Jim’s recovery

Posted at 4:54 AM on 2-2-08 by Rob T Firefly

Recent Off the Hook episodes have updated us on the condition of our friend Jim, who suffered a stroke last October.

Jim is recovering slowly in a nursing home. He is regaining his ability to read, and all well-wishers are encouraged to send letters, cards, goodies, packages, and other items of encouragement to his current address:

Caton Park Nursing Home
Attn: Jim Vichench
1312 Caton Avenue
Room 312B
Brooklyn, NY 11226

You can of course also email Jim in care of the show.

Our best wishes go out to Jim for the speediest recovery possible.

tags: jim

Updates on Jim

Posted at 2:55 AM on 11-2-07 by Rob T Firefly

On the October 30th episode of Off the Wall, Emmanuel and Bernie S were able to give us some cautiously optimistic updates on the condition of our friend Jim, who as reported earlier is in the hospital due to a serious stroke.

Jim has been released from the Intensive Care Unit, and is now in the hospital’s rehab ward. He has reportedly, with great effort, been able to speak a few words. Jim’s sister, who has flown up from Australia to be with him, is reportedly very impressed with the rehab specialists who are now working with Jim.

You can listen to the October 30th episode of Off the Wall here. The discussion about Jim begins at about the 51-minute mark in the file.

The change of rooms means the address to send cards and letters of encouragement to be read to Jim has changed as well. You can now write to him at:

Lutheran Medical Center
Attn: James Vichench
Room #3220
150 55th St
Brooklyn, NY 11220

EDIT 2-1-08: This address is no longer valid. See this update for the current address.

You can of course still email Jim in care of the show, and those messages will be read to him as well.

Our thoughts remain with Jim and his family.

tags: jim

Jim from OTH hospitalized

Posted at 3:34 AM on 10-18-07 by Rob T Firefly

picJim, also kown as Red Balaclava, longtime contributor to Off the Hook and the NYC2600 and HOPE communities, suffered a serious stroke last Tuesday night. He is currently hospitalized in ICU under the close watch of his family, and has reportedly not yet regained coherence.

The news was made public at the beginning of last night’s Off the Hook, which you can listen to here for the full story as we know it so far.

With the permission of Jim’s sister, the address where you can send him mail was also given out on the air. Cards and letters of support can currently be sent to:

Lutheran Medical Center
Attn: Jim Vichench
Room #4637
150 55th St
Brooklyn, NY 11220

*EDIT 2-1-08: This is no longer the correct address. Please see this update for the current one.

Only cards and letters are encouraged. Jim is not in a condition to read them himself, but they will be read aloud to him by his family. Please do not send flowers. Please note also that he is in the intensive care unit, and therefore cannot receive visitors.

You can also send email to Off the Hook at oth@2600.com, with “Attn: Jim” in the subject line. The others will print them out and have them read to Jim.

Our thoughts remain with our friend and his family during this difficult time.

tags: jim