On his way to Alaska to tape his TV show, Tred Barta suffered a rare occurrence called a spinal stroke affecting his T2-T10 vertebrae. Since there are only 12 of these Thoracic bones, that’s a very large area. He is currently paralyzed from just below the chest down. Prognosis is way up in the air at the moment. Some medicos predict permanent paralysis while others have given him up to a 60-percent chance of at least partial recovery. His message to everyone is… “Don’t take a single second of your life for granted.”
Barta Update: As of 5/28/09
Hello Everyone, my name is Mark Freedman and I am Tred’s Executive Producer, which simply means I am the creator of his TV series “The Best & Worst of Tred Barta” that airs on the Versus Network a division of Comcast; it also means we talk daily about creative issues concerning our TV show and of course in his inimitable Barta style we talk a lot about his philosophy on fishing, hunting and outdoor endeavors. I can tell you all this, that Tred is an amazing fighter and that he will be faced with the most daunting challenge of his life and career when he starts his intensive physical therapy which begins today. On Tuesday 5/26 Tred was discharged from Denver Health and moved to Craig Hospital a world renowned spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation center that I am told has treated many athletes and perhaps its most famous patient Christopher Reeve. Yesterday he did a tour of the clinic which has various programs that include as part of his treatment the activity of fishing on a pond located right on the premises. Tred also told me that he fully expects to be riding a horse albeit slowly and carefully within 2 weeks. Please note that he is still paralyzed from the waist down but Tred’s positive attitude, amazing determination and his focused work ethic should all play a positive role in his recovery.
The outpouring of prayers and well wishers has been nothing short of amazing. As he reads some of these e-mails and letters to me his voice cracks a bit and his eyes well up as he pauses in thought for a moment or two and then bounces right back with his high octane booming voice planning his next adventure, article or rant like he always did.
Privately, Tred now has a greater appreciation for the most simple and basic things in life. Sunrises and sunsets, the verdant color of grass, the sweet smell of flowers in bloom….suddenly all of the other things that tend to cause us worry or piss us off (politics, the economy, family spats) are of no consequence and just melt away. Yesterday, Tred also spoke to me about (perhaps metaphorically) “if you happen to see an old man fishing on a pier, alone by himself…go up to him, offer him a cup of coffee and more importantly offer him your time and conversation. This shared experience will make a difference in his life as well as your own.” I am not totally sure what he was driving at …could have been the meds, but I know somehow it was a result of his questioning his own mortality and life changing situation. We often talk about his “Porch of Life” philosophy where after finishing a hard day’s work and a practice session with his long bow, Tred likes to sit outside with his wife Anni sipping a steaming cup of Joe while taking in the spectacular Colorado landscape and crisp cool air and just enjoying these special moments together. The message again is simple….slow down, be happy with your accomplishments however big or small….life needs to be celebrated regardless of your station or stature in the world.
I am certain that Tred will soon offer up a lot more of his soul and continue to share his experiences and perspective like none of us could articulate without being in his shoes. Tred has so much to offer us and share that it will be a real treat to read and watch him recover through his writings and of course his TV show which Versus has agreed to continue with for the 2010 season!
More updates to follow soon…..
Special thanks to John Eppehimer at Sportfishermen.com for his posts and all of your support for Tred. You will never know how much Tred appreciates hearing from you and the good you are doing for a fellow fisherman, family man and human being.
Warmest regards,
Mark
Updated
For Immediate Release Media Contact
May 22, 2009 Amy Elias
Profiles, Inc.
amy@profilespr.com
410-243-3790
TRAGIC TURN FOR SPORTS FISHING LEGEND, TRED BARTA
Television Host and Icon of Sports Fishing and Hunting Suffers Spinal Stroke
The highly rated television series “The Best & Worst of Tred Barta” has
taken a tragic turn as its host Tred Barta was struck last week by a spinal
cord stroke just before completing filming of the final episode of the series.
The final episode, which will be aired on the Versus Network later this year,
will be an up-front and personal account of Barta’s fight to regain the use
of his lower extremities that were left paralyzed from the stroke and how
this will now relate to his ability and desire to continue to participate in
wilderness and high seas adventures.
Barta, the icon of sports fishing and hunting, suffered the spinal cord
stroke in mid-May and is currently under the care of doctors at Denver
Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.
“I’ve fought to earn world records for some of the most challenging
fish in the ocean and have hunted dangerous game in the wilderness with
only my long bow, but nothing compares to the fight I am in now,” said
Barta. Spinal cord stroke is among the rarest forms of strokes – 1.2% of all
strokes. The overall annual incidence of spinal cord strokes is estimated to
be only 12 strokes in 100,000 people.
-more -
“Mr. Barta has suffered a spinal cord stroke which is a very
uncommon condition. However, he has applied his uniquely vigorous and
positive attitude in responding to his illness,” said Michael Earnest, M.D.,
neurologist, Denver Health. “Tred continues to do things the ‘Barta Way’
working hard and assisting in his daily recovery process. We look forward
to his continued progress as he moves to the next level of care. He has
earned the respect and admiration of all of us who are caring for him.”
Barta is a multiple world record holder in both sport fishing and
hunting and hunts almost exclusively with a long-bow and home-made
wooden arrows and fishes for marlin and tuna using only the lightest
tackle. Fair chase and fair game are the hallmarks of his outdoor ethic.
His Barta Blue Marlin Charity Tournaments, now held in Beaufort, North
Carolina, are famous for its catch and release-honor system scoring
format and have raised more than one million dollars for children’s
causes.
“Tred has never done anything the easy way,” says Dean Travis
Clarke, Barta’s editor of 20 years and fellow Versus Network TV host.
“When he focuses on a goal, get out of the way or he’ll roll right over you!
I believe with all my heart that Tred will approach walking again with that
same drive and motivation.”
Barta who is also a prolific author writes for Sportfishing Magazine
and Big Game Fishing Journal and is largely credited for his role in
pioneering offshore “Canyon” fishing and how to fish, a North East Gulf
Stream phenomena called warm core eddy formations.
Information about Tred Barta and his medical progress can be
found at www.sportfishermen.com
####
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No doubt Tred and I do not see eye to eye on somethings but he is no doubt a hell of a man.
Please take time to toss some prayers up to Tred.
If you all could post photos links and what not up in this thread and keep the word spreading to pray for him...
Capt John Eppehimer
PS:
I spoke to Mark Freedman earlier today.
He will be getting us updates and accurate info for posting in this thread to keep you all up to date.
I believe Mark is heading to CO. in the next day or so.
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