Yearly Archives: 2013

Poor Dani.

Events

Being remobilised , and therefore vertical in the chair, certainly does wonders for the ‘intestinal movements’. From being constipated in SM, I’ve gone into reverse 

I must applaud my wife for handling this ‘situation’ like a consummate pro. 
It’s certainly not for the feint hearted. 
Again it’s lovely being at home. I’ve lain on my front for a few hours ( for the first time ), which is awesome pressure relief for my butt, and also intro’d bed press ups to me. I’m pathetically weak compared to before but at least I’m trying     
 
I don’t think I’m ready to take on Stuart ( my brother) in the 60 second 115 press up October 18th challenge yet either. 
What we’re going to do is this:
Stu, age 45, is competing against a relay team of 2 or 3 Hogarth Gym personal trainers, all aged under 30. 
So the bet is, can a ‘middle aged’ Welshman beat a team of highly trained pro’s?
There is a financial element, as this is a charity event…. 
The ‘audience’ will be asked to buy into this by placing a bet on either Stu or the athletic young men of the Hogarth Group. 
Those that bet on the right option will go into a prize draw for a prize. 
You have to factor in that Stu will by this point be pretty drunk, whereas the Athletes will no doubt have  abstained for the evening 😉
I know who my money is on, but that would be telling 🙂
Ironically, if I wasn’t bloody paralysed, I’d certainly try to beat him!
There’s a rumour ( started by me, now! ) that Stu will just be wearing just his Budgie Smugglers. I’m throwing down the gauntlet to the Athletes that they wear an outfit befitting the occasion too. 
I should say that this is an open event, anybody/ any team  can enter! I’m sure there’ll a free pint for anyone that does….
So get training. 

Home today.

Events

My Bum’s been deemed fit to travel home.

What a relief. 
I was allowed 2 hours in the chair yesterday, 25 mins of that in the gym, the rest just taking it easy with my brother, Stu. We had a coffee, and were joined by my buddies from the Hogarth Club  ( Chaffs, Terry and Chris ). Then 2 work colleagues showed as well ( Bal and Jude ) so we had ourselves a bit of a party.. 
Actually yesterday 11 people came to see me. My folks, Jerry, Neal and Trudy came too. To say it was a full day would be understating it. 
Everyone says I’m looking a lot healthier, my face scars are fading, and my upper body is filling out. I do feel stronger physically, despite my 5 days enforced bed rest. 
I find pushing my chair hard work. I think it must be a combination of shite technique and limited flexibility in my shoulders. 
Lying on my recently broken right shoulder is proving very uncomfortable. 
I think the rotator cuff is playing up too ( a common shoulder condition ) , so ill need to work on that in the gym. Rest’s not the cure with that one. 
I’m allowed 4 hours in the chair per day over the weekend, so lots of time lying in bed ( but at home, in our own bed – big difference, awaits ) , so not a crazy weekend forecast…. 
I’ve gotta build in ‘arse pressure relief strategies’ into my day, changing positions in the chair, lifting myself up regularly etc, to prevent a repeat sore. 
I’ve learnt the hard way that forgetting to do this stuff just leads to tissue death…
I’ve woken really early these last 2 days ( it’s 6 am now ) because lying on my side just makes me ache such a lot. Being up and about more again should hopefully help my sleeping ( cos I definitely need it ) 
Stu videoed me in the gym yesterday. I had a quick look and wondered who the skinny looking lad was… Thankfully the weight loss hasn’t made me look 20 yrs older. Cos I used to spend so much time training outdoors, on the river etc, and therefore looked permanently weathered ( but now I stay indoors )  it’s even posible ( according to Dani ) that I look younger?
She could just be trying to make me feel better though..
I think around a hundred people have committed to the party on October 18th. 
That brings a tear to my eye. 
How am I gonna be able to talk to everyone? 
I might need a couple of wheelchair body doubles, with slight Welsh accents. 
Any volunteers ?
My brother Stu is promising to do ‘the 115 press ups challenge ‘ whilst pissed. 
Details on the night, but if you think you can beat him on the night, get training 😉

Events

A day full of brilliant visitors. 

