Club Arnage

I regret to inform you all that a policeman has just rung me to say Termie was airlifted off an autoroute today after an accident with a lorry. I know very little more, but will update when possible.

Thats terrible news,

Thinking of you and Deb.

I'm shocked to hear that, here's hoping that all will be well.
Best wishes and good luck to you both.

Very sorry to hear that Mr T.  

Fingers and everything else crossed - my thoughts n prayers with you both.

F

I sorry to hear this news.  Please keep us informed.   
Give her our best wishes.

t.

Mr T

Thinking of you both, best wishes to you both, and fingers crossed.

Sorry to hear that, hope all will be OK.
Best wishes to you both.

Sorry to hear about this, my thoughts and prayers with you at this time.

Pass on my best wishes to Deb

Oh, sorry to hear that news.

Hope things turn out ok.

I'm sorry to hear this... Best wishes and We're thinking of you.

Richard

hope all is well - thoughts are with you

I hope Debs is OK. My thoughts & prayers are with you.

Ade

Can I join everyone else in wishing Debs the best and my thoughts are with the pair of you...

That's bad news Mr. T, hoping for the best on this

Sorry to hear the bad news.  Hope all is well.

0330 - Just returned from 240 mile round trip to Charles-Nicolle hospital in Rouen. Deb has multiple fractures to arms, legs and ribs. She was in surgery while I was there but all vital signs seem ok. She arrived at hospital conscious and relatively alert. Wonderful array of hepful staff on duty at midnight - we were offered coffee in china cups in a waiting room, while they brought senior medics - 3 - to see us and tell us the news.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts. Your support really matters. I will do my best to update this thread when more news comes through.

Ian/MrT

Thanks for the update Mr T.  It sounds like Debs is getting the best possible treatment and care.  Coffee in proper china - how civilised is that?!  We would be lucky to find a functioning drinks machine....

Make sure you take good care of yourself too, it looks like you will have a bit of home nursing and running around ahead of you.

Love and best wishes to you both.

F

Ian, I totally missed this thread and was horrified by the news, please give Deb, our regards and hope she recovers quickly.
Brian and all the Liverpool boys.

Ian, I too totally missed this thread
Will CA'ers please stop getting injured on Autoroutes

Please pass on our regards to Debs for a speedy recovery

Regards
Team Robbo

Just a minor update, having spoken to Rouen at 16.30. I had a call this morning asking what blood group Deb is! Not quite my field, so they had to do a test. It emerges that they were giving her a transfusion because she was losing a little, and they wanted to x-ray the arteries in the right knee, where much work must be done. Evidently the x-ray was good, so I think we may expect the op quite soon. I am pencilled in for a visit tomorrow, but will only go if they are confident that I can see her.

Thanks to all for the kind and encouraging messages. Today everything I've done has felt like the deckchair re-arrangement on the Titanic. Being strong is needed, and your support helps. I am lucky that we have a number of Brits hereabouts who are stepping forward, so I am not alone.

More anon.

Ian/Mr T

Best regards from Pat and I.

Hope the op(s) are successful.

Del

Ian

Please say hi from me to Debs.  I hope it all goes as well as possible over the coming days

Dave

Send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. This is not a good day for CA ladies  :(

 :o :'(

Really sorry to see this thread.

I wish her a very speedy recovery and hope that you are Ok as well. It can be a shock getting news like that.

You will both be in my thoughts and prayers.

Bless.

Mr. I.

I only met you both briefly at LM this year, but no one deserves to be put through the sort of angst you are both suffering.

Speedy recovery to Mrs T and stay strong Mr T

Best wishes

Landman/Paul

Just caught this thread as well. Thats two lots of bad news today although one with a slightly better outcome. Get well soon Debs, wishing you a speedy recovery and my thoughts are with you.

Stu

Like many, I just caught wind of this thread.  Get well soon Deb, I'm still expecting you to be at Sebring next year ;)
Fax

Hi Ian,
        Sorry to hear of Termie's misfortune. Best wishes to both of you.
 Thanks for keeping us updated.
 Stay strong
Canada Phil   

I'm only just catching up with getting online after Brian told me about this over lunch yesterday.

Ian, please pass on my best wishes to Debs for a speedy recovery. Thank heavens all her work to ensure ex-pats still receive medical care in France was successful!

Christ almighty, I was wondering why Brian had entitled Lisa's thread "More very sad news" and now I realise.

Ian, please do say hi to her from the Zarses we're all thinking about her, at least it'll stop her smoking for a few days! Any idea what happened to cause such an awful accident? Oh, and make sure you look after yourself too.

Bloody hell, I go away for a few days and come back to 2 pieces of bad news. Get well soon Deb, I hope you are up and about again soon. Like Fax says I hope to see you at Sebring next March. I have never seen anyone so exited at a race as you after the finish of the GT2 race at Sebring last year. Keep your chin up.

Best wishes
  Bob

Just got back from holiday and missed this thread, due to signing off in shock after reading the news about Lisa.

Ian,

Will you send Debs both Jo and my best wishes for a speedy recovery, I'm sure she will soon be whizzing around the hospital, looking for somewhere to have a fag. :)

Good lord!  However will Deb cope without nicotine whilst in hospital?  Why it would be like me going without Normandy Cidre!  Ian, please wish her all the best for a full recovery. 

Dx

Termie Termite update! I saw Deb tonight - but she was "asleep" at the time! She had just returned from 8 hours (yes) in theatre fixing her right knee. The reason she was still asleep is that they'll leave her that way until tomorrow, when they will mend the comparatively simple break on the left leg. The right wrist has been done, and apparently the left is ok - no break. Then she will be woken up - and given the little present I left, which is a picture of her favourite cat, Cooper! The ribs - three are broken on the right side - will not be fixed, which is the norm.

She is in the Reanimation Chirurgical Unit, which is the Intensive Therapy Unit -French Style. She has so much stuff by her bed, with all sorts of drugs being administered and monitors going left right and probably centre. I was "shown round" by a delightful young doc and her even prettier student. I had to wear a gown and wash my mits before entering. Once again, I am entirely impressed with the level of care and professionalism. If Deb doesn't make a full recovery, it will not be for lack of effort by the hospital, that is quite certain.

A car crash is a violent event. I am pleased to say that apart from a bit of bruising and a couple of small marks on her chin, Deb's face has not suffered - not that that would worry her very much, anyway!

I expect to visit again late Saturday, when conversation may be possible. More then.

Ian,
Just seen the thread. Oh Gawd! Am shocked. Am so glad to hear Debs is recovering well, sounds like she is getting the best care she can get. Hopefully the operations will set as much right as they can. Please pass on my wishes for a speedy recovery when you finally get to talk on Saturday

How are you coping? Just remember you both have all your CA friends for support.

Like a lot of others, I also missed this, glad to hear Debs is on road to recovery........ maybe not the best choice of words........all the best, Ian

I spent a week on an exchange working in a French hospital, and I can confirm that French hospitals are very good indeed. (Well, they were 10 years ago, but that's not to take anything away from our ones) Even the food is edible in most cases.

Hope it all comes good for you both, particularly that the knee is sorted (It should be after 8 hours of work / advanced carpentry. I wouldn't worry about the wrist, the left leg, or the ribs, they'll just be uncomfortable for a while (as I'm sure Mark will attest re. the ribs.)

Buy some nicotinell patches, and bung them on her when the docs aren't looking.

Just noticed this thread for the first time - I must admit that I rarely look into the help-section of this forum. And I'm shocked. I hope Deb will recover soon. Ian, your reports from the hospital sound optimistic. All my best wishes. If you find out that she needs to stay there for a longer time, please put the postal adress of the Clinic here so I can send something - books, flowers or so, is there anything she would like?

Cheers

Werner

Get well soon Deb.
Best wishes
Leontien

Circumstances of the accident have now been revealed, following my conversation with the gendarme responsible today. It was in no way Deb's fault. A lorry, which may have swerved to avoid a car or cars in front of it, came across the white line and hit Deb head on. No-one else was injured.

I have spent an hour retrieving things from the wreck of the car, and am very impressed with how little damage there is. The engine has stayed pretty much in place - quite different from the old days when it tended to try and join you in the cabin on such impacts. The rear passenger door still opened and closed. The roof is missing, having been removed by the Sapeurs/Pompiers in releasing Deb.Deb had always fancied a convertible Micra, and now she'd got one when too ill to enjoy it! Seriously, if you want a small car that will protect you, Nissan Micra is a good bet. I'm sure Deb would have another.

The gendarme, who acted brilliantly on the day, calling me twice to let me know where Deb had been taken, had taken her handbag, camera and laptop, as well as a couple of holdalls, into police care - they were handed over today, with her passport. But in the car there was a complete mess of horse-feed, Diet Coke and Heinz Baked beans (4-packs, of course). Surprisingly two jars of Sainsbury's Hollandaise Sauce survived, as did several bottles of Saumur which had clearly not been drunk in England. The camera - a Nikon D70 with new-ish 70-300 Vibration Reduction (ooh!) lens - is not going to take further pictures, I think. But if someone else was responsible for the accident, then a claim looks likely, so redress in some form may emerge in due course.

I expect to see Deb in Rouen tomorrow.

Thanks for the update Ian.

Please pass on all our regards and well wishes.

Good to hear things are still progressing well. 

Wishing you and Deb the best of luck at the re-awakening tomorrow. 

I am off to southern France for a couple of weeks, so wont be able to keep up with progress, but will be thinking of you and wishing you both well.

Love
F
X

I'm another who doesn't check the Help section of this forum.
All best wishes to Deb for a full amd swift recovery. She is in an excellent hospital - I know from personal experience.

Ian - don't go worrying about liability and claims. The car's contents are covered by your insurance.

Thanks for that thought Kpy. Actually I've managed to remove the lens, which turns out to be ok - it was the lensmount on the D70 that was hanging off. Having screwed the metal faceplate back into the polycarbonate - we're up and running! Frankly my biggest concern is driving my 7-yr old Skoda, which is a fine car, but has 56k miles on it, back and forth to Rouen every other day. It's a 240 mile round trip. I hope to make a case for the insurers to provide a car and fuel - knowing some other insurer will be paying out. Getting that message across in French may take some doing! I also feel insurers close ranks to avoid anyone paying out.

Bit vulnerable here, but Termie's other website France Forum, may have some suggestions.

One other fear has gone away. In France, we pay separately for health care to the state, which pays in effect 70% of our costs. We take out private cover to cover the rest. It so happens that the man who runs our private cover scheme (no, not the broker, the insurer himself) is a good friend of Deb's re some other health insurance issues in the last year, and has rung here twice in three days seeking news of her progress. That's one cost that isn't going to come back our way, I think!

Take the FIAT or the mog.  ;)

Ian,

I've sent you a PM

Thanks to Lang Tall for pointing this out to me.

Fingers crossed and best of luck wished to Mr. & Mrs. Termite. It must have come as a complete shock to you, Ian.
Glad to see things are improving rapidly, I hope Deb will recover soon without too much trouble.

Best of luck to you both!

Sadly, today's news is not so good. I arrived about 16.15, waited an hour and a half, and then found Deb was still unconscious. I think there were fewer drug inputs, and fewer monitors - but she'd gained an oxygen tube, which is a bit worrying. Clearly Saturday afternoon staffing is more in line with NHS levels, and the few people on duty were busy. I did find a doctor, and expressed my concern that things were not as I'd been told to expect them when I saw the doctor on Thursday. As far as I can gather, they are not happy about her lungs, hence the oxygen, and had been doing tests to find out what is wrong. I asked about pneumonia, but that is not the problem. Perhaps nearly 40 years of puffing away is catching up with her when she least needs it. The left leg is now plastered round the ankle, so clearly that has gone ahead as planned. Deb had a cushion against the broken ribs. She has bad bruising on her left shoulder.

I'm sure this is a temporary blip, and next week things will get going again.

We all hope so.  Good luck

I too missed this thread, gab just brought it to my attention today. You wouldn't expect that of a Moderator would you!!

Mr T - please pass on a Get Well Soon message to Deb from me. It's really good of you to come back with regular updates, please continue to do so, as she has a lot of friends here.

