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.
November 21, 2006 at 11:17 am
what wonderful news ! ‘Do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you.’driving home will be scary after so long in the hospital environment as will going back home. But you are not alone & our love & prayers will be with you as ever along with everyone else’s. We love you, you precious people !
November 21, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Hallelujah!!!
Welcome home to the West Country!
What good news; God is so good and so faithful! – but we all need to keep on praying and praising, to keep on top of the enemy!
Every blessing to all the family.
November 21, 2006 at 12:39 pm
This is really good news.
Great to hear you’re both coming home. Look forward to the day we can see you again.
Ken.
November 21, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Wow, what fantastic news! Hallelujah!
lots of love Tony and Gill
November 21, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Excellent – an answer to our prayers…!
Andy Binns – Chesham
November 21, 2006 at 2:31 pm
How wonderful. What an answer to prayer. Take care of yourselves and please let me know if you need any help at all.We will continue to remember you both in our prayers.
Eva
November 21, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Dear Anthea, What totally amazing news! My prayers continue to be with you and the family as huge adjustments are made – what a great God we have! May you continue to know His strength, peace and healing presence in a very special way. With lots of love, Bx
November 21, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Praise God – wonderful news! May He continue to bless you and carry on His healing and restoration work in both of you. We as a family and I am sure countless other people will continue to hold you in our prayers.
November 21, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Wow – that is so amazing!! Even my work colleagues, who do not know Anthea, are thrilled. God is so good. Anthea – you’ve been really brave. Don’t expect too much of yourself too soon (but expects tons from God!!!!). Continuing to pray for you all.
Lots of love
Soo
November 21, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Such good news will pray for smooth home coming and continued healing.
God bless you both
November 21, 2006 at 3:44 pm
What a blessing and answer to prayers. The medical staff are clearly using their gifts to excellent effect.
November 21, 2006 at 3:53 pm
PRAISE THE LORD,
Great news to hear you are fit enough to come home, especially as it was so unexpected. He is still working great miracles!
Still praying for your complete recovery and your adjustment to being in your home environment
Judy
November 21, 2006 at 4:29 pm
I hardly dared go into the blog – but did as I got home just now. How wonderful – Alleluia!! You have done so well and should be very proud of yourselves! Take it easy and may every blessing go with you. much love Clare
November 21, 2006 at 4:32 pm
This is just fantastic news – Praise the Lord.Anthea, you are an inspiration to us all.
We’ll pray for your journey & convalescence at home.Our love & best wishes to you & the family. Gina,Geoff & family xxx
November 21, 2006 at 5:05 pm
That’s fantastic news Ollie. Many prayers for the journey home, for the resettlement at the house and for space, peace and healing.
November 21, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Wonderful, wonderful, news! Thanks so much for updating us so effectively. Our love and prayers are with you all as Anthea returns home.
November 21, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Superb news! There’s no place like home! Warmest good wishes and prayers as life gradually improves for Anthea and for you all.
November 21, 2006 at 7:03 pm
Praise the Lord.
We have been praying for you here in Winsley and will continue to hold you and the family in our prayers.
Psalm 139 verse 5
November 21, 2006 at 7:13 pm
What fantastic news !!Love and Blessings to you all Joan xx
November 21, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Wonderful news! Praise God! We are SO pleased for you all. We pray that your journey will be protected and the Lord would send His angels before you to welcome you home with His comfort, peace and continued healing. Bless you all as you adapt to this marvellous change.
Much love & prayers,
Robin & Margaret xx
November 21, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Delighted for you all. Must be a time of mixed emotions – excitement tinged with apprehension I would guess. Will pray for continued grace and patience as you undertake the next stage of your rehab in the comfort of your own home. Derek is envious that you, Mike will now find out what it is like to share a bed with someone with a halo! And I’m hoping Anthea, that Mike will be able to combine his role as personal beautician with any ecclesiastical tasks he may find himself engaged in. Keep the hot flannel routine going at all costs!
Love to you all
D & A
November 21, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Good.
Peace be with you.
Sarah
FOTK
November 21, 2006 at 9:44 pm
+Mike & Anthea,
This is great news, I am so pleased for you. Continued Methodist prayers floating heavenward for you.
November 21, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Praise the Lord!
You continue to be in our prayers here at Ridley
with love and God bless
November 21, 2006 at 10:04 pm
God is good!
No, God is BETTER than Good!
Wonderful news – we will continue to pray for you all
God bless
Stephen and Jacquie Gardner
All Saints Church, Woodlands, Doncaster, S.Yorks
November 21, 2006 at 10:39 pm
wonderful news! i do hope that all the care and support you need, and want, comes good for you and that you feel safe confortable and able to heal in comfort and privacy,
with all good wishes, love and prayer
Cal
November 21, 2006 at 11:30 pm
What amazing news, Praise God!
A great step forward on the road to healing
much love and our continued prayers
Richard Katharine George Charlotte Ed and Henry x
November 21, 2006 at 11:35 pm
Completely wonderful news for which we praise the Lord!
Antony & Sheila
November 22, 2006 at 12:12 am
We thank God for bringing you both back safely. Bristol hasn’t been the same without you.
November 22, 2006 at 12:35 am
Praise God! What amazing news! we’ll be praying for the journey home,for Anthea adjusting to life outside of hospital, and for her continued recovery.
Love from Rupert and Hilary
November 22, 2006 at 12:58 am
Hallelujah!!! What great news. You are still very much in our prayers for the journey, being at home and out of the hospital environment and continued recovery.
God is very good!
Love
June & Tom
November 22, 2006 at 10:45 am
Hooray – praise God! Hope the journey goes well, we’ll be praying. BIG smiley face to you all (“,). Keep taking each day as it comes and enjoy all the comforts of being back at home. Take good car of yourselves.
November 22, 2006 at 10:46 am
We are thrilled that you are going home and send you our continual prayers and love for the journey and for settling in at home. Everyone here in Amersham and Chesham Bois continues to pray and we will pray at Churches on the Hill (COTHA) when I go to the Meeting tonight. We will be praying for all the family and the new Team that will be helping you, Anthea.
Take courage for The Lord is with you. love, Ray and Celia
November 22, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Dearest Anthea – you are so amazing! I tuned in to say something to cheer you and here you are cheering me up! I’m just so delighted for you and Mike, and really looking forward to having you back in Bristol. We’re thrilled you’ve made such fantastic progress, even though I bet it feels like a long hard slog at times. Keep going – the mountain top is in sight and you’ll be able to look back and see everything all clearly laid out behind you.
Lots of love from Lynne and the girls in class.
P.S. You’ll appreciate this! You know the little ¼ inch wheel we use to add the seam allowance to templates? Well last night in my evening class, as the girls were all making templates I asked ‘Does anyone need a wheel?’ Well they all burst out laughing and Michaela said ‘No thanks Mummy!’ Puzzled, I said ‘What have I said?’ They answered ‘It sounded like you asked us if we needed a wee!!!’
December 26, 2006 at 4:31 am
Letting christmas fade off to the past and going thru some of my bookmarks…I was here before because I have this blog bookmarked…. But Ido not recognize it, so you must have made some serious changes in the design?