Almost a year…..

It’s almost eleven months since the accident and I am aware that we have not posted anything regarding Anthea’s progress for some time.

The good news is that there is continued progress.  She has just returned from cooking for 130 young people at a summer camp. which she greatly enjoyed.  She is still having continued physio and though the rate of progress is obviously decreasing, she still continues to improve and is re-assured that the physios think there is more to come.

 Tomorrow we are off to meet the air ambulance team who assisted her transit to hospital on the day of the accident.  I think she feels it is important that she fills in the gaps of what she cannot recall.  We are then off for some holiday and she is talking about doing some cycling and some walking.

Yesterday we got in late to discover that, lesley Farrall, the Diocesan Secretary, who is also a good friend, learnt that her son Mark who is of student age was badly injured in an accident after being hit by a bus in Bristol town centre.  This was obviously a terrible shock for Lesley and her husband Andy and my trip to the ITU at the Bristol Royal Infirmary brought some poignant memories flooding back. 

The news of Mark today is encouraging, but there is still a way to go in discovering whether he has a significant brain injury. 

Please do continue to pray for us, but also remember Mark, Lesley and Andy in your prayers.  We are still overwhelmed by the support we received and can testify to the fact that it has made such a difference.  May it be so for the Farrall family at this testing time

 

Holiday

Just a quick post to say that Mike and Anthea went on holiday for a week at the weekend. It’s great that Anthea feels in a position to go abroad at this stage in her recovery.

Mike will be back blogging next week.

 

Collar off!

This afternoon Anthea and I went to see the Consultant responsible for the ongoing management of her neck injury.  Regular visitors to the blog will know that she had the ‘halo’ contraption removed in December and it was replaced with a stiff collar.  After close scrutiny of an X ray taken today she now has the collar off and for the first time for a very long time is supporting the weight of her neck on her own, and more importantly she looks and feels more like normal.  We have been given the all clear to take a short holiday in Spain in February, which is great!

There was a little anxiety about the increased intensity of pins and needles in her right (undamaged) hand and so the Consultant has asked that she have an MRI scan just to be sure that there is nothing untoward causing this.  She will also have some tests which will reveal the extent of any nerve damage caused by the velocity of the intital impact. 

All in all, however, today feels like a step forward.  There is even some talk of her being able to resume swimming in the near future.  I thought that those of you who are concerned would appreciate the latest news.  Thank you for your ongoing prayers and your concern.

 

Anthea’s Progress

The end of another week and there are one or two bits to share.

Because of the horrendous trauma that a high speed road accident puts you through, it was suggested that Anthea should see someone skilled at trauma counselling.  An appointment was fixed and she duly spent over an hour last Friday with a counsellor who has such skills.  I was invited in for the last ten minutes or so.  The conclusion was that she doesn’t need any counselling help as all her emotional dials are heading in the right direction.  We greeted this with a real sense of gratitude.

I am constantly amazed and have been all through my ministry at the sheer resilience of the human spirit and particularly when this is fanned into a flame through the strength of God and the love of other people.  I believe that all three have helped Anthea, who, in my somewhat limited experience is slightly unusual in that unlike most of the Intensive care patients I have met can clearly remember the accident.

Her hand continues to be treated and I can see that she is using it more and more.  There is still some concern about the lack of strength and movement in both her arms and it was suggested this past week that we should see a shoulder surgeon to see if we can find out what is or isn’t happening.  Her ‘halo’ was replaced before Christmas with a stiff collar and we are hopeful that in ten days or so this will come off and she will be able to receive further physio to strengthen her arms.

Anthea is wanting to do more and has been to church for the last two weeks - some folks say you have to be feeling well to do that! - and she has even been down to the local shops.  Progress indeed!

The rest of us are fine and I am now back at work.  The only exception is my youngest daughter, Lella who is still seeking to come to terms with all that has happened ans is at home at present having been instructed by the local GP to take some time out from university

 

Time to move on

As Anthea continues to improve and her progress now is very much in the hands of the physios, we have taken the decision to reshape the blog as an opportunity for me to offer some thoughts on a variety of subjects. The blog will give you, as in the past, the chance to respond and comment and try and explore some important (and some less than important) issues.