Slacker  ::)




Ian, thanks for the updates.

I too missed this one. Ian we have never met but I did have one or two discussions with Debs over the past about Leeds and surrounding areas, please pass on my best wishes to her, and take care of yourself.

Neal

I rang Rouen today, and found that Deb is still asleep, so I did not bother to drive the 240 mile round-trip! Lazy, or what? The slightly better news is that the medication that had been keeping her under has now been withdrawn, so she will now wake up "naturally" when her body decides it is the right time. I do not anticipate that she will be a barrel of laughs from moment 1, however! Sadly, this may mean the first familiar face she sees will be her mother's, as she's on the night boat from Portsmouth tonight. Deb will immediately conclude that she's died and gone to hell! My only chance is to ring very early tomorrow, and if she's awake, leg-it there vite!

Now, where's my copy of How to Speed in France, by Jean D'Armerie?

Thnanks Mr T. I LOLd at this line - "Sadly, this may mean the first familiar face she sees will be her mother's...Deb will immediately conclude that she's died and gone to hell!"

Well I'm very late to this, Ian, please pass best wishes from me and from KK to Debs.   I also wondered why the other thread was "more bad news" when I dropped in quickly earlier.

Have a big hug yourself, it's a really shitty thing to have to deal with and being so far away from the hospital must be awful for you.

We've got our fingers crossed that the next update is positive. 

Take care..........Piglet and KK

Sorry Ian to just read this "more sad news".

Not alot more i can say that has not been said before.
Stay strong for you both, and please take care to read the speeding in france manual carefully!!

Bestest of wishes for a successful recovery to Debs and my thoughts are with you Ian.
 

Any update Ian? 

Well I did my best to head off MIL. I was in the hospital by 10.45 - no sign of her. I was told that as it was early, I could only have a few minutes with Deb, who was still asleep, but they needed to finish a procedure first. So after waiting a few minutes,  and sitting with Deb for a while, I was out by 11.30. I had warned the nurses of MIL's impending visit, and the dubious reception Deb might give her. I returned at 3, the statutory visit time, but still no MIL. Again I had to wait while they undertook a procedure, but then spent about 30 minutes with sleeping Deb, before, again, I was asked to return to the waiting room, while something else was done. Having waited over an hour, I enquired further, and was immediately allowed back in - the nurse had left, the doctor had come in, and I wasn't part of the handover, so I wasn't recalled. I asked the doctor about the substantial number of procedures being  carried out, and she assured me that this was entirely normal, and Deb was making normal progress. Again, she told me that Deb would wake up when she was ready. She then asked if I would prefer Deb to be moved closer! I was delighted to accept, of course, and we agreed Le Mans is the place, as it almost certainly has Reanimation Chirurgicale facilities. I'm not going to count my chickens on this one, but as it was her idea, it may have little legs, if not actually wings!

Still no MIL when I left at 5, and no messages from her on my phone at home. Very odd.

Thanks for the update Ian, fingers crossed she wakes up soon and hopefully the MiL isn't the first person she sees.  MiL is probably still driving around Rouen as most of us do!

It would be fantastic for you if you could get Deb moved closer to home, the round trip to Rouen must be pretty draining on you.

Hope you're keeping yourself well, you need to look after yourself as well. 

I am sorry to hear this news. Deb was uncommonly kind and hospitable to me at the 2007 Le Mans and facilitated my first trip there. I must say i would not have been able to attend if it were not for her help. I pray that all goes well with the recovery.

Have just come home very tired after another Rouen trip, during which I spent over 2 hours in the waiting room making small talk with MIL, followed by another brief visit to Deb’s room. Some signs of waking, apparently, with twitching toes etc, but then she became agitated, so they had to suppress that. They also remain concerned about the breathing, and though they have taken x-rays, I think she will be given a camera down the trachea tonight. None of this is much fun, and I am running out of steam. Oddly, her left hand has some small bandages on a finger or two - one of which glows red with an internal light source! Is this some sort of LED skin therapy?

Hi Ian,
hope you can take her back to Le Mans soon

All the best

Werner

Cheer up Ian, its now a battle of wills between good and evil...you cannot let evil win ;D

I'm really glad to hear that there is some progress; like everyone else, I cannot wait to read your post where she wakes up and sees you rather than MIL.

Chin up chap, it wont be long now.....

It could be a Pulse Oximeter. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_oximeter)

Best wishes on TT's continued recovery.

[Oddly, her left hand has some small bandages on a finger or two - one of which glows red with an internal light source! Is this some sort of LED skin therapy?[/quote]

It could be a Pulse Oximeter.

That seems extremely likely. They have been consistently concerned about her lung performance, and this would be a part of monitoring that. Thanks!

Surely there must be some way of rigging up a Gauloise to the breathing apparatus!  ;)

Fingers crossed Ian, it sounds to me that the medics are doing an incredibly skilled and professional job and are conroling the on/off button to her best advantage. I guess it's one of those things that's hard to comprehend if you don't really know what the procedure is but I think you should have complete confidence in them.

Glad to hear the MIL turned up safely, when's she leaving?  ;)

Keep your chin up and look after yourself. Get a good meal inside you and some sleeping pills form the doc if necessary; you need all the energy you can get just now. There's loads of people this side of the pond to help - I live close to Newhaven - if you need anything please just ask.

Deb is awake! She can't yet speak - too many things in her mouth, but she is awake and alert to some extent, I understand. A sample of tissue has been taken from her lung area and is currently being analysed. I expect they'll identify it correctly as Gauloises!

Needless to say, I will be ready and waiting at visiting time - 1500 tomorrow!

Ian, that's fantastic news, we're so pleased to hear that Deb is awake.   Please do let her know that we're thinking of you both, fingers crossed for the next few days, hopefully you'll get her closer to home soon xxx

What Piglet said...  :)

Ditto.

It's good to have good news for a change.

t.

Great news Ian, send her our best wishs for a speedy recovery.

 :D    great news!

Now she's okay, would there be any chance of getting over here to look after me, I'm bent double with a bad back.

All the best for tomorrow, I hope she'll be able to talk with you

Best wishes

Werner

Great news

Fantastic news!!!!  :D

Give her our best wishes, and make sure you keep on looking after yourself too! As Andy said, keep your strength up and particularly with all the driving, keep yourself refreshed and alert!

Drive carefully on your way back up there tomorrow!

Are you sure they're not keeping all that stuff in her mouth so she doesn't have room for a Gauloise?

Great to hear she's awake.   :D

Dx

Great news Ian, no doubt that's a weight off your mind.  She'll be up and about soon.

Ian, on a practical note can I suggest that (if you haven't already) you start writing a diary of all of the costs you are incurring in visiting etc., and also documenting how you are feeling etc., and then document Deb's progress and especially how she feels over the next few weeks.  You'll need to be able to recall and evidence this when it comes to making any personal injury/uninsured loss claim and it's amazing how much you'll forget as the weeks and months go on.  It's really worth getting into the swing of keeping a diary now and then you'll have a record.

(sorry to "go legal"!)

Missed this one completely, shocking news but glad to hear that she's awake.
Best wishes and I hope a speedy and full recovery.

Bas

like everyone else we missed this one, glad to hear termie's awake and we're wishing her a speedy recovery....rex and claire xx

If there was a Trades Descriptions Act definition of awake, I’m not sure Deb would quite meet it yet. I arrived, walked in and called her pet name – instant stir, eyes half opened, and tried to follow me round the room – without success. Still got a mouth full of tubes, of course, so no hope of verbal response. She was aware it was me, and I gave her simple news about all the people rooting for her, how the hospital thought she’d recover well, and the gendarme had said it was not her fault. Result – snore! I sat for about an hour, until they needed to work on her, and as usual the expected 20 mins they needed took more like 50. When I went back in, she was clearly gone again.

Yes, it’s undoubtedly progress; no, she’s not really with-it at all. It’ll get better!

Mr. T,

I have been very late picking this thread up.

Please give the lovely lady my regards an in Chez Leftie we all wish her a speedy recovery and a slower relaxing life to you.

Is Debs at Le Mans Hospital now?

I haven't read all the postings are the are too many  so I don't know whether this has been arranged. But can we as CA do anything like a big bunch of her favourite flowers or something?

Leftie

I've watched this thread from the start and haven't felt able to contribute as, to be honest, I don't really know anyone here very well, but can I just say I'm living it. I read it every day and I'm over the moon that Debs is on the mend.
I'm posting because I really can't hold out any more and I want to wish 'Ian' and 'Debs' all the very best.
Ian, take the advice being offered, keep the receipts, give her a sly Gauloise and keep cheerful.

I particularly like Leftie's idea of a bunch of flowers but I reckon a gallon of 4* would be of more use. Can we do both?
I'll contribute to both funds, one for Ian, one for Debs, someone in the know on this forum must be able to sort it :)

There speaks a man of experience!!!.  Glad to hear things are looking up. Get your words in while you can Ian.

On another note,would anyone mind if I suggested moving this thread with a sticky to the general discussion. A lot of people have missed this in the Help section and I'm sure the vast majority (if not all) would like to keep up to date with the news of a very valued member of this forum.

Having been away for a while I agree with Mark... Move the thread please dear Sirs.
I only heard the news a few days ago and feel a little guilty for not having said something earlier due to being unaware.
I hope a speedy recovery is underway, tubes have been removed, Ciggies can be smoked, booze drunk and life can return to normal
Thoughts and best wishes... Rex

Thanks A! Legal advice from a qualified practitioner is never a bad thing! Quite right, there is scope to get some costs covered. I'm hoping that my credit card statement, which will show fuel costs and evidence of autoroute tolls on the same day, may be acceptable, but keeping receipts is not my forte, so I'll have to try a bit harder! In fairness, the French are good at offering receipts - even the car park machine at the hospital has a receipt option, and I did mange to press it last night! Hey - that's 4.5 euros I can claim!

Agree, no sooner said than done...

As Basil Fawlty said when told that there is always someone worse off than yourself; "Well I'd like to see him, I could do with a laugh!".  ;)

Ian, I'm not sure if you saw the other thread but Nickliv (now AKA the no armed idiot) fell off his own garage roof this week and broke both wrists and now needs a special device to wipe his own bottom!  :( Personally I think he should change his name to Rod Hull.

Anyway, I delighted to hear the news that Deb is slow coming round. Like you say, it's progress. Keep on keeping on...

My fault for putting it in "Help" in the first place - problem with being a newbie and not understanding protocol. Thanks for the move, Sir Smokie! That said, your collective and individual responses have been amazingly warm. I am aware that CA-ers have been known to rally round another member when, sadly, he had a worse misfortune than mine. This group is not all talk!

Flowers are certainly not permitted in the Reanimation Chirurgicale where Termie currently resides. I have to wash hands, apply a disinfectant gel, and don a gown before entering the ward, which has only 6 separately-roomed beds. I'm still waiting to find out what the rest of the hospital allows, but my distinct impression is that hospitals have had to become more draconian on floral tributes since MRSA etc became a serious issue. I'm not expecting a move from Rouen until they've bottomed the breathing issues - they would not want to duck-shove a patient with unresolved issues to someone else's care, just to make it easier for the visitors!

News of Nickliv's fall just proves that when the merde's going around, it falls all over the place! Both wrists! Serious - how can a man get a grip on himself?

Please dive in DM.  All are welcome here.

Hi Ian

I must be the last person in the world to read this and must admit that I went cold when I read your first post.

Please, when you can, give Deb's my love and at the same time make sure you are looking after yourself.

I have read the whole post and see that you are being well looked after, as you would expect.

Fingers crossed for a full recovery and see you at Sebring next year.

Regards, stay strong.

Martin

I kept car park receipts after my shunt in May, I dug them out the other day to discover that the ink has faded off them already so they are blank, it'll be back to the credit card statement for me as well!  You just need to be able to evidence the costs so a credit card statement should be fine, especially for tolls, fuel etc.   The diary is useful, my injury was incredibly minor compared to this but I'd forgotten already how awful it made me feel and how difficult I found just doing day to day things and having written it all down I can demonstrate to the insurers how difficult it was. 

