Icepengwyn sad news

[littlefrog]

Not sure how to get the news out there, but my 'co-conspirator' Alex Challis has suffered a very severe health setback Thursday evening and will not be filling any orders any time soon. He sells on e-bay as 'icepengwyn'. If you have ordered from him in the last week or so, please contact me directly. I don't know what his speaking schedule might be, but I assume he has talks lined up. If you are one of those talks, contact me and maybe I can cover. Alex sometimes sells at shows using my business name (Littlefrog Farm). This isn't exactly correct (it is much more informal than that) but it is close enough - and I will try my best to honor any commitments he may have made.

Today I and Kristen (from New World Orchids) went to his house and we each took about half of his plants for safe-keeping. There were some plants that did not survive, but not many - it has been unseasonably hot and dry here in Michigan the last few days - I think we got to the plants in time to salvage the vast majority. We would both be happy to ship any outstanding orders, but we have no access to his e-mail to know what those orders might be. Bear with us while we try to sort this out.

At this point Alex is in a medically induced coma and from my understanding of the situation more likely than not to make some sort of recovery - hopefully a complete recovery. I'm not the right kind of doctor to make those calls with confidence though, and it will definitely take some time. I tend to refer to him as a 'force of nature', if you've met him you know what I mean. I hope to give you better news soon.

Rob

[AnonYMouse]

I've gotten great plants from him.

My thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time.

[estación seca]

Thank you for your updates, and for the efforts you and Kristen made to help him.

[Mountaineer370]

Oh, no, Rob, that's terrible news about Alex! I'm a fairly new member of the AAOS, and I usually come to the monthly meetings, but I had to miss it yesterday; otherwise, I'm sure I would have heard about this there.

Alex is a great guy! I've learned a lot from him in the short time I've been involved with orchids. My thoughts are with Alex and his family, and I am sending earnest wishes for his recovery.

Cheri

[Leafmite]

Oh my! I am both shocked and horrified at this news! I hope that he will be alright! He was a speaker at our OS a few years ago and made appearances at some of the shows in this region. Alex is a very, very nice person and I really enjoyed talking with him about orchids. I hope that he will make that full recovery and, one day, speak again at our OS.

[Leafmite]

Alexander Challis Obituary - Ann Arbor, MI | Ann Arbor News

[Dollythehun]

Leafmite, thank you. That was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful life.

[bethmarie]

This is the first I've seen this. I knew him only as Icepengwyn on Ebay, but reading your post made me so sad for him and for you, Rob.