I had the pleasurr of readind my brother,Alwyn’s, post to Dani and the girls. I had to stop a few times as it really made me cry. Thanks Alwyn. Russ PS IM not always going to be this emotional. It’s just a phase I’m going through 😉 But I think it increases the female readership of the blog, bear with it fellas.

My Magnificent Brother I’ve just returned to my hotel from an evening with Russ at LBH. It’s the first time I’ve visited him since he returned to London. When I last saw Russ, he was still being kept alive by a ventilator, via a tracheotomy, which prevented him from speaking and eating solid food. My god, what a difference! When I walked into his room, it was like seeing the Phoenix who had risen from the ashes. Apart from being a great deal thinner than pre-accident, he looks like his old self again. My magnificent brother has been returned to us! On Sunday I called Russell’s phone from the US, on the off chance someone might answer it and relay my birthday wishes. To my amazement a voice I hadn’t heard in 2 months answered. I asked incredulously, “who is this?”. The voice replied “it’s me, Russ”. I replied by saying “Holy !!!!! , you were the last person I expected to pick up”, to which Russ answered “well who the !!!! did you expect!”. Apart from the day after his accident when I first saw Russ in Toulon, this was the most emotional milestone for me so far, in his miraculous journey to recovery. I have to admit, when I first saw him in Toulon, I didn’t think we’d get the chance to celebrate another birthday together. Tonight we talked about his injuries and we talked about the future. We talked about the challenges and the adventures ahead of us. We talked about what matters most to Russ in light of the change in direction his life has taken. I saw a different side to my brother. He has a calmness and patience about him, as if life has slowed down to a pace where he can reflect on his achievements and in particular, his love for his wife and girls. Up until this point, Russ has hurtled from one race to the next, always testing his physical limits, devouring the competition. This comes at a price. We only have a limited amount of time to appreciate our loved ones and in a funny way, this situation has given Russ the time to balance his pursuit of physical excellence, with the chance to focus that energy on his family (at least for now). I love my brother, always have, but it’s only because of what has happened to him that I am able to freely and easily tell him so. Dear Russ, thank you for holding on for us, we will cherish every day from now on. Alwyn. P.S. the walls of his room are literally covered in birthday cards and pictures sent from family and friends. I couldn’t help reflect that if this is the number of cards he’s received from people who care about him, imagine how many he’d get from people he’s offended! Alwyn.

If I concentrate hard enough and for long enough I can usually get a twitch or 3 out of the leg I’m working on. It’s not exactly fast twitch muscle! However it’s better than nowt.
Bolt, don’t worry, you’re records are not under threat.

Christ I have to swallow about 10 pills on waking, none of them child friendly in terms of taste. Bad start to each day. I’ve asked for a yoghurt into which I can poke them to disguise the rank taste. Good idea, right   All my own work 😉

My walls of cards continue to be filled.  Will post a pic soon to show you. My lovely Lily took on the role of wall card organiser sticker onner and she’s done a brilliant job, as always. She’s such a treasure to me. Amber gets busy drawing me pictures when she’s here, and is becoming something of an artist I can tell you.

I’ve had the plaster off one (face ) cheek now. It’s a bit scarred but someone very generously bought me some Bio Oil which I shall diligently rub in daily to reduce the scar.

Dani and the girls leave today for Portugal. I ll miss them so much, suppose I’ve got to toughen up in that respect, but that’s not easy at this time. Even though the days go fast, they’re so much more pleasurable when I see my angelic girls and Dani. I’ll count down the 10 days til I see Lily and Amber again. Dani’s gonna come home on the 26th for our wedding anniversary tho, which I’ll enjoy more than all our others put together.

Fantastic to see my big Bruvver, Alwyn yesterday, for half the day   He’s great company and loves me very much. Today I’ll have my baby bro too, Stuart, so we’ll have a laugh for sure.
I tried wine again last night- a great Chablis – bit wasted on me tho, as I struggled to appreciate it. God, please let my wine palate return!

Gotta go, time for my 200th bed bath

Russ.

X

All happening today.
Lovely long sleep.
Woken by physio at 9.10! Never slept that late without drinking heavily…
Hosp ‘gym’. Did sitting on edge of bed routine, then…
Tube out of nose and Trachy out altogether.
Freedom from life support tubes at last!
Lets hope they left them in long enough and I don’t just peg it whilst writing this.
I’ve got a plaster over the throat hole which I have to put my finger over to cough, but that should self  sew up.