Hope things are going OK and Deb is becoming more alert as the days go by.   The human body is an incredible thing and somethings it just needs sleep and rest to heal itself, difficult for loved ones to sit and watch but probably best for her...

I really do wish that there was more we could do to help both of you xxx

Today’s visit could only be described as harrowing. Deb was much more with it, but her breathing is now terrifyingly difficult. Twice I felt constrained to get the nurses in to do something, and both times they seemed to agree I was right. We held hands while she struggled for breath, despite the oxygen tube in her mouth. She repeatedly gurgled and coughed, sending the oxygen pump alarm into overdrive. I was very frightened. I am sure that the shocks to the lungs, compounded by a long period of sleep after the anaesthetic, and the sudden withdrawal of the Gauloises, are causing the problems, which may ease as days go by. If they don’t, well…..

 

On a lighter note, she didn’t know she was in Rouen, nor have any idea how long she’d been asleep. Her eyes went wide when I told her.

 

Holding hands was nice.

 

Ian

We've all got our fingers crossed.  I suspect its just got to the stage where its starting to hurt

Oh Ian, that must have been horrendous for you, I just can't imagine what you're both going through  :'(. 

I guess she'll have a lot of "gunk" in her lungs because of her smoking and the long anaesthetic and that needs to clear, her body will do that and the medics will help it happen, it'll be tough to watch for the time being but I don't doubt she'll get through this.  Deb is strong and she's a fighter, take it day by day at the moment and as everyone has said, do try your best to take care of yourself as well.   Deb will need you to be fit and well for when she's home and ordering you around to do all the thinks she can't do herself...xxx

Best wishes to you both Ian, looking forward to the POO bar next year.

Oh hell Ian

I have only just found this too, tell the little darling we all love her wont you.

What a dreadful thing to happen but when she gets over the withdrawal pangs enough to have another fag she will be much better.

What with all  the other problems this week this'll go down as the blackest week for a long time, but this at least seems to be one problem that can improve soon

When you get her nearer home I'm sure you will both feel better too.

Do take Piglet's advice and keep a diary and receipts, although insures do pay up eventually they love to make a sport of the process, first.

Smokie, thanks for stickying this where I could find it, I was away for most of last week.

Bill



(dark Green Midget from St Sat day out, Ian)
[the car that is, I may be green but am not vertically challenged, yet!] ;)

Blimey Ian,

I've only just seen all this too.
Send Debs my best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. There's not too much more than I can say other than please make sure that you look after yourself too.

Gary & Lois

I too have only just seen this thread.

I don't think I can add anything that hasn't already been said, my thoughts are with you both.

Rusty

Just seen this thread.
Best wishes to Debs. Keep us informed of her recovery.

Quite a change when I walked in today. Deb was asleep – she remained so throughout my visit – but her breathing was so much better! In nearly 2 hours, I think I heard her cough once. In contrast, yesterday she was in considerable discomfort and coughing a great deal. Her heart rate was much lower today – I don’t think we got an alarm all visit. Blood pressure looked good, and her oxygen level was in the required range, too. Bafflingly, when an alarm does go off on the monitor next to the bed, it is for another patient, a Mr Mohammed Mellah, who is two rooms away. His traces replace all but Deb’s heart trace on the screen, then after a few mins they disappear and we resume Deb’s stuff. Amazing what you take in when sitting with a sleeping partner!

This is a corner turned. I am much happier.

Good for you Mr T. A corner turned indeed by the sounds of it.

i can only wish you a lot of strength and positiveness during the recovery process.

Hey, great news Ian, lets hope this trend continues, you do realise that Deb's will have no excuse to smoke again, this money should be put into the Sebring 2009 fund...

Now that is an idea!

Stay strong, once again best wishes to Debs

>Martini...LB

Good news, and the Skoda's holding out.  Its still got a few trips to go by the sound of things.

And you need a fortnight off the fags to get the nicotine out of the system.  Even at French prices, this could pay for Sebring

That's fantastic news Ian, you must be pleased.  It's all fairy steps at this stage and that is very much one in the right direction. xxx

Crikey. Just popped in to see what's been happening in CA world and found this. Wishing Debs all the best and a speedy recovery. Take it easy MrT- we are all thinking of you both up here.

Si

Well this is what obviously what happens when one gets submerged in work - stuff happens around the bazaars and, as with many, I too have only just picked up on this one - mental note to self, stop getting submerged in work no matter how vital it seems.... 

Hard though it must have been to keep your spirits up and keep going over the time and keep things in a semblance of order, particularly having to shuttle back and forth, you are doing a great job of it Ian - my very best wishes to both of you, and to Deb for a full recovery.  It does sound very much that a corner has been turned in the right direction and she is on the mend - I do so hope that it continues, and that it is not long before Debs is back presenting vociferous demands for you to action!  All the very best,

MG Mark

I too have only just spotted this, (pay attention at the back Bobblehat!!)

Please send on my best wishes to Debs. By the sounds of it it wont be long till she is back on the bubbly stuff!

Bobblehat

Get well wishes from myself and of Turn10.

Get Well Soon Deb!

Randy

Blimey, only just seen this thread - Give Debs our very best wishes from all of Team Muz  ;)

 :o  I can't believe I also missed this thread, I must be going blind!!!  Ian, please can you pass our get well wishes on to Debs...  I'm so glad she's on the mend now, but how scary the past few days must have been for you!  Fingers crossed Debs will make a speedy recovery and we will see you both soon at the next CA gathering.  Vicky and the Melans xx

Tonight’s news – via MIL, so credit there – is that Deb has had the tubes withdrawn, so is now breathing unaided, and is able to speak. A move to an orthopaedic, rather than intensive care, ward, is now in sight. Whooppee!

I missed Rouen today, because 2 good friends came to help me with paperwork  –  and also because 250 miles, 3 days in a row, is knackering, believe me! – but will be there in good time tomorrow, I hope.

Another credit is due to locals rowing in to help – Alan and Mag have been entertaining our dog Troy for the last 13 days, and Mag has done a mountain of ironing. She insists on doing more! Given that Deb had been away for three weeks, there is no shortage of stuff being washed! There are other offers of help here waiting to be taken up, and visiting Deb will be sensible once she’s in a more “ordinary” ward, thus helping me to reduce the strain of that trip too often. This trial becomes easier by the day. Hopefully I can help ease Deb’s concerns when we chat – yes! – tomorrow!

I am very happy to hear this!

Good news indeed, glad to hear it.

Great news, Ian.

Ade

Ian, things are thankfully looking so much brighter, have a great day tomorrow.

I remember seeing photos of Mark's Subaru Impreza crash on the way to Le Mans this year and marvelling at what a modern chassis can withstand. But a Nissan Micra versus a camion doesn't sound like a fair fight to me, though clearly the crash zone design worked according to plan and we all know they build 'em tough on South Tyneside, thank God.  :) I'm presuming the airbag went off?  ;)

Yes, both airbags deployed. Deb's had a small amount of blood on it, although she didn't suffer any significant injury to head or thorax. What was marvellous, when I looked at the wreck, was how little the engine/transmission had moved backwards. Deb had pointed out ages ago that this model of Micra had a very good NCAP rating - proved in practice! I think Deb's injuries are consistent with her having "submarined" under the seat belt in the impact, so she went to meet the scuttle, rather than it coming in on her. My inference is that crutch straps, which would prevent such an event, are the safest way to go, and I must say to all who have older, and perhaps less crashworthy vehicles, due to their design age, that you might think about this. Sadly, crutch straps will never be popular in family cars for comfort and convenience reasons. Had Deb had them, she might almost have walked away....

Thats great news Mr T, keep it coming. Onwards and upwards

Sounding good Mr T!

It still will take a long time untill she will be up and running, but by the looks of it, she will be in the end!

Good news Mr T and getting better by the day.

Mr T

sorry not to have commented earlier but I too have only just spotted this.

Please send best wishes to Deb from the WANCs and me especially as Deb and I share the same surname of Mite

PM

More good news.  Getting out of intensive care is a major step

Many thanks for the update Ian.

This is very good news.

Leftie and Tean Dragon

Excellent news!  Enjoy the visit today and look forward to seeing the update later (and thanks for keeping us updated so well) although regaining the ability to talk will, of course, mean that Deb will now be able to issue tasks and demands to you now..... Take flowers, grapes and choccies and enjoy a milestone on the way to recovery.  ;D

MG Mark

It's all sounding better by the day Ian. I am so pleased!

Tell here we are all thinking of her and we look forward to seeing her at a racetrack in the not too distant future!

Fantastic news Ian, fingers crossed for a move closer to home in the near future. xxx

That is good, some positive news.

Thanks for the updates.

Take care.

Thanks for the updates Mr T,  good news. Jules G

Thanks for that Ian. Personally I could never wear crutch straps, they'd chaffe on my Ipcresses too much on a day to day basis and in the event of an accident like Deb's the impact may well burst them. The pain would be beyond description, as anyone who's suffered from the Nuremburg Trials will testify.

Thanks for the updates Ian, how are you holding up?

Any more news or discussion on a transfer to LeMans?

Stay strong regards to Debs.

Deb is sitting up in bed completely lucid. Remembers the accident, everything until she was sedated. Apparently my version of the event is a bit adrift. Deb found her lane blocked by a car lying on its side – having just been punted there by the lorry – and she drove into its roof! The physio is helping her clear her lungs, and that remains a priority to move to the next stage, i.e. outside Intensive Care. If progress with the lungs is good, then we may know more by the weekend. I am also adrift on the number of breakages – she has broken all 4 limbs! She expects to be called the limbless woman from now on, please!

She was being given her first solid food for a fortnight when I arrived, so I took over from the nurse, spoonfeeding apple compote!

Breakages apart, and they’ve all been fixed, of course, this is the old Deb!

Excellent news Ian.

I seem to recall that she was on the lookout for a renault dauphine in the fairly recent past..........

Just get a set of 5 point harnesses for it.

Really great to hear she's on the mend. I have a lightly soiled bum wiper I can send you ;)

Two Le Mans people; six broken limbs. It's nothing to shout about!  :(

Glad she's back on planet earth!

Good news Ian, glad you are back together properly, and I hope she is soon too!! Please pass on our best wishes.

Excellent news .....that's the best news I've heard in a while. Too many broken people, dodgy weather and incompetent politicians.

You are the official bringer of good news, keep it coming.

Gauloise's at the ready?

I have only just read this thread and can't believe it, so sorry to hear about Debs but fantastic news that she is on the road to recovery. Mr T please send her my good wishes xx

Fantastic news - a great relief and best wishes to you both,

Mark

Good news Ian, please pass our love to Debs and stay strong yourself xxx

My 11th visit, two weeks after she was admitted to hospital, and I’ve at last got a certificate showing the injuries, which are far more numerous than even I had understood. E.g., I thought 3 right ribs broken, whereas this diagnosis says nos 1-9! There are lots of other damaged bits listed, which shows how wonderfully thorough an A&E unit can be. Deb’s breathing has improved in 24 hours, with her oxygen intake now up to 97-98, instead of the 91-92 that kept causing alarms yesterday. This is probably down to clearing more muck off her chest. Not a nice process, but she’s good at it, evidently. Again, I fed her apple compote, but had to wait outside for over an hour, while the doctor and head nurse decided how to overcome some problem. I think one of the feeds or monitors has not been working well, and it has been moved from her right shoulder to her neck, making her marginally less mobile in bed. Her hands, increasingly clear of bandages, are very swollen, as an allergic reaction to something, so she cannot hold a book or turn the pages, sadly. This is frustrating the poor thing, I think.

I’m having two days off the road to Rouen, being at CPAM (health services) in Le Mans tomorrow, and having the Skoda serviced Friday. Unless there is dramatic news, my next report will be Saturday, therefore.

Hi Ian,

this sounds good. Try to relax a bit and take care of yourself

Cheers

Werner

10 pages of posts and only now I see this thread! From a harrowing start reading through it's so good that the news gets almost consistently better in each post - Helen and I send Debs and you all our very best and are glad she is making such a good recovery. Having managed to break both my legs at the same time I know how dabilitating that can be, let alone all four limbs, so I truly do feel for Debs. Best of luck with CPAM, we have always found them to be pretty helpful and fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

Termie is being moved out of Reanimation Chirurgicale (Intensive Care)today, so I infer they're pleased with progress! More on that later, I hope. A lady at the hospital rang me to tell me - prefacing her identity and remarks with "nothing to worry about". A genuinely social service! The hospital have been truly wonderful to date.