Dani, Caroline, Bev, Pia in a rush of chatty beautiful women… Oh and Chris was there too, as male support. 
Then this eve, when we’d planned to go to the blimmin pub (!) Quentin, Rick, Tim and Bret came and stood around the bed for 2 hours entertaining me.. With secretly smuggled in vodka and even a dash of tonic. 
My body is tired of the inactivity and aches a lot, but I think my Bum is healing at least. 
I’ve spoken to my girls on the phone. 
It’s getting harder, being without them. 
It seems now that each phone call has a spell where tears run down my face, as they are now. 
They are, thankfully, so much stronger than me. 
Can’t wait for the day I go home for good. 

The Spine a thon party.

Events

My God, 65 of you have already signed up to attend the evening of the 18th of October. 


And that’s in only 2 days. 
Thank you all for for committing your time, and your post party neurofen supply.  

It should be a great laugh. The Combi of a bit of spinning followed by copious drinking is obviously appealing…the Hogarth Cliub bar is a great venue. Believe me, I’ve spent many, er, valuable hours there myself!

So, a reminder, if you’re not on the list of attendees yet ( and you don’t HAVE to spin), then  please email Dan on danW@thehogarth.co.uk
However it pans out it’ll be good fun. 
I shan’t be making any speeches as my voice makes that of Stephen Hawking sound macho, but I believe Dan might. 
If anyone wants to sing/ tap dance/ get themselves noticed then I’m sure the microphone would be available. 
(We may all regret that I’ve just posted that..)
Jesus, they gave me a ‘bed shower’ this morning. A lovely lady called Lisa had the dubious pleasure of washing everything that I couldn’t reach (or just didn’t fancy touching myself) 
.. What a lucky girl. 

Bedtime experiences.

Events

Bed rest is no fun. 

Despite having 8 visitors today, all of whom were absolutely lovely (Dani, Debs, Chrissy, Dan, James. Nic and Jay ), the frustration of being confined to bed is significant. 
I’ve pulled on my resistance straps, tried to stretch and move what I can as much as poss, yet still can’t get comfortable!
Hopefully I’ll be ok by Friday. 
Again Dan excels himself with his post last night..
I hope a whole lot of you can make it on the 18th of October to The Hogath Club to ride a bike for the Spine-a-thon and/ or come to gimme a kiss!
Just had a thought. How about the ladies all wearing vivid lipstick and targeting a total covering of my face in the stuff. 
Only one kiss per cute lady, ok 😉
Russ
PS a certain James Cracknell came to see me today ( as he did in Toulon , a visit I can’t recollect as I was semi comatosed ). 
James won two Olympic gold medals in rowing and is a household name in Britain. He’s an extraordinary guy, whose exploits have made the papers ( as well as 3 books ) for many yrs. 
But we have something in common, besides being mates, in that we both suffered horrific bicycle crashes , both were comatosed, and both have been irreversibly affected for life. 
J and I talked a fair bit today, and I felt a deeper connection than ever before. We’ve both lost a lot, but in different ways, him more sensory and me more physically. 
There is however the possibility that in both our personal lives and in our outward projected personas that we can yet become better people than we were before.
But that’s up to him and I. 
I hope that both of us are able to be strong enough to  grasp the opportunity. 

Message from Dr Monique!

Events

Two days into running the Grand Canyon she writes:  

Hi there

 

Received your message today at the end of stage 2. Thank you. How you can think of others at this time of your recovery is admirable. I really appreciate it.

 

It has been a tough day on my feet. They are brutalized at the end of day two. Tomorrow is the long stage. 87 km. Tylenol will have to be my friend…..

 

Lots of hugs – hope you are staying strong! Thinking of you J Monique