The Final Furlong

Its three weeks today that Mel will leave The Wolfson to continue her rehabilitation from the comfort of our own home. The last few days have been really difficult for us both and I`m finding these remaining weeks more challenging than her time at St.Georges. At hospital we were always given a sense of optimism but at rehab that famous saying "The Truth Hurts" really does hit home. Its difficult to get your head around how what was perceived to be a straightforward operation has turned our lives completely upside down. If she had been in a car crash or fallen off a horse then we would probably find it easier to come to terms with, but she wasn`t. It kills me to hear her liken her self to an old lady in the morning and constantly apologising for her lack speed . This really has changed our lives. The challenge for us now is to get her home, get her happy with her surroundings and throw ourselves into a strict gym regime and with our love and the love of our friends get her as strong as an ox.

I tried to persuade the doctors to let her home for the evening so we could watch the freaks entering big brother , but i was politely reminded that this was not part of the rehab process. The compromise was that she was allowed back for her tea. At least she could have something decent. We had a rack of lamb, jersey royals , peas and leeks and for pudding apple crumble with clotted cream. 8.00 pm came and her carriage awaits. Only 21 sleeps to go.

Pikey Nike

I'm back in the hospital today after 4 nights in my own bed ..... Andrew had to work Sunday and Monday but my sister was drafted in to "Melly Sit". This mostly involved drinking tea with me and assisting with cleaning. Andrew has actually done an amazing job of keeping the house pretty spotless, but me being me, I was only happy once I had cleaned it. Hoovering while attempting to balance on a walking stick whilst having only one properly working hand was something of a challenge. I may yet decide to embrace dirty carpets. Especially as I currently have to wear shoes indoors as the splint that prevents me falling over my own toes has to sit in shoes, well to be precise trainers.
Which brings me to the weekends biggest frustration. I'm pretty upset about having to always wear the splint - and the accompanying trainers. At the moment I can only wear the one pair of trainers. A real nasty light blue and silver pair of Nike's that I bought in the sale to wear to the gym, figuring that it did not matter what I looked like in there. Little did I imagine that I would be stuck in them all day every day so had given little thought to how they may look with my jeans. Not good. So, the weekend saw me trying to purchase a slightly "cooler" pair of trainers. Nothing fitted over the splint, or if it did they hurt my feet like hell. Not only am I currently stuck in the pickey nikey there is also to obvious worry of what the hell to do when they wear out!!!
The physio's have today taken pity on me and my trainer plight.(They are girls and understand the shoe thing) Tomorrow we are attacking the cause of the need to wear the splint. They will ultra sound my calf to try to identify the exact muscles that are over active and holding my foot with the toes pointing down. Once these have been isolated the offending muscles will be injected with Botox. This will weaken the calf muscles and will then give the muscles on the front on my ankle a chance to become strong enough to lift my foot. Before the botox wears off.... Well that's the plan, if not at lease I will have a lovely wrinkle free leg!!!

My mate Marmite

When Mel and I Were travelling some 5 years ago it seemed de rigeur to have a hefty jar of the dark stuff in your back pack ready for those taste challenges down under with its rather poor cousin Mr Vegemite. To be really honest with you I have never really liked the black stuff unless it was mixed with crunchy peanut butter on a piece of toast but this inevitably lead to heartburn. I was never quite sure if it was too much butter, the Marmite or the peanut butter. Anyway.... to cut a long story short the mother in law gave us a jar of Guinness Marmite which I hear is Limited to only 300,000 jars. I know that I`m a bit late on this one, but boy its bloody good. If you were one of those people who hated it first time round , then I bet you will love this. Its my new mate anyway and I think an employee from Waitrose is still selling shrinkwrapped packs of 6 on e-bay for about £35.

Home Alone

This is the first weekend that I have come home from The Wolfson to our house rather than mum's - we finally had the bannister's fitted on Thursday. Andrew was working today and behind the back of my physio and pretty much everyone, I have spent the day at home - alone. This is the 1st time I have been on my own in nearly 3 months. It took Andrew some persuading that I would be OK but I was determined to be here alone. I needed to know that I could cope and also wanted some time with just me. 3 months is a long time to have people always around. It was lovely! I had a lie in, in my own bed, watched my own TV and right now the spag bol that I have cooked (all on my own!) is bubbling away on the stove. Yes, I have to use a stick and I limp around - but it is great to be home!

It has also been great to just enjoy things, whilst rehab has helped me enormously, I need time off from talk of "spastic calf muscles" and "wrist range." All new and frightening words.

We have spent the evening in front of the telly with the lap top and after hours of searching found a destination for our holiday next year. We were going to head once again to our spiritual home of Ko Tao but decided that we needed to make a break.... Waiting to hear back re availability, will keep you posted. We need something to look forward to!

Skinny Latte

My worst fears have come to pass - I am now surely a drain on NHS resources. Not only have I been in hospital for approaching three months, had hours of care, physio and occupational therapy, the NHS is now paying for me to drink skinny latte at Starbucks in Wimbledon Village!

Today my Occupational therapy was a trip out into the "community", all part of the rehab process aparently. I chose to go to the supermarket to get something decent to cook ( the cooking bit is tomorrows OT!) and to get something decent to drink. It was 9am, the pubs were shut, I had to make do with Starbucks.

I managed to walk round Tesco's ( it is only a Metro) and then down the high street, into Starbucks and back again. The only hairy moment came when I crossed the road, the little green man had well and truly turned red and the large expensive cars were practically backed up to Putney before I hit the curb on the other side.

Upon our return to the car my OT Nikki said that she thought I had managed very well and perhaps we should do the same trip next week to see if I can improve my speed. I am weighing up if I would feel too guilty about NHS budgets to have cake with my coffee?

Divine with wine

Yep " Divine with Wine " Is the new buzz word from Walkers Sensations and their strategic alliance with the mother of all families Ernst and julio Gallo. What is going on! The biggest adult crisp brand and the biggest wine company, Constellation wines, have joined forces to take over the world. This was tatood into my thick head when I sat on the tube at Wimbledon station this morning to be confronted with a billboard for Gallo, uttering something about how nice their wine was to share with your best friend. Walkers have increased the size of their bags from 150g to 175g under the guise of " Better to Share ". Please dont get brain washed. I nearly did when i bought a bottle of wine from my shop on Sunday night. 175g is alot of crisps to eat on your own when the wife is in rehab....... its a good job we had some Smiths salt and vinegar square crisp grab packs left. Oh my god they are a forgotten snack!

Bionic Woman

Yesterday the physios adopted a new form of attack on my left leg. The limited movement in my ankle and foot is primarily due to the over activity of the muscles in my calf and around my achillies heel. These muscles are in a permenant state of contraction, this basically gives the weak muscles at the front of my ankle little chance of lifting my foot against gravity. (yes, even those few centimeters is against gravity!) So......yesterday saw me sat on gym plinth being wired to a battery pack with sensors attached to my leg. The physio turned a knob, I felt a strange buzz, then as if by magic my foot moved up from the ankle. A very, very strange sensation. This then progressed to another sensor under my heel, so that when my heel left the floor the charge came on and the front of my foot lifts up. Magic. All was good until a change of battery increased the charge and I virtually shot across the room!! If this does not help the next stop is Botox (yep really!)