Report is up. The spine looks fine. There is good alignment and no loosening of the hardware, fusion. I am not sure what the sound is in your back, maybe tight ligaments, but it isn’t your fusion and you don’t have to worry about losing your bottom half!😊

So I’ve been X-ray’d and I sort of sense, from the lack of information.. that possibly all is not totally good.

I think a second opinion is being sought as to what to do next.. though it’s possible that my imagination is running wild.
Either way, my ‘treatment ‘ has been suspended for the time being.

I should hear tomorrow whether or not my top half will remain connected to my bottom half without the need for further surgery.

It’s actually very strange how unemotional I feel about that… the bottom half of me not really much use anyway ( other than looking ok in trousers ).

Having developed some pretty alarming clicking sounds coming from the region of the titanium fixation in my spine, I am currently waiting for an X-ray.

If the screws have come loose, I’m wondering if my Lower half will just fall off?

Gawd, I know I’ve been a bit quiet on this diary for a bit, so an update….

Firstly my big news is that it’s scheduled that I’m outta here on June 5th!

As my ‘treatments’ seemed to be lasting forever, I came up with the ‘genius’ proposal of doing 2 a day.

‘What a good idea!’ seemed to be the response…. that was then implemented.

15 more sessions of electrocution ( they really don’t approve of that terminology ..) followed by post testing of all the measures they did before they started, and then home.

Since starting my regime of one Chill Pill a day, Sod’s Law has kicked in, and I’ve been really busy with visitors and things to do.

Clair’s visit was definitely a highlight ( 5 days with a fantastic friend, and genuinely a lot of laughs and fun ).
We’ve been to cafes, the odd bar, watched films, been wine tasting ( big thanks to Jamie, Whitney, Brian and Jennifer too ),and even been to the Races ( thanks J and C, yet again ).

Doubling the rate of my schedule, going to the gym and having company has seemed to make time run at its normal speed, probably for the first time post injury, it having slowed to a virtual standstill for long, long periods.

When I get back, I’ll look pretty much the same I’m guessing, except for bigger legs.
I’ll have a better voice ( that’s the gym effect ), and a tan ( face, arms and front of legs ).

I use the arm bike crank in the gym here.
It records speed, distance, power etc.
I think it’s worthy of note to record that there is actually an arm bike ‘study ‘ going on at the moment here, as one of the many experiments on paralysed people.
Anyway, one of the participants ( Dan ) was saying the other day, as he cranked away , after doing it every day for 5 weeks, that today he was going for a personal best of 8 miles in the hour allowed.
I did feel a bit bad saying to him that I was doing 12 miles in my own hour long sessions….
But mention it, I did.

Well he’s half my age, for a start!

So, will I get to come back and have an implant, and possibly regain a little function ?
They won’t say, is the answer.
Reading between the lines, i’ve a fair chance, when I don’t know ( 1-3 years? ).

I’ve made it clear that I want to, am an absolutely reliable and disciplined participant in everything they ask of me, and they definitely seem to like my accent.
When I asked Susan ( Big Chief of Everything ) if my attractive accent would put me at the front of the queue ( ‘line’ here )…she just laughed.. but it was a genuine laugh, at least.

Yes, one of the experiments involves having a man’s head, actually up my arse.

They can’t pronounce ‘Derby’ here, so they call it ‘derrrrby’ instead.

Either way, 250,000 descend on this town for a 3 day horse race festival.

But it’s much more about the hats than the horses.

John sorted tickets for us, and it couldn’t have worked better.

I had the athletic Kevin staying with me, and Chris and Caroline a few miles away with John and Cindy.

My bad taste shoes got more attention than most of the races, but no such thing as bad publicity I think, in the Derby fashion stakes.

My visitors were truly fantastic ( making me question needing the mood pills ) and we’ve had a lot of laughs.

If any of you has the misfortune of ending up paraplegic, I’d definitely recommend having Kevin Neilsen as a mate.
Give him Pretzels and wine, and he’ll do anything.

It takes me about ten minutes to turn off a light on the other side of the room, if I go to bed, having forgotten.

I’ve taken my first antidepressant at the same time as yet another antibiotic for yet another UTI.

So just as my mood lifts, I get another urine infection, further complicating my life.

That’s pretty typical. Not only will I be dressed badly,but I may well be sat in a puddle of my own making for hours on end.

Then again I might not be.

But I probably will be.

So I hope John has leather car seats.

Derby Tips…

Hi Russ,

So glad your friends are coming in today–a nice boost for your spirits! You indicated they are experienced Derby goers. As such, if they are REAL friends, they may frown upon you wearing those “statement” shoes. However, the entertainment value alone should compensate for any damage to your otherwise stylish reputation here in our fair city. (Be very grateful you don’t have to wear one of those hats the ladies were selling…)

I do not recommend drinking the Mint Juleps. They are horrid, but almost required for a first-timer. Just go along with it to please your hosts if pressed. When no one is looking, toss it into a potted plant.

Then of course you need to learn to sing “My Old Kentucky Home” before tomorrow. It is our state’s anthem and you’ll likely have to join in. Be sure to have enough alcohol in your system by that point so you can easily well up a few tears during the chorus that compels one to “Weep no more for My Old Kentucky Home…”

Wishing you a fun week with the festivities, and some laughs and hugs with your friends. Call if you need anything, anytime!

P.S. YOU picked the pink shoes from the others. You could’ve easily gone with the purple striped loafers if you preferred a more understated look. Please do not try to escape accountability for your questionable choices.

So whilst I thought that admitting to needing a little help would open the floodgates of the drug cupboard, it would seem not.

I’ve heard countless stories of people being supplied with pills ( for what I’d interpreted as fairly minor reasons ) after a quick chat with their doctor.

A whole week after confessing to being less than stable, I’m hardly any closer to getting any help.
I do see a general doctor, here probably tomorrow morning though.

In the meantime, good old fashioned company and wine seems to have perked me up.
I’ve 2 new friends ( made all by myself, no less ) that have made life more tolerable – massive thanks to Peggy and to Ellis – both very cool people, and thanks to the ever kind Cindy.

Kev, Chris and Caroline arrive tomorrow too, so for a week I’ll have company.
Plus the whole town goes f’ing crazy for the Kentucky Derby horse race festival thing… And everyone dresses as though in a Bad Taste party…

Will my new pink shoes ( no, I’m not kidding – courtesy of Peggy ) clash with the red spokes of my chair wheels?

If they do, then it’ll go down well at the festival.
Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, it’s definitely not…