For those living in France - I attended CPAM today to get our 2007 earnings etc noted. I played the sympathy card by showing an image of Deb in her cot yesterday. Despite my relatively poor French, we got along well, the lady helped me fill in the bits I hadn't grasped, and took the certificate and bulletin d'hopitalisation. We've never found the CPAM people other than helpful, but the orders they get from above sometimes defy logic. Last year, after filling in all the forms and delivering them to CPAM in person, we all seemed to get a letter saying they'd received nothing! I'd like to see someone sacked for that sort of cockup - but no-one gets sacked here!

It's great to hear more and more positive news every day Ian!!  Thanks for keeping us all so well informed!

Hopefully the move to a more standard ward will heopfully be shortly followed by a transfer to Le Mans!

One step forward, two steps back. Deb is indeed in another ward, where I have just tried to ring her, to check details etc. When I got through, she told me she has started a major panic, because she may have brought an infection with her. I assume there is the hospital equivalent of a coalmine canary spluttering away somewhere. She will let me know.

Ian, it's so nice to see you say that you could ring and talk to Deb, imagine how remote that prospect seemed a week ago.   It sounds like she's on the road to recovery (as opposed to the road to Rouen  ;D) and Le Mans shouldn't be too far away.

How would you fare if she was able to come home soon?  Hhaving not been to your house, are you on one level with access to a loo etc. if she's not very mobile?   I think you should take up the offer of the bum wiper... ;D

Clearly the past couple of weeks have sapped my brain, and I'm paranoid. Doesn't a major panic on infection sound like MRSA to anyone else? What does MRSA do? Rot your socks? Make open wounds fester? Termie has a few!

Yet another night with the phone right by my bed!

Ian, MRSA can be really bad, but most cases CAN be dealt with by anti-biotics, especially if they have caught the infection quickly - however, is Debs brought 'the infection with her' it is unlikely to be MRSA. If it is, they give you nuclear strength anti-B's (which made me physically sick every time) but the DO WORK, so please do not worry too much. I managed to pick it up when I broke both my legs and had a nice long stay in Maidstone hospital (but missed out on C-Diff, so should be glad for small mercys) but it was cured, it went away and I'm fine, so even if Debs has got it I would not worry to unduly yet - they sound like a very competent and caring bunch of Dr's and nurses that she is with. I think it is important to look positive as much as possible and the fact that Debs could speak to you on the phone is just amazing considering her condition a week ago. Fingers crossed this is just a very small bump in an otherwise smooth (race) track to recovery.

Ian,

Having spent 7 months in Ashford (Middx) Hospital, I fully concur with Peter here., talk to the consulting team. (Ashford now being one of the worst in the UK).

Just glad that she can speak to you.

Don't know the house setup, but changes will have to be made temporarilly when Debs comes home to accommodate her comfortably and safely.

Again, if you need anything, just ask here. I'm sure someone can help out in some little way.

OK guys and Gal's, how about some flowers then to start it all off.

Jerry

Ian

Just remember, she is still in the best place.

I'm sure she will be fine, just do'nt knacker yourself worring and the long drive.

Take it easy

Neil

As Ian said earlier, flowers are simply not allowed in intensive care. So until the infection is sorted, it's out of the question. Also, is it wise to send pollen covered-flowers to someone with 9 broken ribs on one side; sneezing is probably going to come a bit sharp just now.

Spoke to Deb this morning by phone – she is now able to answer her own calls! She apologised for getting in a panic yesterday – the only infection is a minor urinary one. As she’d said she’d come back to me, and I still haven’t understood the extra extension number I’ve been given, I didn’t want to disturb the hospital if she had indeed been at the centre of something nasty. She found she couldn’t dial out, so we were each waiting for the other to ring!

Surgeons have chatted to her about getting her going again, and they are proposing a tough regime of physiotherapy, taking 4-6 weeks, at Rouen – but then she’d be able to come home! Realistically – things always take longer than you hope – she might be back in time for my 60th birthday, on November 12th. You can imagine I would view that as a pretty nice present!

I hope to visit her tomorrow, and will then have all the info needed for others to visit if they wish. Cards etc that people have kindly sent will be going with me, I hope. Deb is in a private room with tv & cupboard space for clothes etc.

This all sounds on the up and up Mr T.
Meethinks that birthday party will be a  'canny do' (as we say 'round here)

Keep Ahaad

Good point, Peter. I marbled (the medics' term when they saw the x-ray!) my left kneecap in 1992. The operation to put a figure-8 wire in was trivial compared to Deb's experience, and they had the knee moving again within 24 hrs. Deb has now gone more than two weeks since her knee was rebuilt - I know how hard it will be to get the knee to respond at all! Pointing her toes, which I found impossible, even after such a short period of inactivity, will be like climbing Everest - sans oxygen! Anyway, today she gets the laptop and a pile of DVDs - the DVD player itself turns out to be defunct (that's the printable version of the term I used when I tried it) - great cracks in the display when I turned it on. Now I need to convince MAAF to buy us another!

I guess the "near-death experience thing" is drawing to a close when you're in physio for your knee and watching DVDs in bed on your laptop. What with the seemingly ceasless crap news on here just now, I reckon it's an opportune time for a laugh, and so I'll tell you about Steve Zarse's - AKA The Gimp - Le Mans near-death experience.

The monday after Le Mans one year we pitched up on the Riva Bella beach at Ouisteham to kill time whilst waiting for the 23.00 crossing. We lit a BBQ, got pissed right up on beer and vodka Red Bulls and played 7-a-side rugby even though there was only six of us. Steve being a braggard decided he would take on the other five of us. To say the scrum was a a bit of a mismatch is an understatement, he went down like a house of cards. He sort of buckled backwards as we ran over him, with his legs sticking out behind him. His  head got bent backwards so that the back of his bonce seemed to be nestling between his buttocks. You could hear things inside his body snapping under the pressure and as we moved away he just lay there motionless, gurgling on the floor.

Cut a long story short, the ambulance people put his head in a brace and then gently placed him into an inflatable stretcher which he suck into and then they blew up to locked him motionless to prevent spinal damage. They hooked him up to some monitors and whipped him off to hospital. I travelled in the ambulance with his brother Matt. His heartbeat and blood pressure started falling and I read out the declining numbers to him. Eventually, I said, "Steve mate, I don't want to worry you but your BP's falling fast the heart beat is weakening and you're about to flat line. Please don't die on us". This somewhat alarming news must have created a surge of adrenalin, as things suddenly shot back up on the monitor as the fear of his imminent demise caused his heart to race to 120bpm and his BP to sky rocket.

A bit later in the journey Steve complained that he couldn't feel his arms and legs. His brother held his hand and quietly whispered in his ear, expalining that this was due to his spinal cord being severed and that he was now a paraplegic and it meant he would never walk again, nor be able to make love to his wife. Steve began quietly sobbing.

In fact, on the beach the paramedic girl (with cracking knockers) had already explained to us in French that they were quite sure there was nothing wrong with him except a few pulled muscles, that the trip to the hospital was a mere precaution and the numbness was simply the inflatable stretcher cutting off the blood to his fingers and toes. But we were buggered if we were going to tell Steve that if it meant we could torment him for a few minutes about spending the rest of his life paralysed in a wheel chair, typing on the internet with one of those prongs with a cork on attached to his head.

Once at the hospital he was given a quick check-up and released clutching a massive 25mg valium pill. I offered him a beaker of water and he swallowed it down. Of course, this being France, it was a suppository intended for anal consumption and in no time he was compaining about seeing  dragons everywhere and was vomitting in the back of a brand new Peugeot 605 taxi.

Aren't drunken mates great eh?

I can't match a tale like that! Deb is now ensconced in her own room in the orthopaedic unit at Rouen. There is an ensuite shower/loo etc – if only Deb could walk to it! After an uncomfortable night she had a chest x-ray this morning, but nothing sinister found – where have all those Gauloises been going? Physio will be taxing, and she had a half-hour discussion about it with the surgeon this morning. The physiotherapist herself is concerned that Deb is so far from home, and recommends Deb be moved to Le Mans – where she knows there are excellent orthopaedic facilities – soon. We’ll be happy for that to happen, but are not holding our breath!

 

Erm yes, it's not all one-way traffic in Team Zarse. Off-topic i know, but The Gimp tipped a bucket of something extremely "nasty"  :o over me last night from the rafters of Mark's garage. I've been crapped on from a great high a number of times, but never "that". I'll tell you precisely what it was when I see you, hopefully on sunday! I hope to have had a bath by then, even the dog was appalled. :(

 ;D filthy hound!

No, we're still going on saturday but I'm going to try and get along on sunday too, to see the Vulcan and I guess you too!

I'd noted your comments on this matter before Peter and that's why I really want to see her one last time.  :(

So it could not even bark???!!!

>Martini...

Firstly Ian,

Good news so far.

OK, my idea of flowers may have been a bit rash considering condition.

Is there any way CA can help? (Committee please investigate).


Andy,

Having met Steve, you can consider that you are a Cad, a bounder and a few other things I certainly could not describe in public ;)

As this thread is dedicated Deb's, can we please move 'alternative' subjects to another?

I guess we could...........................but then it wouldn't be a real CA thread without a bit of thread drift would it and therefore Debs wouldn't belive it was real!  ;)

OK Mark,
I get your angle here.

There is a strong likelihood that Deb will be moved in the next few days. A lady appeared during my visit this afternoon, and declared that they had identified a rehabilitation facility at Parigne L’Eveque, which is SE of Le Mans. This would be about 40 mins leisurely drive, rather than the two-and-a-bit hours pedal-to-the-metal of Rouen (120 miles). Having just made my 14th visit – admittedly neighbour Sheena drove yesterday – I am really pleased! Timescales still not firm, but hopefully perhaps this week.

Deb is bored, not enjoying the babyfood diet – highlight of her day seems to be the orange juice mid-afternoon – and desperate to get on with a rigid regime of physio. I left her watching Episode 8 of The Jewel In India’s Passage, or whatever it’s called. Her only medication is antibiotics and iron tablets, apart from one of those oxygen thingies in the nose – no painkillers. The most painful thing seems to be the left collarbone, which is a nuisance, and which we hadn’t been aware until the last few days was even damaged.

Great news mr T.

Have you got a portable DVD player? I can send my copy of can - am thunder over if you think it might perk her up.

Cheers

Nick

It's great to hear good news for  a change.   

I've been away for a week and have only just caught up with all this good news.   (Plus a bit of Thread creap)

I've Deb my regards.   

Tell her IMHO Lawnmowing is the best Physio you can get.   ;D ;D

t.

Deb has no real history of lawnmowing. She grows silly plants, then goes to England for 3 weeks each summer, leaving me to look after the s*****g plants, plus mow the lawns, pick the tomatoes, feed the horses etc. I agree lawnmowing is good for you - I do it all!

Deb's portable DVD player died in the crash. It was a super-duper one from Richer Sounds, in that it was All-Region, with a 10" screen! I've bought her the only one I could find in a hurry on Saturday afternoon, which has a 7" screen, was a rip-off price, amd of course can only play Region 2.

We hope to get some money back from the insurers, and Deb will procure a canine's cojones version in due course.

Good news Mr T. hope she gets moved closer to home soon

Just read this thread now!!! Just gotten back from hols in Tanzania. Such bad luck, but good to read that she is on the road to recovery!!! Pass on my best wishes to her and I hope she will soon be up and about again!

Today’s visit was courtesy of a petrolhead couple living south of Le Mans – generous of them to give me a lift, and their other car is a 70's Corvette! In fact, their lively conversation kept Deb giggling a lot of the time, so a huge success. The surgeon came in to manipulate Deb’s legs, which was a bit uncomfortable for her, but clearly left him happy with progress. He was also happy to talk to Deb, and to me, in a most matter-of-fact way, about her future and so-on. Deb had also had a wheelchair ride – few of us would relish that, but to her it was like growing wings!

