BigIndie & Airplanenut's Charity Auction
chiefbob
Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭
A lot of board members knew BigIndie (Big Mike) on this board and through a lot of PMs traded. There's probably also a good number of members who are new to the board since Mike died in January.
I'd like to help kick-start Jeremy's charity auction for Spina Bifida by giving you some background on BigIndie.
Mike Dalzell, aka BigIndie, was born with Spina Bifida in 1974. This birth defect is characterized by an incomplete closure of the spinal chord. Surgery is performed within 24 hours of birth to close the newborn's back. In Mike's case, he had to have steel rods attached to his spine to provide spinal support. This additional surgey was performed at an early age. He was wheel-chair bound for life as a result of this challenge.
However, Mike never let this prevent him from leading a full, happy life. He completed his college degree, got married to a wonderfully supportive mate, Heather, and they were able to have a baby two years ago. Their son, James, is a perfectly healthy child. Mike will live on through his son.
Mike worked at a leading hobby retailer as a copy writer. He researched and wrote very interesting and dynamic ad copy for the firm. I met him and another guy named Mike when I first started working there. Although there is 20+ years age difference between us, they invited me to sit at their lunch table. From then on, we bacame fast friends. I find I associate with people who have a good sense of humor, and these two guys had an excess of that. What I noticed right away was that Mike could really take a lot of "kidding" over his condition. He also was good at giving it back, too! Me and the other Mike never really considered BigIndie handicapped, and he joined us in a lot of activities without any problem.
I was talking about coins one day at the lunch table, and BigIndie got really interested. I had just gotten back a 1996 ASE in PR70 DCAM from PCGS and told him what the board members said about its value. He was fascinated by the whole process and said he thought about coin collecting some years before, but never got into it. This was the spark, I think, that really energized him with the hobby. I also pointed him to Collector's Universe and this forum. A lot of you know the rest of the story. If you don't, suffice it to say he was very active on this board.
In January of this year, Mike was informed by his surgeon that the steel rods would have to be removed and it would be a difficult operation. The rods had been absorbed into his spine over the years. Mike expressed some real concern over the operation as he had died on the table when they were first inserted and had to be revived. As it turns out, the 7 hour operation actually went smoothly but the surgeons noted an opening in the spinal chord that was leaking. They put a skin graft around it and hoped it would hold. It didn't and he had to go in for a 3rd surgery to fix the graft. That night, the graft didn't hold and Mike died peacefully in his sleep. The other Mike and I were totally stunned as no one expected this to happen. I had visited him two days before the final operation, and he was in good spirits. I mentioned to him that when he got home and was recuperating, I would bring over a bunch of raw coins that I inherited from my uncle. We were going to go through them (thousands) and see what goodies we could find. He was really looking forward to that.
My apologies for the length of this post. I thought it important that you know more about BigIndie's background and what a great guy he was.
Here's how great BigIndie was: the following is excerpted from a letter Heather received from the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network about Mike:
"Michael's right kidney was recovered and transplanted into a 50-year old single man from Maryland. At present, he is unemployed, however continues to do well following his transplant and hopes to return to work now that his health is improving.
Michael's liver was transplanted to a 53 year old gentleman from NYC. He is thrilled to be given the chance for renewed health. Both he and his wife are grateful.
Michael's heart was recovered and transplanted to a 52 year old married man with two children from NY. He has been disabled due to his heart condition, but is presently stable and doing well and hopes to return to a more normal lifestyle.
Michael's lungs were recovered and sent for research."
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Mike is living on through his son and the 3 donor recipients.
In Memory of BigIndie (Mike Dalzell) 1974 - 2004
I'd like to help kick-start Jeremy's charity auction for Spina Bifida by giving you some background on BigIndie.
Mike Dalzell, aka BigIndie, was born with Spina Bifida in 1974. This birth defect is characterized by an incomplete closure of the spinal chord. Surgery is performed within 24 hours of birth to close the newborn's back. In Mike's case, he had to have steel rods attached to his spine to provide spinal support. This additional surgey was performed at an early age. He was wheel-chair bound for life as a result of this challenge.
However, Mike never let this prevent him from leading a full, happy life. He completed his college degree, got married to a wonderfully supportive mate, Heather, and they were able to have a baby two years ago. Their son, James, is a perfectly healthy child. Mike will live on through his son.
