This is an e-mail I sent to many of my friends after visiting Casey Rowe in the hospital and discussing his injuries and feelings. He is truly extraordinary! I thought I would convey it to the R/C Universe. This e-mail went out on September 2nd, 2004 @ 3:14pm EST;

Dear friends,

I've had a chance to reflect on and now would like to tell you about the man..... as I walked through the door to his room he recognized me and smiled right away and it momentarily brought me back to when we first met, always a smile or occasionally joking around, talking about good times flying model planes. You know how you can just tell when someone is happy that your just there, that feeling swept right through me. I smiled and came farther into the room, a little hesitant at what might be. "How ya feeling" I spit out, then thought to myself, thats a dumb question. As I got closer I could feel his suffering, although he tried not to show it, I could see it in his eyes. He asked for a hug, I gladly indulged him. I felt a certain comfort in the fact that he said he was feeling better and was progressing in his therapy quite well. We spoke about modeling and how much we enjoy the camaraderie amongst ourselves, what a privilege to be a part of such a great hobby. But now was a time for us to talk of other possibilities, things that may go wrong, things that did go wrong. A gaping wound in his right lower back lacerated his kidney and came within an 1/8 of an inch of severing his spinal cord, a second large slice in his right buttox, then a third, striking his right leg and severing his leg below the knee and then still a fourth blow just below that, now my friends let me tell you that this man put a splint on his own leg, stuffed towels in his own wounds and was significant in saving his own life after being struck by a 42% Oracle Biplane. He told me that he lost over 7 units of blood (thats more than 50%) and that they nearly lost him on the helicopter ride to Cleveland. Casey Rowe and I have known each other for about three years and while in the hospital visiting him it welled a large rolling tear in my eye as I listened to the story of what happened to him that would change him forever. And after was a time to talk about safety and what we all could do to make this a better and safer hobby without affecting the model flying populous to adversely. If you have time, give Casey a call and let him know your thinking of him. Sometimes people just need other people to take a minute to listen and i'm glad that I could be there. Casey would like you to convey your ideas on safety if you have any. He would like to represent us all as a spokesperson on safety and making our hobby the safest that it can possibly be. I personally am behind him 100% and Casey needs us all more than ever. They call him the Blender King and I have had the pleasure of watching him fly on numerous occasions along with many fine model aviators from around the world. I have a greater respect for this hobby from someone elses suffering, a little more safety is not a good idea, its a great idea, and I firmly believe we can all be assiduous in this matter!! Casey asked that I send you an email to tell you of this worthy plight. Safety, safety, safety. Can there be to much? I think not, think about it. About the man..... this ones for you Casey, Lets Go Fly, I love you bro, god bless and a speedy recovery.

P.S. It is expected that IMAA members will avail themselves of technological advances as such becomes available, to promote the safety of all aircraft and participants.

Larry Schwable
Safety Officer
Thistledown Flyers

Please remember this;

You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

R.F.A.

Casey @ Thistledowns Mini Fest, September, 2004