Sadly we have no further info on the move to Parigne L’Eveque – near where my chauffeur and his wife live.

Good to here she is on the mend, hope she is moved closer to Le Mans soon.

No real Termie news, and now the weekend's here things go quiet at the hospital. I will visit today, and a kind neighbour is ferrying me again tomorrow. All those trips on the A28 produce some views of cars, though - mainly Brits, of course. Pair of big Healeys parked in the service area on Thursday, for example. A 1964-reg model was on minilites - is that kosher? Then yesterday, as I entered the A28 at Gace, there was a trio of cars parked waiting to go through the peage. Drivers were chatting - the leading car being a Swiss-reg Bentley drophead - brand new. Behind him were two Brits, an AC3000ME and a frogeye Sprite, complete with mandatory lady in headscarf - what a mixture!

Sadly, the other side of the coin was on my return. A truck coming round the Rouen bypass was clearly on a rescue mission to Blighty. Up top there was a Caterham 7, then a distinctly secondhand-looking  Fabia, like mine but much newer and with panels missing, and there were three other cars that appeared simply to have given up the ghost. A few holidays ruined, I'm afraid.

Ian we are glad you keep us updated on the young lady's progress

We're all waiting news every day and we are so glad that for every setback she seems to come straight back, fighting and winning

You are a real hero spending so much of the time on the road too

I wish some more of us were in France and able to carry some of the burden for you

anyway, good luck and thanks

god bless

A kindly chauffeur took me to Rouen today – and we pushed Deb around in a wheelchair, taking her down to the hospital café for a Coke. She had been feeling a bit down earlier – the weekend is such a quiet time from an activity perspective, so she was pleased to be given a trip out! It takes 3 physios – 2 are students - to lift Deb in and out of the wheelchair, and that is in no way a reflection on her weight. The surgeon had been back to see her this morning, and he remains delighted with progress, so more movement is now being allowed on the right knee. It just seems endless to Deb – and the accident was only 4 weeks ago.

As I said a few days ago – the move to Parigne can’t come a minute too soon.

Ian,

Must be getting very frustrating for both of you, with the travelling for you and the boredom/immobility factor for Deb, but it is the start of the road back to normality, and it is a real delight to hear the snippets of good news that each of your posts brings, whether it relates to her progress, your fortitude, the support you are getting from those around you, or the moral support from here.  Aside from the fact that the content of Women's Weekly or People's Friend is unlikely to appeal to Deb, let alone keep her mind occupied for more than a nanosecond, and DVDs can pall after a while, have you thought about taking in any talking books on CD?

MG Mark 

Hi Mark

Deb can just about now manage to hold and read a hardback book for a short period at a time. paperbacks need to be held more securely, and that she can't manage yet. Other friendly folk have suggested talking books but she isn't keen. As she says, the visual appeal of a DVD really helps to escape the tedium - just listening requires too much concentration.

On one level I don't mind the driving - after all, some of it is through delightful countryside, the roads aren't all busy, and they are all getting awfully familiar! But up to 5 hours behind the wheel per day is a bit novel  - my daily commute used to be 10 mins in the car, then by train! The weather, on the other hand, has been lovely for nearly a fortnight, so that is a blessing.

Deb and I just have to grit our teeth and get on with it, frankly!

Warm and supporting comments on here never go amiss, mind you!

Hi Ian

Glad to hear she's coming along well, I wonder if you have any DVD rental services in France?  I've been using the free trial at Tesco.com DVD rental and it's cracking.   Even if you had to pay for it for a few months it might give you a good supply of DVD's?   

They’d changed Deb’s antibiotics, and this proved a mistake, as she turned a bit lobster-colour in places. Now they’ve changed them again. 

Pushed the wheelchair back to the café today, which was fine, but when we got back to the ward they said people had come for Deb for an x-ray. So I pushed her back down to x-ray! 20 mins later we had some fine images of an awful lot of Meccano here and there! Again the physio trio are simply magic – much Deb’s favourites among the many who look after her - and are happy to help her in and out of the wheelchair so we can go off together.

A

The DVD mountain in this small house is simply HUGE! Deb really does have the world's leading private collection! Of course she can now only watch Region 2 (see earlier in this thread for arcana on the dead DVD All-Region player) but that should not be a real inhibition! She's currently munching through The West Wing Series 4.....

One item worrying her is that I don't seem to have received a confirmation of our booking for LM next year - has anyone else? Of course, if her legs don't work, she won't be able to get up the stairs anyway....

Ian,
Deb handed in my application at the same time as yours.
I have also yet to recieve a confirmation.
Good news that the recovery is proceeding apace.

Hi Ian,
        Thanks for the regular updates. Say Hi to Deb for me.
Canada Phil

I doubt that'll stop her  ;D   There is a lift in the main pit stand, it's often blocked off but there must be ways...

We have a date for Deb to move to a rehabilitation centre – Tuesday! The centre, of which I have no details as yet, is at Le Grand Luce, SE of Le Mans. I estimate the journey time from here as an hour, with no autoroute mileage – much easier going!

We spent some time in the café today – by wheelchair, of course - and then went out front onto the ambulance drop-off zone. It was really hot! Deb had a blanket over her, and regretted it. Some September we’re having here.

Great News Mr Termie.

Please give Deb our best wishes.    It sounds like good progress even if it's a bit slow.

t.

Excellent news!  Only a couple of days to go then!  All the best,

Mark

As of today – is that English? – Deb has been moved 150 miles from Rouen to Le Grand Luce, SE of Le Mans. She is in a rehabilitation unit, where more vigorous physio can be undertaken. I am deeply relieved, having driven over 6000 miles in more than 20 trips to Rouen since her accident, 5 weeks ago today. The new facility is only 34 miles away, instead of 120. I may become less tired! She is now sharing a room, with an elderly French lady. I left them watching the French version of Countdown! A deeply dishy doctor had been in and given Deb a quick exam, as well as looking at the handover notes from Rouen. She was clearly impressed with the extensive list of fractures! The orthopaedic surgeon visits on Thursday, and he will assess Deb and then prescribe a regime for the physiotherapists to follow.

Once again, one finds the hospital to be modern and well-staffed. Even the admin people turn out to be charming and helpful – my limited French seems to be nearly adequate on these occasions, and we can share some humour. It all looks terribly promising.

Top stuff, no excuses for not visiting regularly now!!

Please to see its all good news.

6000 miles, thats only 2 Le Mans

Personally, I'd recommend watching "Are you smarter that a nine year old" in French, as there's a chance slobs like me could understand it, especially the questions on English.

Ian good(er) news at last

dont forget the ward details for us will you

wont take Debs long to get sorted now I think

I'm being a bit cagey here about termie's details. This is a public forum, and while the real CAers are a cracking bunch of whom she is very fond, others may lurk, with funny ideas in mind about a woman in hospital.

Accordingly, I've decided to advise Smokie of Deb's address details, on the basis that he will sort the wheat (almost all of you) from the chaff (unknown quantity) on my behalf. It also accords with Steve Pyro's remark to Smokie - who happened on this thread a little later than he would have liked - of being a slacker! Sorry Smokie! Can I promise you another barbecue here in 2009 to make up?

I'm sorry if this seems over-protective, but having got Deb back from a near-death experience, I'm not keen for anything unpleasant to happen in the aftermath! I do have 35 years of emotion invested in this lady!

All great news for you both.
I hope the recovery continues to move swiftly on.

Sounds good Mr. Termite!

I now have Deb's address - please pm me for address details if required...preferred to email as I can't get email during the week.

Really pleasing to hear the news - enjoy the shorter trip, although of course Deb will probably now expect you to stay for longer when visiting....mind you if the doctor is dishy it may be a small price to pay....

I know Deb could hardly be described as mobile yet, but how is the repair process coming along, and are there any thoughts yet on how much longer she'll have to remain in for? 

MG Mark

Mark

The right leg tendons are going to be the long-term problem. Clearly meccano doesn't cut the mustard here! All the clever articulation that the surgeon's restoration has done needs to be supported, and that is gonna take time. The original diagnosis said 3 months, but the tendons may not have been known about then. I'm hoping home by end November at the earliest, now. Trouble is, with no mobility on the right leg, the poor girl can't even get to the loo! It takes at least three people to get her into a wheelchair, and that has nothing to do with body weight, which has dropped a bit, natch.

The orthopaedic surgeon visits today, and he may well have some news for us. He will certainly dictate the forthcoming regime for the physio team - important in restoring mobility in the bits that can be allowed to work. At present, that only covers the left arm! We think the splint comes off the right arm next week, and the left leg gets the green light late-October - but all this is subject to further inspection, of course. The many broken ribs - there were at least 10 - collarbone, sternum, bones above the nose, fingers etc all just mend, of course, and she has had little gip from any of these except from the collarbone.

Look at that list, and you can see how lucky she was that nothing critical got damaged! Thanks again, Nissan!

Good grief, Evel Knievel would have been proud of injuries like that.

So the targets look like home before Christmas and running around by June

Deb seems to have seen another doctor this morning, and the visiting orthopaedic surgeon this afternoon, for which I was present. The news ain’t great, really – she’s there for at least another two months, probably. Substantial bone growth is needed around the breaks in the right knee before it can be weight-bearing, and that’s that. Physiotherapy starts tomorrow, we hope, based upon the chief physiotherapist being present & taking notes during this afternoon’s consultation. The orthopod seemed a bit disappointed that he had old x-rays. We don’t understand why, as fresh ones were taken at Rouen last week, but perhaps they were mislaid there. More will be taken soon, so he has a better idea of what progress has been made to date – the Rouen surgeon seemed quite pleased, so perhaps we have some better news to follow. I’m trying to be cheerful, honest!

Once again, I pushed Deb round the grounds in the wheelchair, enjoying warm Autumn sun. Clearly we won’t be doing that in a month’s time! They’ve now dug up a crane for lifting her in and out of the chair, which reduces the number of volunteers needed for this event!

Fantastic news of Debs relocation and progress.
Ian how are you coping?

Good to hear you re able to push her around a little, make the most of it as for when recovered the status quo will resume.
Kind regards an wishes to you both

Ian,

Thanks that's all good news, if frustrating, and thanks for sharing it.  Give it a little while and she'll be demanding a leccy wheelchair to make runs down to the local cafe for expresso and gitanes.....

Mark

I agree.

BUt knowing Termi - it will be a racing elect wheelchair  - that can run 24 hrs and is not as quiet as a Audi  :)

Ian,

I've been reading this from the start and deb's list a breakages sound pretty complete. 
I hope that the two of you are over the worst and things continue to improve.
Please don't forget to look after yourself.

Gary

Deb has managed to scrawl something for me to transcribe here. Even though it’s quite short, she found it exhausted all the strength in her right hand, which is, of course, still in a splint.

“I can’t write properly yet, so am scribbling this in hospital for Ian to transcribe. Just to say a brief thankyou to everybody for your posts (which unhappily I have thus far been unable to read as I have no Internet access) and special thanks to all those who have sent cards, letters & presents. They certainly help to keep me sane during what is going to be a pretty long haul in hospital. Happily the only pain is in my backside & that is from boredom! I’m going to be allowed to start walking in November & hopefully will be home for Xmas when with luck I’ll be able to reply to you individually.

Meanwhile thanks again for all your good wishes. Drive safely!”

Late this afternoon, just as we were coming back from our wheelchair promenade around the grounds, the physio called Deb in and she started her first full session there, which is a relief. The physio has told Deb candidly that 18 months may be needed to restore full strength in her right leg. He also feels there are better places than his particular hospital for patients with Deb’s kind of injuries, and will be discussing this with hospital seniors and the orthopaedic surgeon in due course. She will be back in the physio treatment room first thing tomorrow, reflecting his recognition that Deb’s needs may be more urgent than some of his other – far older – patients.

Earlier, we spent a few pointless moments adding up the number of fractures Deb suffered in the crash. We are sure it is at least 25, possibly several more. Ouch!