Seen the charming lady from Stoke Mandeville.
First thing she said? ‘The cafe’s no longer called Jimmy’s ‘ ! Apparently he would rock up on Friday nights in shell suit and copious gold jewellery and jangle ( and cigar puff ) his way down the corridors.
Ow’s about that then?

Anyhow, pervs aside, I’ll look forward to going there within probably a month to begin/ enhance my rehab proper.

Stoke M’s not far from London which’ll make it easier to get back and forth to Chiswick, and to see visitors, if I’m lucky enough to get some.
There are a lot of patients there so I’m sure to make friends.

I’ve had info leaflets about ‘dealing with life when paralysed’ essentially.
It would seem that most people just get on with it. Depression is no more prevalent than in the normal population.
For me, I’ve not felt down much at all. I would have thought, pre accident , that suicide would be my first thought, but not at all. The challenge of it all has a curious draw to it. How far will I go? What will I do that I didn’t before? In what way will we modify our house? What car will I drive? How soon will I get an arm powered bicycle ? There’s a lot to be positive and excited about, in an unexpected way.

I’ll miss skiing, cos I’d got to a level where I could just about ski everything well, so watch out for some great skis on eBay ( that’ll break my heart to see them go..)

On that note, I’m just gonna have a little sob 😉

Russ

Note from Jenni:

Oh Russ,
Every day your blogs gets better and better. What great news today, I am quite overjoyed. Your recovery seems to be gaining momentum! Have you had a good day with your bros? Bet you have.
Love and big, big hugs
Jenni x

Hey Guy!,

Russ has his bros with him on Tuesday and Wednesday pm and he is keen to spend some quality time with them alone.  Stuart is traveling from Wales and Alwyn from the U.S to see Russ. Please could you refrain from visiting on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Russ will be employing Alwyn to fan his bollocks whilst Stuart holds his ipad up so Russ can watch a film. Please can you bear this in mind if you are intending to visit this week.

Thank you 🙂

Melissa xxxx

                                            In front of LBH entrance

Kew Green posse serenading Russ beneath his window (top left)

Today has been a very full day.
I’ve had my big F off trachy replaced with a smaller one as a stepping stone to it going altogether . It allows me to speak, and to cough up stuff without a tube being inserted into my throat 25 times a day with assisted suction.
I’ve had 4 bday cakes and trillions of cards, emails, texts and gifts.
I can’t thank you all separately, but you know who you are 🙂
Some very special people also came and stood outside the hospital with a massive banner wishing me  a happy birthday. 🙂
Dani and  Lily and Amber watched a  movie in my room as a little family treat, and later I had some champagne. Verdict: disgusting. Tasted like the first drink I ever had!
I’ll have to re learn alcohol appreciation I can see. I’m sure there are plenty of volunteers to help me ?

My Dani has been her usual attentive and dedicated self. What did I do to deserve her?
Just before she left, 10 minutes ago, she cried, saying she didn’t want to leave me alone on my birthday. It’s the first time that she has in front of me.
As I type my eyes are streaming, my first tears too.

Thank you Dani for keeping me going. Without you there it would all be so, so much harder.

Thanks to everyone who thinks of me.

Russ

All the lovely peeps that turned up at the hospital today to greet Russ on his trip outside….that didn’t actually take place….(sorry!)….made a video of themselves singing Russ ‘Happy Birthday’ outside the hospital doors.  I intend to post the video but am not enough of a techno to do it….so sorry, watch this space though.  🙂  xxx

Gerry and Karena

Years ago when I was a schoolteacher I told a story in assembly which I never really thought would be relevant to me or any member of my family. The story originated in SE Asia, I won’t bore you with the details but the message was , that there is always someone out there who is worse off than you.Having watched Russ progress from a near fatal situation to where he is now the story keeps running through my mind.Today, Russell’s birthday, is a time of joy and to look forward to all that we know he will achieve in the future. The last thing he said to his Mum when we left him on Thursday was ” I’m going to beat this , Mum.” We never had any doubt that he would ‘beat it’. His remarkable strength, his indomitable spirit and willpower will bring him through this with all guns blazing. He also has the most wonderful friends  and family who are willing him every hour of the day to get better– how can he possibly not succeed?
Oh yes, back to the punch line of the story:
‘ I cried because I had no shoes and then I met a man who had no feet.’
All the time I keep thinking how much worse it could have been but we all know from his recent additions to the blog that our wonderful boy is still very much with us and will be thrilling us for a long time to come.
Love to you all, Bob–Russell’s very proud dad