All posts by Russ

:)

Events

Two people go cycling in France. One gets back safely.

The other suffers a horrific crash. He nearly dies, is airlifted to hospital where upon he does in fact die and is brought back to life again. He then is on lift support for weeks. He suffers broken ribs, punctured lungs and severers his spine. Eventually he ends up in Stoke Manville, in a wheel chair and has to go through the agony of relearning the very basics of living again.

Come the end of the year GUESS WHICH C*#* GOES SKIING FIRST?

John

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Well you made it. Albeit not a pleasant journey. Your girls are only seeing the relationship of caring between their mother and father; it’s not about cleaning up shit. Russ- your showing them what life should really be about. That’s a gift. This is a massive endurance test for you mentally and physically. Hang in there.

Cheers John. Merry Xmas to you too, my friend.

Events

Russ

Read the blog. I have to just say that I’m impressed. Despite hitting inflight turbulence mid-Atlantic you can still blog about it! Once again proving that as life lobs hand-grenades at you, you just keep picking them up and throwing them back.

Embarrassed, depressed, angry, sad…….ok, and perhaps I know bugger all about how it really feels.

But I’m still impressed!

Merry Xmas
John

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My wife just said something that made me happy. 

 

She said that pre accident I’d always told her about people in wheelchairs whose eyes I’d examined, and how nice I’d always been ABOUT them, as people. 
I’m glad she reminded me of that. 

Events

It’s mid flight and it would seem I’ve had ‘an accident ‘. 

This has turned what promised to be a pleasurable experience into, mentally, an awful one. 
Obviously babies do this all the time. They do something, the parent changes the nappy, sorted. Or the parents decide to leave it and clean the infant when they land, or even get to their final destination. 
The baby’s not bothered either way….
At about 4 , kids develop a/the sense of ’embarrassment’. That developed sense stays with humans for the rest of their conscious lives. 
At 47, mine’s very much alive and well. 
At this current time, I feel absolutely awful. Here I am, trapped in my seat, with  no option other than to sit here, then to disembark ( with help from at least 2 BA staff ) via an ‘aisle chair’, then to transfer into my own wheelchair, get thro customs, wait for the luggage, get into a taxi queue, transfer into a cab, get taken to the hotel ( about 90 minutes ), find our room, get onto a bed, then my poor wife has to clean me up, and in front of the kids too. 
I’m finding it hard to ‘deal with’ the next few hours in my head. 
If it was my baby I’d be a little uneasy at worst. 
But like I said, the baby doesn’t have the self consciousness issue that I do, and that all of you do.  
I talked to quite a few guys who’ve flown as paraplegic passengers. I think they all said they’d never had ‘ an accident ‘ 
Well just my f’ing luck then. 

Heathrow airport.

Events

Sitting in the airport lounge in T5, Heathrow. 

Wheeling through security, not the X Ray machine, being ‘patted down’ by security guard, who asked me to raise my two arms ( couldn’t do ) , then wondered what was attached to my leg.. Answer ‘ catheter ‘ What’s that, he said. 
Goes into my willy, drains urine into a bag  , I said. 
You can taste it if you like, I added.  
Slightly awkward smile. 
Further training required? Just a thought. 
Not his fault, bless him. 
At my new height all I seem to see are women’s bums. It’s quite nice, some of the time.
 Women dress up to catch planes, I think, improving the view down here. 
Cos I can’t give people a hug now ( midgets excepted ) I find myself patting thighs/bums instead. It’s not perverted, it’s just sort of practical!
If I pat yours, please don’t take offence. 
But if you’re a girl, bear in mind how I see the world, so make an effort? 😉
I’m only wearing a ‘leave in’ catheter for the trip. It means it’s unlikely that I’ll wet myself basically, essential when skiing. 
All that bumping around and falling over could result in a ‘leak’ otherwise. 
Sub zero temp’s and wet trousers, combined with no sensation …. Bad frostbite risk!
 Best avoided I feel. 
Surgical removal of toes not ideal at this moment. 
And looks crap in sandals.  
Ok, I’ll resume wine drinking now. 
In moderation sadly. Hmmm, life really has changed!

Another message.

Events

Bon Voyage lovely Boy! What an adventure you have ahead! No doubt they’ll be some tough moments and lots more ‘firsts’ but how much experience you’ll gain in such a short time. Not to mention all the love that will flow round you from that wonderful and supportive extended family  of yours. And I know to be spending 10 solid days with Dani, Lily and Amber will be the best Christmas gift ever! We’ll be thinking of you every day while you’re away and so look forward to seeing you in the New Year to hear all the stories……I’m sure the blog would go into overdrive if you tried to relay them all there! Go safely and enjoy! Don’t push yourself and just know that you have been utterly AMAZING thus far, more than anyone would think was possible, so don’t think you have to prove anything. Just enjoy. Love you loads and see you in 2014! CWxxxx

This one made me well up. Thank you Kath. Dani is VERY fond of you too.

Events


Hi Russ

Danielle has been my lovely boss for nearly 14 years  and you and I met at Piers’ house many years ago.  I feel I have got to know you without ever seeing you from chatting with Danielle every day about your sporting antics and now through reading your blog.

I have been reading your blog right from the start and hoping and praying you would pull through.  In fact,  I was telling Danielle that I developed a rather annoying tapping wood ritual that I had to carry out every time I thought of you or Danielle (don’t worry, I am not really a nutter)!  This ritual saw me having to cross the room to find something wooden to tap on at the most inconvenient times – half asleep and drunk, talking to the headmaster of my son’s school …….  I wonder what other prayers or promises were offered up by other people on your behalf!

I have sometimes felt intrusive reading your blog when I don’t really know you but I have felt compelled to see how you are and have been 100 per cent rooting for you.  It’s been brilliant to see your incredible improvement over the last six months.  I don’t know why anyone would think you come across as arrogant.  Your determination and bravery are incredible and sharing your thoughts with people on the blog is courageous and trusting.  The lady who wrote those stupid comments should be ashamed.  

Andy, who worked in our office, died at the beginning of the year.  He would share his thoughts through emails to his friends and I always read them through tears, getting an insight into what he was dealing with and his courage.  I often do that with your blogs too.  As Andy became became increasingly frail, he became a giant of a man in my eyes.  His qualities as a man made him bigger than those around him. I have thought of this when you have written about feeling physically smaller.  You are bigger in my eyes for your strength of character and determination.  I am quite sure your lovely family and friends see you the same way.  You and Danielle are a formidable force!

I hope you have a brilliant holiday with your girls and enjoy the skiing.  I am sure I will be hearing all about your sporting antics again from Danielle because anyone who has come as far as you have is destined to carry on setting the world on fire.

With love

Kath x