 :)

That is good news Mr. T I'm glad to read that Debs is fully on the road back to LM  ;D


 :o I do hope for your sanity, that he is not going to suggest somewhere such as Rouen  :P

I'm quoting this to prove to those at the South Coast Chapter meet last night that they were wrong and I was right!  :P


Having read the thread again from the start just to locate this info, all credit to Ian for keeping dropping by to update us in what must have been the most traumatic month or so of his life. I'm not surprised by 25 fractures, neither am I envious!! Again, get well soon Deb.

Anyone interested in seeing a current picture of Deb can click on this link

http://www.lizardms.com/fans/

- she's near the top of the page. The Lizards' second place in GT2 at Petit was enough to give them the team and driver championships in GT2.

Pic was taken outside the hospital on Sunday. I did try to post it here, but the software simply told me there was an error, and when I tried again, insisted I'd already posted it! Doh!

Pic was taken outside the hospital on Sunday. I did try to post it here, but the software simply told me there was an error, and when I tried again, insisted I'd already posted it! Doh!

Ian, hope you don't mind I have uploaded photo for you worked fine.
Brian.

Outstanding - a smile, thumbs up and not a fag in sight (yet....)  ;D  And a blanket to keep the legs warm.  I suppose that an old persons single slipper sheepskin footwarmer wouldn't go down well in the Xmas stocking......

MG Mark

Have a care, sir! Not just any old blanket but a pukka Flying Lizard blanket! No ordinary tat for Termie!Actually I think she might be getting her mama to get her a footwarmer type thingie as you describe. Putting a pair of socks on is still some way away - and that's with a helper able to do the putting! Poor girl came within an ace of getting a pedicure at Rouen, but then it was interrupted by some more pressing medical procedure. Now we hope the equivalent lady at Le Grand Luce will appear. Such people provide great service - but necessarily do a single tour of the hospital, and if you're not available for them at the time, they have to pass you by.

From the pic it seems that Deb is in good spirits. I hope she has a speedy recovery, at least quicker then the projected 18 months.

Give her my best regards,

Roy

Glad to see Debs is looking far less 'beaten up' than we imagined ..... here's for a speedy recovery.

Deb arrived at Le Grand Luce a fortnight ago tomorrow, and while things started a little slowly, they are now ramping up. The physiotherapist is doing terrific work, despite being on his own – i.e. with untrained assistants – and having a number of other “customers”. This afternoon he spent nearly an hour on Deb’s right knee, manipulating and massaging, then getting Deb to try and lift her foot off his hand, which she could just about do, but not very often, and not fully straight. She was working very hard. I counted marks from 40 stitches in her right thigh – but that was from just one of the surgical intrusions there! There are two or three others as well!

Tomorrow Deb travels to Le Mans at 10 00 for x-rays. Oddly, her elderly room-mate, who did the same thing today, had not returned by 1700, which seemed a very long time for an 85-year-old to be out. She, by the way, lives in Mulsanne - and knew Sebastien Bourdais when he was young! Thursday, Deb goes back to Le Mans, where some pins are to be removed. We don’t know from which limb or limbs – take your pick! – but it all sounds like progress to us. 

The amazing Autumn has enabled us to spend a lot of afternoons sunning ourselves under the trees, which is most pleasant for Deb. Given her history of wearing trousers all year long, bits of her legs are seeing more sun than they have in many years!

Ian

I had the wires out of my wrist today, and whilst it's not an altogether pleasant experience, it does indicate another milestone, and a corner turned on the road to recovery, as thursday will be for Debs.

And maybe it's not my place to comment, but isn't it unwise to let a physiotherapist sit on Debs knee with all the injuries she's had?  ;)

Please pass on my wishes

Nick

Hi Ian,

Sorry for not logging in here very often, but it did me good to see your Deb looks pretty good! Please send her my regards and best of luck. It's great to hear recovery is speeding up, and hope you will have her home soon!

Take care,
Patrick

Deb has not had the best of weeks. On Tuesday, the trip to Le Mans for x-rays worked fine, but the radiographer was very brusque, pushing and pulling Deb around on his magic slab with scant regard for her comfort – or her injuries, it seemed. At least she got back in time for a late lunch – which was re-heated for her. Her room-mate (85) the previous day had been out for 8 hours and hardly eaten - at one point they took her blood pressure and found it to be 23, that’s 230 in UK terms, all due to the poor admin on her day out!

Thursday should have been Deb’s day for going to Le Mans again, to have pins removed. Err, no. She went to Le Mans alright, but on arrival found the doctors were on strike. It also emerged that she was not there for pin removal, but to be checked out for allergies to various anaesthetics etc, and to have her fitness for the operation verified. Sadly, the sole anaesthetist on duty – i.e. not on strike – had rather a lot on her plate, and none of Deb’s papers, which were at Le Grand Luce, where the surgeon was making his fortnightly visit – to see Deb among others. On returning to Le Grand Luce, by which time the surgeon had left, of course, Deb enquired politely about the papers, only to be told that had the people in Le Mans not been playing silly b*****s, they would have rung Le Grand Luce and faxed copies could have been provided. So now Deb has to go to Le Mans again on Monday (with her papers, natch) so the team there can assure themselves that she is fit to be operated on, on Tuesday…  Apparently it is the right wrist and the left foot that are to be relieved of their ironwork. One has to say that this is an extraordinarily high level of care for the patient, but we feel it a little unnecessary when Deb had spent several days under anaesthetic at Rouen and clearly lived to tell the tale. No matter, today she has had an ECG and a chest x-ray (the recalcitrant x-ray machine at Le Grand Luce was persuaded to produce a passable image at the second attempt, apparently) to confirm that she probably won’t peg out on the operating table come Tuesday!

Since the physiotherapist is on a long weekend off, he had kindly briefed Deb on how to do simple exercises on her right knee, and we spent 15 minutes helping her do those. She may see him Tuesday morning before her 4th trip to Le Mans, but if not, circumstances mean she will not have enjoyed supervised therapy from Wednesday to Wednesday, which is hardly the idea in her condition.

French healthcare is famously world class, but the scope for cock-up on the admin side knows no bounds either, we feel….

Ian,

Health Services the world over have f**k ups.

Give Debs my regards and please wish her a speedy recovery even with these setbacks.

Jerry

Yesterday Deb had the pins removed from her right wrist and left foot. She was under anaesthetic for no more than an hour. The splint has been removed from her right hand, which is bandaged because of the surgery yesterday, but is now able to start working again. The left foot has a resin boot reaching about half way up her calf, to add support while she regains its use – it is now able to start bearing weight again. This is all significant in terms of progress.

Tomorrow, Thursday, Deb is to move again. This time it is to L’Arche, a rehab centre NW of Le Mans, in the village of St Saturnin, well known to the CA community, I think! The facility at L’Arche is much more about rehabilitation than convalescence, which is the forte of Le Grand Luce, where she has passed the last 3 weeks. Nevertheless, the increased mobility as a result of yesterday will enable much more work to be done than could have been achieved at LGL.

I will provide Smokie with full amended contact details when these are known.

Great news,glad to here the progress.
Please send my love.

Thanks
Randy

Ian

can you PM me with the "surnom" for the card please

Or is Termietermite all I need

or just Debs?

I'm so glad she is showing all the good signs of healing and beginning to thrive

St Sat sounds far better for you both, so I'll send the card when we get the new details.

All moving in the right direction it seems, which is v.good to hear  ;D.  Hope the move to St S goes well today.  Give her our very best wishes,

Mark 

Deb arrived at about 14.30. As at Le Grand Luce, I’d been and chatted up the admin lady and so most of the formalities were already done. She has a nice South-facing room to herself. The place is very modern – e.g. electric remote control blinds on the windows – and by the time I’d left at 1700, Deb had been seen by a nurse taking all sorts of supplementary details, including the layout of our house, the hotelier who discussed the week’s menu and took amendments as needed to suit Deb’s palate, and the physiotherapist, who checked all her limbs and pronounced himself very pleased with the shape in which she had arrived. This hospital sees some awful cases – paraplegic etc – so a patient with a fighting chance of true fitness is obviously a joy! She will typically receive 2 physio sessions per day – so the visiting hours are a bit unusual, being 1200-1400 & 1700-2100 weekdays, 1200-2100 at weekends.

Smokie has contact details.

Superb news Ian, sounds like real progress - to have the pins out and begin weight-bearing again so soon can only be good fro Deb's movement overall, not having the joints immobile for too long. Also sounds like they have moved to to a good facility - I'd have killed for multiple physio sessions daily - I'm sure it will be hard work for her, but ultimately very rewarding.

Good news. Thanks Ian for your continued updates.
I know where St Saturnin is ;D as do many others on here.
All the best to Deb
Canada Phil

 Sorry I have not called in for a while but great to see Debs is on the mend and a little nearer home. Actually, looking at the pic, giving up the fags looks to be doing her a world of good- must try and stop myself!
 Best wishes from all the Barrel o Monkeys ;)

L’Arche is a quite different sort of place – different from any hospital environment I’ve encountered, anyway. Take lunchtime, for example. As visiting hours are 1200-1400, I quite expected to sit in Deb’s room while she ate. Wrong. Deb was wheeled down to a large refectory, where all the patients – or at least a large percentage – ate together! Imagine a large room with plenty of tables, around which are gathered, in the main, people in wheelchairs, some with limbs missing, but all talking and enjoying a communal meal – a very humanising experience for people who may have been through quite horrid times recently!

After lunch I pushed Deb around the grounds a bit – this is a big place, with big grounds and a very pleasant lake with perimeter path. Lots of trees, too. There is a basketball pitch, a football pitch, a room with archery targets – all classic stuff for getting unfit people limbered up again. Deb had had an initial session of physio in the morning, and twice a day is the expected regime. The physio building is well-equipped with physios and assistants, as well as all manner of the usual kit. There is an interesting debate about painkillers – which, remarkably, Deb has not taken in 6 weeks, since shortly after she woke up in Rouen. It is possible that the right knee might yield more movement sooner if Deb had an artificially-high pain threshold, so she may be encouraged to take the tablet before a session.

She won't be wanting to come home - opportunities for sports and three square meals a day!   ;D

Is this the French equivalent of the NHS or is it private??

It's kinda between the two, really. As retired EU residents, we pay the state about 8% of our income to pay for healthcare. In return, the state pays 70% of our costs for drugs and other healthcare, including most dentistry. The remaining 30% we cover with a complementary insurance policy, costing about £1600 p.a. for the two of us. So far, in Deb's long and expensive treatment - now in its 9th week - neither the state nor the insurer has demurred at the sums involved.

This time last year, the French Government announced that other-than-French EU nationals under-65, retired and living in France would no longer be entitled to state healthcare, and would have to find their own schemes. Deb and several others got  a bit tetchy about this, fought a valiant campaign - Deb was quoted in the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, among others, and was live on BBC Radio. The UK Health Minister got involved, there was a motion circulated in the Euro Parliament in Brussels, all sorts of stirring. Eventually, the French Govt stepped back a bit, and agreed that if you were registered in France before some date in November 2007, you could hang in there. Never was time better spent!

Everything I wanted to say.

Really glad that Debs is on the mend and now close to home.

Indeed time well spent.
Hope it all works out.

First of all, I must warn certain DfH members that they might be in very much pain -located in the triangle between belly button en both knees- next time we meet up... for not even mentioning Deb's accident to me! I did not know because I haven't been on CA for quite a while, and skimmed through the first pages of this thread with my heart pounding, afraid of what I might read. Thank goodness she's pretty much alright now, and well on her way to recovery.

Ian, a very big get-well-soon for Deb's and a really big hug for you from me!

(http://oksanawillekens.googlepages.com/pretandHUG2.jpg/pretandHUG2-full;init:.jpg)

Deb has gained a little independence this week by being given a wheelchair that has a sort of paddle affair that she can use to get about, without needing a push everywhere. The chair she had before had those big hand grips outside the wheels, of course, but when you only have one hand that works, you tend not to do much but move in circles! The new one - it's anything but new, actually, but still a step up - has a sort of gear lever, enabling Deb to go forward, back, or into neutral for when a pusher is available.

