All posts by Russ

Messages from lovely peeps

Events

From Sian James:

So pleased that Russ is back,enjoying seeing his friends. I am pleased that Danielle is managing to get a holiday with the girls.

The blog is such an amazing tool for those who care but who may not be close enough to Russ and the family to feel  that they can visit. I know so many people who check daily to get an update on his development . Russ is such a character and has the constitution of several oxen , it just helps to will him on.


Aunty Wendy and John:




Hello Sweet-pee,
Fantastic news and pictures!!!! 
An excellent result, brought tears to my eyes, such a difference to when I was with him in Toulon.


Still trying to decide when to come!
When you next see Russell tell him I love him x


Take care my friend
Aunty Wendy and John x x






 Jade Rodham:


Hey gorgeous,


How you doing? I just wanted to send you a little message to send you a big fat cuddle and kiss which I will deliver in person soon, Telstar is coming up to visit today but I cant as im full of cold and chesty cough so obvs dont want to be bringing my germs to see you……….BUT I will be up soon I promise. Ill get all the mushy stuff out the way first, I know you probably hear it every day but I can’t stop thinking about you ( not in that way you dirty bastard) but just what you have been through and how far you have come. I wish you all the best Russ, you are amazingly strong both inside and out and I know you are going to come through this. It is a long road and im sure that there will be up’s and downs along the way but you have sooooo many people around you who love and admire you that are going to be there as and when you need them.


Anyway enough of that stuff cause you know how we all feel about you and I dont want to delay your departure any further due to your massive head that wont fit through the door!


I know you like to see some piccies so I have dug out a few for you to take a look at!- see attached! ( some of you, some of your lovely wife & her bottom, some silly ones of chris and adam just to make you laugh!)


I also had a little look for something that I thought you might like to read, I know you are recieving lots of physio input these days so I found a paper that kind of explains some of the stuff they are doing with you, you probably already know it knowing you, you have quizzed the physio’s whilst visualising kicking them in the tits!! Ill send it in a separate email, let me know if you cant view it and ill print it off and bring with me.


Right I wont bore you any more, I will see you soon


Lots and lots of love


Jade
xxx
























	

	
	


							

							

							


	

		
				

			Who dear?…Me Dear?…How very dare you!
		

		
		

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C/O The lovely Debbie:








Visited Russ this morning, was brilliant to see him smiling and awake. We had a nice catch up and I helped him with his strawberry milkshake which went down a treat. We had a bit of a laugh at some old photos on my phone, I will be posting some on the blog soon Russ watch that space...
Was fab to see you Russ will be back when we return from Portugal loads of love Debs xxxx







Russ in his 'unsure of my sexuality' moment in Portugal


	

	
	


							

							


	

		
				

			Specsavers LBH Conference
		

		
		

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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
















	

	
	


							


	

		
				

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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