that you may be able to go home while waiting!! You know we are thinking about you here at CCBill and wish you a speedy donor match and recovery.

Hey man! Good to see you bakc on the boards ;)
Sorry I couldn't make it on Monday, but I'll be back and checking on you!

Take it easy!!

http://i.timeinc.net/time/daily/spec...lec/obiwan.jpg

"The force is strong with this one."

We all know who Obiwan is talking about.:thumbsup

Our thoughts and prayers have always been with you Bugbee.

_

glad to hear you're doing better. Stay strong, good things happen to good people

Bugbee! It was great seeing you the other day and so nice to see how much better you havee gotten. Now dont forget that the business will still be here after you get all done with the transplant, so dont work too much man.

Stay strong my friend and see you again soon.

Oystein

Awww so good to hear from you! Take care of yourself! I can't wait to see you up and about again soon my friend!

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh


*

Man I shit you not, I was just wondering where you been!

My best wishes to you old boy!

Like everyone who knows you and who's life you have touched, if there's anything I can do, please please please let me know!

Hey Buddy,

glad you are back on the boards my friend! And , glad you are working with me on this project! the dynamic duo is back !

Now that is the best news i've heard all month. So glad to hear you're doing better Stephen. I can't wait to get out on the golf course again with you bro.

Wow. Awesome

glad to hear you're doing better buddy :thumbsup

Glad to hear things are on the up and up! Best of luck on getting the new heart in a speedy amount of time!

Wow rememberin all the cool business chats we had and I was wondering where you been.

Glad to see you are around and gettin better man. Wish you ALL the best for you deserve it ;-)

Hi Bugbee,

Thank you for spending the time to update us. That is fantastic that you are at the top of the list now and can also go home until the new heart arrives. We will continue to pray for you and keep you in our thoughts. I look forward to the day you are back at the trade shows.

I'm close by in Newbury Park - if you want a visitor to break the pace when you return home, call me anytime.

Take Care,

Mike

Hey Bugbee!

I was just wondering how you were a couple of weeks ago. Great to hear things are looking up and best wishes of course on finding a match.

I expect to see you at Boogie's in no time!

John

Great to Hear from you Bugbee, I am glad your doing better and can spend some time at home.

Miss Ya Brother

gotta say that makes me feel better!!!