I've been attending for lunch this week. Deb cannot cut up meat or anything like that, so I've been pleased to be doing that, tearing up her bread roll etc. Yes, there are helpers who'd willingly do it in my absence. Deb is a somewhat fussy eater, so I've been offered all sorts of starters and other bits she didn't fancy - even though she'd had a chance to opt for foods that suit her better, some stuff still isn't to her taste. Embarrassingly, the staff, seeing me helping her out, have on every occasion provided me with a spare meal if one was available! Warm and generous people are all around, and being English is no bar to their kindness.

Today Deb has other visitors at lunchtime, then a mature English couple are visiting for the weekend, bringing Deb's mum with them, so I have the chance of a few days off - very welcome. They are also bringing the replacement balance of the horsefeed that got destroyed in the crash, so that will ease feeding problems. French horse-owners only seem interested in buying the dobbin equivalent of rocket fuel! It kinda makes sense in a land where horses are eaten - the sort of retirement our two enjoy is simply less common here!

Haven't posted for a while but do read and this is a heartening thread now. (If everyone gets my drift?)

Good to hear things keep improving and going forward. Good healthcare is nice to hear about too!

Ian,

It's so heartening that Debs is now 'mobile'.

I tested the fore-runners of her 'new' contraption at the RNOH in '76.  They didn't know how to sway the contraols from RHD to LHD. Us 'inmates' sorted it in a few hours tested by racing around the carpark much to Matrons displeasure ;D.

Give Debs my best regards.

How are you coping?

Jerry

ps. If you want the whole story I'll tell you.

We want the whole story!

OK, although this thread has been basically 'hijacked' it may bring a smile to Termie.

In April 1976 I had a serios bike accident, 7 months in hospital all through that lovely summer. Even got evacuated when they found german bombs in the resevoir next door. It was a pit that us in the ICU, all with different 'conditions' had to be last as no specialist ambulances could be found. But somehow they sorted it.

Anyway, May 1977, I had to go for further assessment and spend a week with intensive physio' etc at the RNOH in North London.

My co-residents were an assortment to say the least! My bed neighbour tried to commit suicide with deisel! Prat, 4star was more efficient and worked most times.

Anyway, on with the story. 

To set the scene,, the hospital was on the side of a steep hill (really great for orthopedic patients). It was originally an isolation hospition for dodgy contageous things. Our wing had the ward, dining room, TV room and a room with a pool table. All ours.

Bearing in mind this was a week after my 26th birthday and ending a few days before I go married. I was fairly reckless in my thoughts!!. But on the Wednesday we came back from various physio sessions to find that the TV room was full of 'flat packs'. Investigations occurred. It turns out that these were powered wheel chairs.

Well, we thought that Matron (yes there were some) wouldn't take kindly to another 'Grand Prix' around the ward (unpowered).

We built 8 of the powered chairs and charged the batteries. But the maximum speed was 2 1/2 mph, well you can't race at that speed can you?

Vic, one of the other 'inmates' and totally parralysed was a World Champion at scrambling and a brilliant mech' engineer and he guided through the necessary mods etc. The results were brilliant.

But how do you control a wheelchair at 10mph around the middle of a ward? We tried and hit every bed causing more injuries.

OK, we were at the top of a hill, no one was around and there was a carpark at the bottom.

The journey there was precarious, not because of the gradiend but to avoid 'staff'.

Evey hospital carpark has a few traffic cones for some reason. We found these and made a circuit.

We were half way through our 'race' when all hell broke loose, a patient had a heart attack and the ambulance on arrival was confronted by 8 wheelchairs cavorting around the carpark at breakneck speed!

Suffice to say  the 'chairs' were 'confiscated' and the remaing flatpacks were removed.

We got our telly back.

Repercussions followed, by who started our misdemenour, who built the chairs. Innocent as always we denied everything (difficult). We were all grounded and not allowed into Harrow with relatives etc.

You had to be there to experience it.

Anyway, Termie, how are you and how is Ian coping?

Leftie

Impressive behaviour, sounds a bit like Colditz. What bike were you riding?

Indeed, Stalag Luft IV mixed with Carry on Matron by the sound of it!

MG Mark 

Hona 550/4 Fast road spec for production bike racing.

Sh!t! I only just noticed this thread. I tend not to bother with the 'stuff' at the top of the page.
I'm really relieved to hear that Deb is on the mend.
Here's hoping the recovery continues uninterupted.
Matt

Deb, welcome back, good to see you logged on again

Greetings from Wheelchair City whence my nurse (chap, cute) has just connected up the laptop for me so I'm connected for the first time since the accident and am reading all your messages and hundreds of e-mails for the first time.  Thanks to all of you for your kindness to me and Mr T (60 on Wednedsday!)  A better bunch of mates you couldn't wish to have in times of trouble. :-* :-* :-*

Hurrah - welcome back to the world of communication!   ;D ;D ;D  Was wondering when you'd manage to get access to a computer -nice to have you back here.  So, wheelchair mobile, back on the net now, what's next, and how are you feeling?

MG Mark 

Bored is the over-riding feeling, to be honest!  Happily I've had hardly any pain throughout the whole thing, except when the physio gets his hands on me - a necessary evil in the circs.  With luck I should be self sufficient enough by Christmas to at least be home by then for a few days.  This place certainly has all the facilities I could need, and I should be starting in the pool next week when the plaster comes off the  left leg.  Great to be back in touch again after all this time.

That seemed to be the target.  Home for christmas, running around by June.  And fame - CAs own Evel Knieval, but try jumping a few less buses next time

Great to see you back Deb.

t.

Best present you could have hoped for eh Debs? A night in your own bed. 4 days in hospital did my head in.

PS I hope the french bum wipers are better designed than the british ones. And I'm not talking about the dishy nurses  ;)

Welcome back Deb.

Ade

Great to see your post Deb, welcome back.

Jules G

Debbs

great to read from you honey

welcome back to the asylum

it is really good to have you back

but do not fear, as you will read Ian has held his own and been a tower of strength for us

God bless

bill

What a lovely way to brighten up our cold rainy day in England. Seeing you posting here agian has made me smile.
Now, when are you going to get that Micra resprayed?
Ian has really been brilliant keeping us all abreast of the situation, from the very earliest days right up till you grabbed the laptop.
Brilliant to hear from you.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

Gary

Lack of pain must mean that someone got the dosage of recreational drugs right!  I should imagine that you have been bored competely fartless, particularly outside visiting times etc, but at least you can now access the erudite load of crap that gets spouted here on one subject or another to amuse, entertain and join back in with the CA fold.  

Ian has done a truly magnificent job of keeping us up to date with what has been going on, while he has been running back and forth at your whim. All the best and, for goodness sakes, play on the disability for all its worth and get the ACO to give us all concessionary entry tickets to the circuit and stands.....we won't misbehave....much...

All the best,

Mark

Deb,

Fabulous to have you back posting. WE HAVE REALLY MISSED YOU.

You'll have to give us a regulary update as Ian is knackered now from the to-ing and fro-ing.

See if you can get the French version of the 'Green Card', it's suprising where you can get to. Keep the wheelchair, access almost anywhere with a 'helper' :angel:

Great to have you back.

Leftie

Good to see you back, Deb.

Great to see you back Deb, you had us all really worried about you.

Ian has done a fab job at keeping us up to speed on your progress and (it seems from a distance) keeping himself sane.

Happy Birthday Mr T - is your birthday this wednesday? 

Best wishes to both of you!

Yes, 60 on Weds - two days older than the heir to the throne. HMQ and my mum were up the duff (technical term, I think!) at the same time. Even if termie had been fit, well and home we wouldn't have done much - I'm famously not a party animal! As it is, I expect to visit her for lunch, then home and enjoy a quiet evening with three whingeing cats!

Debs,
Great to see you back online and in CA land.  Obviously french day time TV was getting to be too much of a brain drain.

Wahay-hay-hayyy!!!!
H

Hi Termie,
             Good to have you back on line. Thanks to Ian for all the progress reports.
Canada Phil

You mean like this?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BJVmecTLQ0k&feature=related

It must be time for a Termie update, Ian, Deb, let us know how you're getting on? 

Hi there, thanks, Piglet, for the message.  All is still going to plan.  I started in the pool this week, which is a really liberating experience after weeks of either being in a chair or a bed.  I can walk in the water using submerged parallel bars (with only my head out of the water -10% of one's bodyweight apparently) and also swim although it's pretty slow as I'm not allowed to use my legs when swimming!

Typing is pretty tough as the right hand is still not co-operating fully but at least I'm able to use all ten digits, if only for a short time before they sieze up, hence my lack of posts on here!

On 29th it will have been three months since my op' and then, in theory, I should be allowed to start some weight bearing, if the surgeon allows but it's all up to him and depends on how the x-rays look.  The doc' seemed quite happy about my having a home visit for Christmas  - something which I'd really like to do as I haven't seen the place (or the dog, mogs and pones) since I left for my hols at the beginning of August.

I'll keep you posted as best I can. :-*

Good grief, is it 3 months, being in a bed that long would drive me barmy.

Still, keep to plan.  Hom for Christmas, running around for June

Hi Deb, glad to hear it's not too bad (that doesn't really do it all justice though does it?), fingers crossed you can get weight bearing and at least home for a visit xxx

Good to hear your back!

Best wishes

Bobblehat

Doc told me today that I can slowly begin weight bearing from Wednesday onwards.  Not bad really, all things considered. I'm not sure I'd have lived had it not been for the modern technology which means even small cars offer real protection these days. I don't think I'd have got away with this in my old Mini, for instance....
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/cooperlola/AuSe08093.jpg)

Jesus! :o :o :o

OMG.............. :o

It's amazing how automotive technology has moved on in the last few years, Great new Deb about the rehab.

To be fair, the rescue mob cut the poor girl's lid off!  Nevertheless, it's only recently that that much front end damage doesn't mean curtains for the occupant(s).

Crikey, that's a bit of a knock, did it set off the airbag?  ;)

Looks like the poor little devil laid down it's life for you.  :( The technology in modern passenger survival cells is simply amazing.

Out of interest, would you have another Micra, or does living in France lead you to chose summat Frog based like a Clio or Pug due to costs, service, spares etc?

As my little Nip's chassis - which I thought was the car's best feature and which I loved - is common to the Modus and the Clio I have to consider them.  But after what she did for me I'm quite tempted just to get another.  Much will depend upon the French courts and how much money (if any) I get in compensation.

Hey Deb, glad to see you back among this mob.  You scared the sh*t out of all of us.  The hubby did a great job of keeping us posted on your various states of re-assembly.  Sebring this coming March, you know the warm weather will help the aching bones feel better ;)
Fax

It'll polish out...

Really glad to hear that you are well and truly on the mend Debs; what are you going to turn up in for the Great British Welcome next year?

F.........K.....ING...........HELL!
Makes JPs look like a car park prang.
Great to read you, now just get the best out of rehab. Our thourght are with you.

Debs

after looking at the picture I suddenly like Micras even more

After this year's escapade around St Sat I already knew it was a good and lively motor but that does show how good and strong they are

If I had owned one, having another would be a very strong possibility

see you next year if I can

bill

Let's hope they're generous and you can buy something built a little further south than Washington, namely a product from Crewe...

(http://www.sniffpetrol.com/wp-content/uploads/spadbentleyazure.jpg)

Debs,

All the very best - that is one seriously, seriuosly bent motor which withstood a great deal on your behalf - the designers should take a pat on the back, and Nissan sould give you a new one for such destructive testing.  Really great to see you back posting here!

MG Mark

Hi Deb,

God what a state that left the car in, not surprising you were knocked around pretty bad. Great to see you here typing away again. Hope the recovery goes to plan.

Nick

Hi Deb,

Great to see you back!  How lucky were you...  We've been reading Mr Ts updates waiting for your return  :) x

Thanks all for your continuing support!

Good news and bad this week.  I have a filthy cold and cannot go in the pool until it's cleared up. :(  However, I can now get from chair to bed without help and if all goes well will be allowed on the parallel bars by the end of the week.  Also I'm off for my first trip out since the accident, on Wednesday. Yeah, it's only round the shopping centre but to me it's freedom of a sort.

Gymnastics?  Good grief.  Next thing you know you'll be trying out for the 2012 Olympics.   ;)

Dx

Hmm gymnastics AND showing an interest in shopping...Deb are you sure you're OK?  ;D

;D indeed!

