Announcement March 16, 2007

I have just been diagnosed with are rare form of vasculitis, so at present I won’t be able to accept new orders for hammered dulcimers, harps or bouzoukis. Anyone can certainly still place a deposit down on anything but I won't be able to guarantee any timetable. From this point on deposits would be fully refundable if you should change your mind later. I will continue to sell all accessories, zithers, bowed psalteries, thumb pianos and the supplying of strings. Anything that is finished listed in my current stock will be available and anything that is partially complete will become available as my strength and capabilities return. You can check current stock periodically for any changes. Thanks so much for your continuing support and patience through this difficult time. I value you all as customers and as friends. I will be back. For a more detailed account of my medical problem see below

The decision above is the result of a nearly two month odyssey, starting Jan 14th 2007 of misdiagnosis (they thought I had pneumonia), 6 days in the hospital and every test imaginable. It finally has been determined that I have some sort of auto-immune disease in the vasculitis family almost by process of elimination. I exhibit, and have been suffering the symptoms of this disease for too long, while the medical establishment plods slowly towards a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan which I started March 16th, 2007 The goal is to put this in remission. How long that will take depends on a lot of factors but it could take 2-12 months. My capabilities depend on my response to the two medicines used to treat vaculitis, Prednisone (an anti-inflammatory steroid) and Cytoxin (a immuno-suppressant). Although I’m 60 years old my ultimate goal is to continue building instruments. Right now I can walk with difficulty because of numbness in both feet and lower legs, my fingers on both hands are numb, I’ve lost over 15 lbs, and I’m weak as a kitten. I haven’t been able to work in my shop since Jan 29th and since I work alone with the help of my wife, handling larger instruments like hammered dulcimers and harps and anything that involves using much strength is not possible at this time. If you’d like to learn more about his fairly unknown disease visit the following links.


The Vasculitis Foundation
The John Hopkins Vasculitis Center
What you Need to Know about Vasculitis from the Cleveland Clinic

Update June 6, 2007

I am making progress. While my feet, calves, fingers and to some degree thighs remain numb, I feel much better from the waist up. My heart was repaired with an ablation (a marvel of modern medicine), I now can breath fairly normally with only a slight rasp, and my immune system seems to have backed off in response to the drugs. I am tapering down in by drug intake, greatfully!. The peripheral neuropathy which occured as a result of the vasculitis is hopefully going to subside with time. My rheumatologist says it make take a year. The combination of pain and numbness makes walking and standing difficult. Having said all that, I am slowly starting to do some things as my strength returns and as I learn how to live with the pain and discomfort. Again thanks so much to all of you who have sent me cards, emails, made visits and phone calls. These measures of support have contributed a great deal to my recovery.

Update Sept 22, 2007

Not a whole lot has changed. The numbness and pain remain but otherwise my immune system remains stable (with the help of drugs). I have returned to work part-time and am enjoying that along with my afternoon naps.