Mike worked at a leading hobby retailer as a copy writer. He researched and wrote very interesting and dynamic ad copy for the firm. I met him and another guy named Mike when I first started working there. Although there is 20+ years age difference between us, they invited me to sit at their lunch table. From then on, we bacame fast friends. I find I associate with people who have a good sense of humor, and these two guys had an excess of that. What I noticed right away was that Mike could really take a lot of "kidding" over his condition. He also was good at giving it back, too! Me and the other Mike never really considered BigIndie handicapped, and he joined us in a lot of activities without any problem.
I was talking about coins one day at the lunch table, and BigIndie got really interested. I had just gotten back a 1996 ASE in PR70 DCAM from PCGS and told him what the board members said about its value. He was fascinated by the whole process and said he thought about coin collecting some years before, but never got into it. This was the spark, I think, that really energized him with the hobby. I also pointed him to Collector's Universe and this forum. A lot of you know the rest of the story. If you don't, suffice it to say he was very active on this board.
In January of this year, Mike was informed by his surgeon that the steel rods would have to be removed and it would be a difficult operation. The rods had been absorbed into his spine over the years. Mike expressed some real concern over the operation as he had died on the table when they were first inserted and had to be revived. As it turns out, the 7 hour operation actually went smoothly but the surgeons noted an opening in the spinal chord that was leaking. They put a skin graft around it and hoped it would hold. It didn't and he had to go in for a 3rd surgery to fix the graft. That night, the graft didn't hold and Mike died peacefully in his sleep. The other Mike and I were totally stunned as no one expected this to happen. I had visited him two days before the final operation, and he was in good spirits. I mentioned to him that when he got home and was recuperating, I would bring over a bunch of raw coins that I inherited from my uncle. We were going to go through them (thousands) and see what goodies we could find. He was really looking forward to that.
My apologies for the length of this post. I thought it important that you know more about BigIndie's background and what a great guy he was.
Here's how great BigIndie was: the following is excerpted from a letter Heather received from the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network about Mike:
"Michael's right kidney was recovered and transplanted into a 50-year old single man from Maryland. At present, he is unemployed, however continues to do well following his transplant and hopes to return to work now that his health is improving.
Michael's liver was transplanted to a 53 year old gentleman from NYC. He is thrilled to be given the chance for renewed health. Both he and his wife are grateful.
Michael's heart was recovered and transplanted to a 52 year old married man with two children from NY. He has been disabled due to his heart condition, but is presently stable and doing well and hopes to return to a more normal lifestyle.
Michael's lungs were recovered and sent for research."
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Mike is living on through his son and the 3 donor recipients.
In Memory of BigIndie (Mike Dalzell) 1974 - 2004
Retired Air Force 1965-2000
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
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Comments
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<< <i>My apologies for the length of this post. >>
Not necessary at all - I enjoyed reading more about someone who didn't wait for everthing to come to him, but to meet his challenges head-on, and make the most of life.
BTW, a great pic
"Exactly."
Cameron Kiefer
Mike had a website called BigIndie Music. He supported and was a proponent for independent musicians. Both he and the other Mike, who is a musician, reviewed indy bands and musicians' work that was sent to them for review. He would post very honest reviews of the CDs on the site, the good, the bad, and the ugly! It was feature-rich, with links to all sorts of helpful information in the independent music world.
My son, who lived in New Jersey at the time, was also involved in DJing and contributing reviews to both BigIndie and a few others. He knew Mike from visiting me, and was amazed when people on a music forum board mentioned BigIndie to him. Mike's influence and messages apparently went far and wide.
Now you now why he used BigIndie for his name.
Bob
In Memory of BigIndie (Mike Dalzell) 1974 -2004
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
tb
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife & child.
Michael
In Memory of BigIndie (Mike Dalzell) 1974-2004
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
I wish I had the privilege of meeting the man. Even after death he thought of others by donating his organs. I hope that I am half the man when I die!
Thanks for the biography, though brief. He was obviously very special!
Jim
---------------------------------
"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
"If it don't make $"
"It don't make cents""
In Memory of BigIndie (Mike Dalzell) 1974-2004
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969