Mike Spinak
pro member
Before I joined openphotographyforums, a couple months ago, Asher Kelman (the owner and Editor-in-Chief of OPF) and I did not know each other at all. I vaguely recognized his name, from seeing a few of his posts on Rob Galbraith's forum. I imagine he'd probably never heard of me.
When I came here, I suggested that there was a need for a forum about close up photography. Asher asked me to moderate that forum. We exchanged a few phone calls and emails, and worked it out. Since then, we've been friendly, but certainly did not know each other well.
As some of you may not know, besides Asher's photography interests, he is an accomplished medical doctor and professor.
A few days ago I was plunged into a serious medical emergency. (I'm still not entirely through it, but the worst seems to be behind me.) As this occurred, Asher jumped into action. He kept close track of me over 8 hours of phone conversations and dozens of emails, took relevant medical histories, did research, contacted people, ran diagnostic programs, advised me, stayed up all night long to be there for me, advocated for me to my emergency room physicians, and even more. He told me what to say to whom in the ER, for best safety, best medical treatment, best protection of my rights as a patient, and best savings of my money. He was fundamentally important in determining a correct diagnosis with a dangerous condition where every hour counted.
As it turned out, the ER doctors made a mistake with a strong possibility of proving fatal for me, and the next day Asher was, again, researching for me, advising me, advocating for me, and even more. He was deeply involved with catching this error, and getting it corrected, before it was too late.
Asher, a man who barely knew me, went far beyond the call of duty, and has quite literally been integral to saving my life.
Asher, thank you. I am eternally grateful.
And to all of you OPF forumites, you need to know that the owner of this site is not your ordinary photography site owner. He has a heart, and a dedication, and a passion, that has to be experienced to be believed.
He is a true hero.
Mike
www.mikespinak.com
When I came here, I suggested that there was a need for a forum about close up photography. Asher asked me to moderate that forum. We exchanged a few phone calls and emails, and worked it out. Since then, we've been friendly, but certainly did not know each other well.
As some of you may not know, besides Asher's photography interests, he is an accomplished medical doctor and professor.
A few days ago I was plunged into a serious medical emergency. (I'm still not entirely through it, but the worst seems to be behind me.) As this occurred, Asher jumped into action. He kept close track of me over 8 hours of phone conversations and dozens of emails, took relevant medical histories, did research, contacted people, ran diagnostic programs, advised me, stayed up all night long to be there for me, advocated for me to my emergency room physicians, and even more. He told me what to say to whom in the ER, for best safety, best medical treatment, best protection of my rights as a patient, and best savings of my money. He was fundamentally important in determining a correct diagnosis with a dangerous condition where every hour counted.
As it turned out, the ER doctors made a mistake with a strong possibility of proving fatal for me, and the next day Asher was, again, researching for me, advising me, advocating for me, and even more. He was deeply involved with catching this error, and getting it corrected, before it was too late.
Asher, a man who barely knew me, went far beyond the call of duty, and has quite literally been integral to saving my life.
Asher, thank you. I am eternally grateful.
And to all of you OPF forumites, you need to know that the owner of this site is not your ordinary photography site owner. He has a heart, and a dedication, and a passion, that has to be experienced to be believed.
He is a true hero.
Mike
www.mikespinak.com
