Simviation Forums

It is with deep sorrow I have to report of the deteriorating health condition of Roy Chaffin, my good friend.
Roy has been a great contributor to the Flight Simulator community. He has released packages for Combat Flight Simulator 2 and FS2002 all the way up to P3D
He has been suffering with Parkinson's Disease for some time. Three weeks ago Roy had a fall. He went to get up off a chair (one of those office chairs on wheels). It went one way, he went the other. He fell on his back with his head hitting the door jamb behind him and was not really with it.
Paramedics took him to a local hospital in an ambulance where he was x-rayed and they announced he had broken two vertebrae in his neck. They were unable to treat him and sent him to a major London hospital where spinal surgeons operated and inserted metal plates to support the neck. The good news is that the spinal chord was not breached and he is not paralyzed.
The surgeon said the operation was a complete success. He has gradually recovered from the operation although still very sore, stiff and weak from having to lay still for three weeks without sitting or standing.
He is being moved to a local private hospital where a regime of physiotherapy will begin - although he says he just wants a reasonable quality of life.
Roy is an Internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and is known for his unique style, combining photographic detail with an artistic portrayal. The results are dramatic, each animal painting seeming to acquire a living quality.
His paintings and limited edition prints are collected by people around the world.
You can view some of his work at www.roychaffin.com. You can click on the link http://www.roychaffin.com/rcs-panels.html to view his Flight Simulation addons.
He has worked with world famous Siegfried &Roy and Tippi Hedron's Shambala Preserve.
I hope your thoughts and prayers will be with him for his successful recovery, as I will.
Roy authorized me to post this. Bob.

Terribly sad news, Parkinson's is a curse of a disease and now made worse by this. Do pass on my regards and best wishes from B.C., I have had occasional exchanges with him re his condition.

Roy is one of the great perfectionists and his work was the most advanced aircraft design I had seen several years back with exacting detail.
I also have known Roy online for many years and wish him and his wife the best.

Thanks for posting

Thanks for all your kind thoughts. His great packages have been used a lot by a lot of simmers.

I'll be passing all the comments, here, and on the other FS Sorums to him, via his wife, Dinah. Bob.

strange....i was just contacting bill rambow and was wondering what happened to roy chaffin.....and here's my answer......truly wish him the best recovery possible......those were the old days at the mid atlantic air museum.....

So sad to hear that news, and pleased Roy is on the mend.
I've often, every couple of months, dropped Roy a line, just to chat, and to remind him that his work has not been forgotten by the simming community.

Please pass my best wishes to him.

Kind Regards,
Robin, Cape Town, South Africa.

My best wishes for Roy.

I stumbled upon Roys website years ago and the quality of everything there was astounding. Hoping he gets to feeling better

It never fails it is always the good people that seem to get hit with unexpected medical issues. I wish him nothing but the best and hope he is back to doing what he loves to do so much.

I have an update on Roy's condition.

Roy's wife has been very moved and proud of all the comments the

flight sim community have made. She passed them on to Roy and he

says a big thank you to everyone who is rooting for him.

Roy is making progress - he was helped to a chair today and was able to

sit for over an hour without pain. A big step forward.

He will be moved to another facility called a Rehab Centre when he is

fit enough. His wife has been told he might have to be there for 6 weeks

before he can come home, but hopefully would be able to do so sooner.

Thanks Bob.

Thanks for the update Bob

Here is an update directly from Roy:

"Roy's Progress Report,

9th Nov - neck broken

13th Nov - neck surgically rebuilt

15th Dec - moved from hospital to rehabilitation centre

27th Dec - Now I am restricted to lying on my back in bed all day. I can sit for only two hours each day because my neck cannot yet support my head any longer than that. My neck and my hands are very painful.

All of the above needs massive doses of painkillers. Currently my hands do not work properly. I hope to progress more in the New Year



I wish you all a Happy New Year



Roy"

He really thanks all that have posted on this thread. Bob.

Thank you for the latest Bob.
Sounds like there is recovery going on which is good news.

Glad to hear it. Keep up the hard work I know it is hard times for you I have gone thru a couple of surgeries myself and know the pain and discomforts but nothing like a broke neck.
I had to have a hip replaced and had narrowing of the spine and now I am dealing with degenerative disk disease which prevents me form standing to long or walking any kind of a distance without pain.