Hello from France.

[Ben in France]

Hello. Just joined this forum as we now have a Fiat on the fleet. Never thought I would say those words as I'm a Range Rover man, having both a TD6 and TDV8. Anyway the wife's first car was a Panda and she kept going on and on about having another one. So we found a fairly good condition 1988 4x4 (don't have the same corrosion issues here in France) and since having it for a year I want to get it running properly so she can use it.

Have been a mechanic since leaving school back in the early 90s, but set up a gardening business here in France a few years ago until I ended up in hospital with a Dissected Aorta (big dramas). That has left me in a wheelchair for the time being but it hasn't stopped me working on the cars, just slowed me up a bit.

I think I will be asking plenty of questions over in the Panda Classic section very soon.

Ben.

 

[jackwhoo]

Hello. Just joined this forum as we now have a Fiat on the fleet. Never thought I would say those words as I'm a Range Rover man, having both a TD6 and TDV8. Anyway the wife's first car was a Panda and she kept going on and on about having another one. So we found a fairly good condition 1988 4x4 (don't have the same corrosion issues here in France) and since having it for a year I want to get it running properly so she can use it.

Have been a mechanic since leaving school back in the early 90s, but set up a gardening business here in France a few years ago until I ended up in hospital with a Dissected Aorta (big dramas). That has left me in a wheelchair for the time being but it hasn't stopped me working on the cars, just slowed me up a bit.

I think I will be asking plenty of questions over in the Panda Classic section very soon.

Ben.

Wow, you survived a dissected aorta!!!!!!!
You are a miracle man.
Best wishes

Jack

 

[Ben in France]

Wow, you survived a dissected aorta!!!!!!!
You are a miracle man.
Best wishes

Jack

Yes it was a wild ride! Pain down the middle of my chest, ambulance straight to hospital, got stuck in the CT scanner tube thing. Air lifted to Bordeaux to one of the worlds best heart hospitals where the surgeons were already waiting for me. They did their work and managed to keep me alive. Had some complications due to my body slowly shutting down.But now have a nice Teflon Aorta, stents on my Carotoid Arteries and I think one going to my kidneys. Kidneys packed up due to all the toxins in my body so was on Dialysis for a while, then Kineys started functioning again.... 40% and 70%.
Also suffered some damage to Medular Oblongata which has caused some nerve damage so now I can't feel hot or cold on my legs and I can't feel pain on my legs either.
And eight months in Hospital...... food was crap! Wasn't too bad but they repeat the meals every two weeks and it got boring.

Still after all that I am still here and plodding onwards.

 

[MaxHeadroom]

Hey Ben and a very special welcome to the FIAT forums!

After reading all about that little drama a 'special' welcome is clearly needed here!

Warmest Wishes, Mark

 

[jackwhoo]

Yes it was a wild ride! Pain down the middle of my chest, ambulance straight to hospital, got stuck in the CT scanner tube thing. Air lifted to Bordeaux to one of the worlds best heart hospitals where the surgeons were already waiting for me. They did their work and managed to keep me alive. Had some complications due to my body slowly shutting down.But now have a nice Teflon Aorta, stents on my Carotoid Arteries and I think one going to my kidneys. Kidneys packed up due to all the toxins in my body so was on Dialysis for a while, then Kineys started functioning again.... 40% and 70%.
Also suffered some damage to Medular Oblongata which has caused some nerve damage so now I can't feel hot or cold on my legs and I can't feel pain on my legs either.
And eight months in Hospital...... food was crap! Wasn't too bad but they repeat the meals every two weeks and it got boring.

Still after all that I am still here and plodding onwards.

14years ago I was told that the chances of surviving a dissected aorta on an operating table in a fully equipped operating theatre with a chest already open is very close to zero.
You are amazing , so glad you have signed up here to share your new adventures (-: