Friday, January 26, 2024

Cutter Pillsbury

This is a very special model I created as a special gift to Dr. Harold Pillsbury.

Accompanying my wife on a follow-up visit after recent surgery, Dr. Pillsbury happened to notice a swelling around my left ear.  Upon closer examination, he took a culture and sent it to the lab for testing.

Long story short, I received a call that same afternoon ordering me to rush back to the hospital in Chapel hill (2.5 hour drive).

On arrival, I was rushed directly into surgery where Dr. P had a surgical team waiting.

Turned out the infection was caused by a DEADLY fungal infection that was only a centimeter from penetrating into the membrane protecting my brain.  Certain death!

He virtually saved my life!


The UNC ENT Cutter Pillsbury



After recovery, I decided I had to do something special as a token of my appreciation.

I couldn’t think of anything better than create a special ship with his name on it.

What more appropriate type of ship for a surgeon than a “cutter”?

Note the “Carolina Blue” trim.







Full overhead view






















Armed with 14 of these small cannon.


















Transom name plate.

























Began mid October 2015.




I learned that Dr. Pillsbury overheard someone in his office talking about the planned ship presentation scheduled to occur in his office in less than a month.  So….I took about three days to throw this little “decoy” model together.



Not sure exactly what he was expecting, but this pitiful little model is what was presented to the man.







I wish we had video of the presentation.  Especially the moment we brought out the REAL DEAL.









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