Yearly Archives: 2013

Specsavers LBH Conference

Events
It Was great seeing Russ this evening. The three of us kept him entertained for almost 3 hours and he us. We showed him the view from his room for the first time by taking a photo on Ina’s phone and emailing it to his iPad. We updated him on all the latest work gossip and answered all of his questions of interest. He was in good humour the whole evening and it was lovely to see him and Danielle. We all hope to visit again soon and this time we have a plan to get passed the scary nurse that would only allow 2 guests at a time. All the best Russ and keep up the great recovery.

Scott 

It could only be pure entertainment seeing the true superman himself, Russ. I think I can speak for Irinder, Scott and myself when I say we were nervous on arriving at LBH. All of us read his blog daily, it’s like a TV series; we’re all waiting for the next episode, praying and hoping he’ll get better soon. 
From reading the blog and actually getting to see the super optom director himself- reality did strike for me. You’ve been through a massive ordeal and we still managed to walk in to your luxurious room, to see your beautiful smile and have the usual banter! You’re the true definition of strength and determination, someone with so much fight its inspiring. 
We got Russ to see the picturesque shard view via Skype, had him and Iri get some boy-on-boy action ;). We even got to sneak in some wine, now neatly hidden in his draw of toiletries – only Russ gets Clinique mens creams, aftershave and a shaving kit stored for him to be pampered. 
Danielle is a true star for how she endures everything with great strength and positivity and how much she cares endlessly for Russ
No doubt we’ll be back to see you soon Russ, glad you liked our optom calendar too! Keep strong….:)
Ina
xxx
Last night, Ina, scott and I visited Russ for the first time after the accident. 
I didnt feel nervous up until the point at which we rung the bell of the ICU and the automatic doors flung open. I didnt know what to expect and noticed the three of us collectively becoming very silent and obviously psyching ourselves up to meet Russ. However, on entry into his swanky room,  he immediately made us feel welcome and the look of instant animation in his eyes was very touching for each of us to see.
Soon afterwards, the usual Russ banter flowed and the usual bow of disappointment after being out bantered by myself was ever present (every single time, don’t even deny it!)
3 hours into our catchup session, and it was sadly time to leave. 
I find myself waking up with his image firmly fixed in my mind. The image isnt of sadness or sorrow, it’s of inspiration. He said two words last night which continue to ring in my ears- “No regrets”. You did a lot for me man, and I wont forget. 
p.s. I managed to land a punch square on his jaw. Ex pre regs thank me later!
Peace
Irinder

Update

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Special thanks too to my very special business partners Helen and Selcuk, without whom the whole of Specsavers would lie in ruins ( a bit like me really )
They’ve taken all the stress away and dealt with it as usual xx
And to Fuzzy Wuzzy Chrissie for being there for hours while I  was being treated etc xx

Coming up for air

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From Dani:

Had a good chat with the critical care duty doctor this morning. He showed me the latest chest x-rays from which Russ’s numerous rib fractures are still very much in evidence – as is his lung damage. So still quite a way to go before the chest trauma damage is fully mended. This obviously impacts on his respiratory functioning, making progress that much slower.

Having said that, progress is being made and the medics have now agreed that Russ is able to be off the ventilator during the day, resuming it during the night.

He’s also now back on solid food during the day, being fed by tube during the night. Great food menu at London Bridge Hospital; real top notch fodder. The doctor suggested that Russ go big time for the carbo/protein load. However, Russ is finding it difficult to break his lifetime fascist food regime and, despite the doctor”s advice, always goes for the “healthy” white fish and fruit platter options. On top of everything else, he doesn’t want to turn into a fat bastard!! :-s

As Melissa mentioned, there is an ever-present orderly queue of visitors for Russ outside the doors of Critical Care. I left the hospital at 10:45pm and was there most of the day. By my count, there were 13 other visitors during the course of the day. The nurses have decided that as visiting is going to be permanently busy,they need to diarise some daily “recovery time” for Russ and we have therefore decided that he will have a break from visitors and treatment 10-11am and 2-4pm each day. As he wakes up early, they are relaxed about early pre-10am visitors 🙂

