Fred Meyling - A Love For Water

After having injured himself in two spinal cord related accidents, Fred Meyling had to learn to overcome adversity. Once he was able to secure a job, which took some doing because of his disability, he began volunteering at Sun n Fun and continued this for over 30 years. He even started their “Handicap Services Department,” in addition to being chairman in other areas for them. He also volunteered at EAA Oshkosh for a multitude of years on the flight line as a pilot. Throughout his life, he has enjoyed sailing on both the west and east coasts of the United States. It was in this time that he found his love for being on the water. He lived on a boat two different times in his life and he has plans to attempt to do that again as he loved the experience both times. Travel can be difficult due to his wheelchair, but if he could get a boat that allowed him to get around on freely, it would be his next adventure.

As of recent, Fred Meyling was diagnosed with Hemochromatosis two years ago. Hemochromatosis is a blood disorder that makes the hemoglobin levels elevate to levels that adversely affect the liver and kidneys. The treatment for this is to lower the hemoglobin and to do that, one needs to take a unit of blood every few weeks. His future plans are to sell his home and begin the moving process with his wife, Patty. The dream is to find a location on or by the water as the elevation exacerbates the condition and it would allow him to be in an environment that he loves.