Thank you to all who have already logged on to the site (almost 100,000 hits) and have left messages or have simply gone away and offered us your thoughts and prayers. This has made a massive difference to us as we have battled our way through the past 13 weeks or so. Never underestimate the power of love and the strength that can be gleaned from faith in God.

We had a great Christmas as a family and look forward to the year ahead. Perhaps I might take this opportunity to hope and pray that 2007 will bring you joy, peace and blessing.

 

Halo off

This morning, Anthea went to Frenchay to see whether the surgical halo that was fitted in the week after their accident could be removed.  They felt happy about taking it off and Anthea coped with the process admirably.  This is great news and Anthea is now wearing a stiff collar. 

It has been a long day as the appointment was followed by more long physio so Anthea is pretty tired and enjoying a cup of tea at home.  Her general progress continues and the removal of the halo is clearly another big step. Lella is now home from Brighton for Christmas.

Mike has done a couple of interviews and we believe BBC Points West will be broadcasting a piece tomorrow.

 

Hope for hand

We haven’t posted for a while as there has been very little to report.  Anthea continues to settle at home, gain strength and do more things for herself.

Today she went to see a senior hand therapist at Frenchay who encouraged her that significant progress could be made with her left hand.  She will be having 2-3 hours of physio each day until Christmas and has been set hourly exercises. The hope is that these will create much improved use.

Mike continues to spend a lot of time helping Anthea but is preparing to get back to work for the beginning of January.  He will be preaching at the Cathedral on Christmas morning (and at Midnight Mass).  The family are looking forward to all being together in Bristol this Christmas.

 

Settling In

Anthea and Mike ar now settling into life back at home after over seven weeks away in Oxford. The move has gone very well and Anthea is now eating normally and hopefully starting to put back some of the weight she lost whilst being in hospital.

Her mobility continues to improve and she is dealing well with the stairs at Wethered House. Yesterday she actually came downstairs and managed to make a cup of tea!

Mike and Anthea had a good appointment with the spinal orthopaedic consultant at Frenchay hospital last Thursday morning. Her spine was X rayed and the Consultant was very happy with what he saw. They were very encouraged to hear that there is a possibility that the ‘halo’ might be removed on December 18th in time for Christmas. Another piece of encouragement was that the halo would be replaced by a soft collar rather than the somewhat stiff Miami brace they thought would be fitted following the removal of the ‘halo’.

Travelling in the car has not proved to be a major problem for Anthea in terms of either comfort or her emotions. This means that she can be taken out occasionally.

The family continue to be extremely grateful for the prayers and practical offers of help from so many people. Progress continues…….please keep praying!

 

Anthea’s home

Anthea is now home! Mike drove her back. They’re both doing very well and are really pleased to be home. It’s great news and we thank God for it.

We have to reiterate that they are not ready to receive visitors and won’t be for some time (probably till after Christmas).  Thanks for your understanding.

 

All Change!

The news has just broken that after a re-appraisal of Anthea’s situation, it has been decided that she no longer requires hospitalisation and will be sent home to Bristol, either today or tomorrow.  A decision about this will be taken after lunch today.

This is obviously a massive encouragement to the family who are now in the process of making the necessary back-up arrangements for Anthea’s care at home.  It seems amazing that seven weeks and two days after the horrific crash she will be returning home.  Another visitor at the hospital who suffered serious injuries in a car crash some years ago was telling Mike and Anthea that he was in hospital for nine months!  Even after a little over seven weeks, Mike and Anthea look forward to this massive leap towards a more normal life.  Please pray for them as they return home - Anthea will be driven home in Mike’s car - and for the necessary back-up and after care.

It is important to understand that though Anthea is returning home she will not be ready to receive visitors until she feels confident enough to do so.  The family would be really grateful if you would honour this request.  Mike has frequently stated that ‘words cannot adequately express the depth of gratitude that myself and my whole family feel to the thousands of people who have prayed, written and supported us through this really difficult time.’ 

The general feeling is that Anthea will certainly not be ready to receive visitors until she has had the halo removed, which hopefully will be some time just before Christmas.  Any further news about visitors will be communicated through the blog.