Had longtime friend/partner Dan Pettit and fellow car ower Carl Haas not
persisted in getting Kalkhoven to the Mayo Clinic, the 60-year-old Aussie might
have died
source: speedtv.com Injured three months ago when a snowboarder slammed into him while skiing in Aspen, Kalkhoven suffered several nasty fractures in his right arm and shoulder. Metal pins and screws were inserted during surgery and he was sent off to rehab and heal. But he began losing weight (18 pounds) and the pain got worse instead of better despite "eating Vicodin like candy". Kalkhoven finally checked into the Mayo Clinic and what doctors found was frightening. "All the joints were held together by metal screws through the bone and, externally, it looked fine," said Kalkhoven, who few into Portland International Raceway on Saturday morning. "But when they opened me up at Mayo they found my whole bone (in my arm) had a bacterial infection. "And this particular bacteria keeps feeding off the marrow and growing until it attacks your heart. And it's usually fatal. The doctors said I had another six weeks and that was it." Getting Kalkhoven off his G5 jet and into the Mayo Clinic was the toughest part. "Carl (Haas) was so persistent, he called me every day and then helped get me into the clinic," said Kalkhoven. "And Dan (Pettit) went along to make sure I checked in. I'm obviously very thankful for their friendship and for Dr. Ian Hayes and the folks at the Mayo Clinic."
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