I continue to be wined and dined most nights post-hospital visits. My poor liver. I”ll always be thankful to Cardiff University for my alcohol-drinking qualifications. I might have only got a 2:1 in law, but I got a double first in drinking – and that has stood me in good stead all my life :-).  Russ was keen for me to post a piccy I took at dinner last night, not least because of the rather amusing “speccy” theme. As is the way when you are dining with 40-something friends, there is always someone who’s clearly become old-age long sighted but is not prepared to accept it and nonetheless tries to soldier on without glasses albeit clearly unable to read a bloody thing. Step forward Sarah Frankum who can’t even read a restaurant menu without lots of dramatic gurning expressions. Anyway, check out the picture below where Sarah is sporting some “reading” glasses fitted with mini spotlights at each side, produced by the maitre d’ of the restaurant. Now that’s what I call service!!!

Available in your local Specsavers store shortly.

Danielle xxxx 

Long night

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Woke at 3.30 again. But feel ok.
Not allowed normal drinks again, gotta have everything thickened.
Thickened water’s not the best…
But a smoothie is fine. For those outside London, that’s a posh name for a yoghurt without a peel off silver top that you lick.
And it’s more expensive.
Not sure what I’ve got on today but do know this is the calm before the storm.
Got a few books, thanks to Irinder even got Netflix on my ipad!
Never been one for TV, but never spent long periods in bed before either.
Currently on the end of a nebuliser to open my lungs a bit. Should help.
Any TV recommendations?
Dani and the girls go away to Portugal on Friday for a week, so I’ll miss them like anything, but they’re gonna come back for my birthday, by which time I should be sitting up (?).
My mate. Dr Tom came in yday and commented that I wasn’t anywhere near as emaciated as I could be ( looking ok, I think that means )

Am trying to post pics but can’t seem to do that. Anybody got any any stupid pics of me, stick em up and make me laugh.

Lots of love.

Another……

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Busy day.
Visitors from 8.30 til 4, then 6 til 11. .
It’s so touching but tiring.
Thanks to Andy for sorting out my ipad and Scott andIrinder for getting me on Skype.
I’m bristling with comm’s technology that I can barely use!

My chest continues to leak secretions, but it’s a better color and density I hear.
Hope to go out tomo morrow but not sure.

Great to see Ina, dan, tom, Charlie, Lisa, irinder, Andy, kate, Pia,and Dani
Everyday is better than the last, recently, so that’s pretty good

Isn’t it.

How to leave a comment

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I have just come back from seeing Russ and he has asked me to test the ‘add a comment’ bit of the blog (what he really means is that if I can manage it, anyone can). Russ is very keen to receive comments however short they are. (Really quickly – all you have to do is create a googlemail account by accessing googlemail, set up a google account, takes 5 mins, and you’re done). I was on my way to see Russ last night but did a u turn as he was exhausted, he then texted me with – could I pop over and see him at 8.30am today! Obviously I went not knowing if he taking the piss, turns out he wasn’t and wakes up around 7am – so early visitors are good (having said that it does stipulate 10am when you get there!). Russ was looking bloody amazing and it was beyond f**king brilliant to see the progress he’s made since we saw him last in Toulon (something he omitted from his blog when going through the people who had visited him!)- on this occasion I am willing to forgive him as the obvious on 
Pia

Picadilly Circus

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The teeny waiting room of the ICU department of the London Bridge hospital has turned into Piccadilly Circus since Russ’s return.

Each day I email Russ ‘tomorrow’s visiting list’ which is compiled of about 2 or 3 sensibly spaced visitors all of whom are very compliant and mark their allocated space in the calender.  At the end of each day I get to hear of all those that dropped by in passing……10 so far today alone! 🙂

Ha ha – Russ is clearly the most popular patient at London Bridge Hospital!

I know he is very grateful for your time and efforts as is Dani.  Dani is away for a few days as of Friday and will be hoping that the steady stream of visitors continues to fill the time when she would normally reside (3-7pm).

Thanks to you all. xxx