I stood up today.  Yes, I know most people do this without thinking but it was a real landmark for me.  It sure makes you appreciate the things you normally take for granted.

Stood up.Good news. Another hurdle overcome, next step .... leaning on a bar

glad to see you are progressing steadily.Keep it going and we'll see you jogging around the track in June

PM

Careful, that'll spoil the plan for wheelchair access accompanied by around 200 or so "helpers" into the inner sanctum of the ACO..... ;D

Keep the pecker up Debs, hope all is progressing well, sounds like it is with you being up on 2 pins - a major milestone!  And now that you are allowed back into shopping centres, Ian is (I trust) salting all the cash away he has saved from you not shopping, before you can spend it, to buy you an stupendously nice and expensive Christmas pressie.  You deserve one, whether it's a material thing or just something practical like being at home and on you two feet. 

Mark

Oh what great news Debs

I remember the first "standing up unaided" I had on my new knee

aint it just an amazing feeling

power at last, even if you do have to sit down again in a while

This is such good news

well done

bill

I know what you mean. I managed to breathe through me left nostril for the first time in three days.

With the greatest of respect to you Debs, I think that's at least an equivalent achievement to yours , all you did was stand up and I've had this terrible terriblr cold see, well more like flu really, in fact it was double Hong Kong Spanish flu and I've felt really really poorly, you know like really bunged up with the shivvers and all that and my girlfriend's been away - well she cleared off to her own place for some unknown reason - so nobody was there to bring me no soup or lemsip or nothing the bed's full of kleenex and the house stinks of Olbas oil which I spilt on the floor and it's all dripped through the floorboards upstairs and the doctor wouldn't give me nothing neither he said i was a hypo-somethingorother, I forget what but it sounded nasty still what does he know he's like all of them, he's just a quack and a fraudster, these doctors know nothing.

You poor thing.  I do realise of course that man colds are the pits:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLHWmjA5IE

Hope you get back to both nostrils pdq. (I'm only in sympathetic mode because I too have a cold of the bored and p*ssed off woman in hospital variety).

Yesterday, as well as going shopping I also walked.  Yes, just a dozen or so tiny steps between the parallel bars but you have to start somewhere.

nothing new there then....

Good news Termie- you seem to be on the up!
Keep it up.

I think I get AZ's drift........
"my girlfriend's been away................the bed's full of kleenex and the house stinks."
Dirty boy.

Hi Termie,
              Good to hear you are walking. Ah One foot in front of the other. ;D repeat. ::) Sounds as though you will soon be wobbling down the hall unaided.
Phil
 

I'm with you on this. The nostril, you'll be disappointed though not surprised to learn, closed up again after about fifteen minutes. It was a terrible personal setback, but you're right it's one small step in the right direction. One must remain positive minded.

Of course, most people have said you can't really compare my life-threatening viral contagion with your poorly leg, as The Bard once said, "frailty thy name is woman". So I'm please you're on board with me to keep me going until my depleted immunity system eventually wins through. Oh, and when you're next down the shop can you get us 20 Rothmans, ta.

One small step for mankind....


Well done Debs, you'll soon be able to wait on the exhausted Ian...  ;D

>Martini...

Quite!!!  Mine was a minor tap in comparison! So glad to see you posting here Debs!

I never imagined I'd feel so chuffed to be able to use a Zimmer frame, but that's what I did today.  Made it across the physio room.  I also got into a car without too much hassle (although the right knee doesn't bend much so I couldn't sit in one for long).  A few days at home for Christmas look increasingly likely.  I await an OK from the doc' in the morning.

This is great news Debs! I'm not surprised your leg doesn't bend too much after looking at the photo of your dead car, and I hope you score that Xmas visit home. Still, a trip to the shops is a trip to the shops, I just hope you remembered to get my Rothmans.  ;)

PS News is much better on the nostril front too. They both work periodically and when I blew my nose this morning all green came out and it was quite thick, which has to be a positive sign doesn't it?

Fab  news Deb, fingers crossed for the visit home.   I've got Dad on a zimmer and crutches at the moment, he had his first hip replacement replaced two weeks ago and came home on Friday.  Not quite in your league but it's slowly slowly on the progress front.

Trouble is...our new 8 week old springer spaniel puppy (Lola  ;D ) arrives on Saturday and unless Dad can pick up some speed between now and then he is going to be a sitting target for sharp little puppy teeth - it's proving some incentive to get him up and moving  ;D

Hi Deb,
          Always good to hear of your progress. I recall Rusty once proposed Zimmer races at Le Mans perhaps 2009 is time to revisit the idea.
Andy as for your nose... We don't wish to know that kindly leave the stage ;D
Phil

Only if you are Fungus the Bogeyman Zarse.

Brief update : I can go home for a visit the weekend after next. :)

Sadly Troy the wonderdog won't be there to greet me as he succumbed to kidney cancer in my absence. :'(  A house without a dog will be a strange place.



Pecker up, Andy.  Green is definately a sign that you are on the mend.

Sad news about Troy :(  but brilliant news about you Debs  ;D ;D- pleased to hear that mobility and contact with the real world is increasing!  And please don't encourage Mr Z any further, he'll be talking about what it tastes like next..... ::)

MG Mark

Good news about the visit home.

Very sorry to hear about Troy.

Ade

Hi Debs

Glad to hear you're still making good progress.

Sorry about Troy - probably never recovered from Pat losing his favourite toy in the garden!!

Del

Great news that you will be able to come home - all the best

Debs

sorry to hear about Troy on top of the other toubles

but it's great news that you can go home for a while

Keep up this improvement and you will be back on the ball again very soon

Magic



bill

Poor Troy, if it's not one thing it's another...  :(

Have a great weekend though!

That's good news about the home visit Deb, well done on the progress.

Sorry to hear about Troy, I'll let you know how Dad gets on with a new puppy and limited mobility before you decide whether a pup is for you!   

Debs and Ian

a very special Christmas greeting

I hope you both have a happy time this season

Debs

keep taking whatever tablets they put you on and doing the exercises

soon have you back and bouncing

bill

And the same from me...

Well it does save some typing...  ;)

>Martini...

Debs and Ian,

Hope you are both enjoying a very festive return to home together!  All the best,

MG Mark

Debs

Revel in being back in your own place, for the time being at least. I was only away for 4 days, and it was a real turning point, being able to come home. God (Or whoever) knows how it must be for you.

Ian

Well done for everything, including dusting where you know she can't check. You've been a pillar of strength, for us as well as Debs.

Take care

Nick

Cheers all from Termite Towers.  This being France of course, tomorrow is not a holiday so I have to go back to hospital for one day's work (nuts or what?) Still, we managed to knock off a bottle of poo last night.  Am now trying to fathom out how the flippin' i-pod works..... ??? ::)

That's great news Debs, you must be over the moon to be home.  I imagine the animals were pleased to see you?

Have a fantastic day, you worried us all that you might not get to see this Christmas so I can only imagine how Ian feels to have you home, even if it's only for a short time.

We'll have a drink for you later  ;D

Hi Debs And Ian
Hows the recovery / rehab going Deb?
Good to read you have spent christmas together at home... A whole bottle of poo! now was that one glass for Deb and the rest for Ian due to the tablets! :angel:
I'll hook you up with Jan on the Ipod thingy workitoutysortofstuff. I hate Itones with a passion.

Cheers Ian for being such great messenger, I salute you with a glass of armagnac  ;D

A Healthier and properous new year to you both

Andy

Can I just claim the prize for the last to see this?  :o
I don't log in so often, and I guess I've not been here for longer than I thought...

Really sorry to read of the accident - seeing the state of the car I guess you were driving in the Sprint Cup?

I have read all 22 pages, and so glad you appear to be well on the way to recovery.

All the best from Claire and myself, and hope to see you at Scrutineering again in June.

Oh, and Happy New Year to both Ian and yourself.

Mark

Time for a bit of an update. Her termieship doesn't actually get as much time for this as she'd like - she really is a very busy girl in hospital, and weekends at home just fly by! Progress is slow but kinda steady. Termie tends not to notice that she's moved on here and there, so isn't always as full of good news as she might be. Biggest event of recent weeks was the visit by the insurance company's doctor. You might have expected him to breeze in, look at whatever the hospital were prepared to show him, ask her how she's doing and be gone, to collect his no-doubt fat fee. Wrong! He spent two hours with Deb, getting her to stand, sit, turn, stretch, talk and basically use every part of her body to see how well absolutely everything is working. The hospital doctor had urged her to prepare a list of discomforts etc in advance, so that helped. We expect a draft (!) of the report this week, for Deb to comment. What he did point out, when Deb was being mealy-mouthed about her progress, was the increased articulation on the wretched right knee, which the hospital notes show to have improved markedly over the  - then - 6 weeks since she was allowed to be weight-bearing. Because this is France, the ambulance-chasing culture does not exist, so the compensation will be less than might have been the case in the UK - but then we don't know whether the marvellous facilities Deb is "enjoying" would have been available in UK, either.

One other item - Deb's voice. She has lost a great deal of power in this area. When she raised the point with the hospital doc, an ENT specialist was summoned within days, and undertook a full exam, finding no evidence of damage on the voicebox. Deb will now receive voice-training. Full-width healthcare? Not half!

Ian thanks for this update

very important for us to know how the lass is doing

The knee improvement can often be disguised amongst the general "oh dear I dont feel good itis" so it does sound as if she is doing very well indeed.

The news about voice training... (might be bad news after all, when old stentor lets go again!)


No only kidding Debs honest

The fact that they will help in training the voice is an indication of just how much they can and will do and is very commendable, beat that huh?

keep her spirits up, and yours too

well done all concerned

bill

I hope the report is an accurate one dispite the time Deb was given a work over, But then is money more value than health albeit the crap Deb has gone through for no fault of her own.

Best wishes to you both as usual, I trust you be in fine fettle
Andy

Sorry to say, I've been a bit lax over the past few months and have let checks on Deb's progress slip (along with all other events on CA), but really glad to read there is significant progress.

Here's wishing you both a really great 2009 and hoping the progress continues at a pace.

TC

Having just read the dreary news re Ferrari Spyder, our stuff is really quite trivial and almost cheerful by comparison. It is now 6 weeks since Deb’s first weekend at home, and, frankly, it is hard for me to say that her mobility has improved a lot. While her left leg and the right hand have come on well, the right knee is still being singularly unco-operative, and remains very painful to stand on. Deb and her physio, the estimable Gerard, have been alert to this fact for some time, and conclude that some of the metalwork installed by the undoubtedly gifted surgeons at Rouen is now working against, rather than for, her knee’s articulation. [As an aside, it has been suggested more than once that at most lesser hospitals than Rouen, the leg would simply have been amputated.] On Wednesday they managed to get their views across to the resident doctor on his weekly rounds. He looked at the x-rays, and thinks that a particular screw might now need to be removed. 5 months of bone growth should have rendered it redundant, anyway. He will need to discuss this with a surgeon colleague at Le Mans main hospital, but if the point is accepted, Deb can look forward to an operation. And that’s the point – Deb told me the news as if it were a step in the right direction (pardon the pun).

The other development is the arrival of the draft (!) report from the car insurer’s doctor. You will recall he spent 2 hours with Deb, covering a lot of issues, including who’s doing the housekeeping, the horses, the garden – hardly doctor stuff. The report is equally comprehensive in scope, and runs to 11 pages! Deb has copied it to the intern doctor to ensure nothing's been missed. We do feel that the best is being done on the claim front.

As one walking around with a few redundant internal screws (arm when aged 14) I can sympathise with Debs on this. Unwanted occasional weather forecasting ability doesn't make up for the frequent discomfort, so the possibility of at least one piece of un-needed shrapnel is a good idea.

So having a remove is a good  thing and I'm sure Debs will be better afterwards

Good luck honey!

Ian thanks again for keeping the news coming in, makes us feel a bit like family.

bill

Ian/Debs,

Fingers crossed re: the outcome of the consultation about the knee. I was told exactly the same (re: amputation) and luckily the surgeons at the hospital I was flown to were marvelous and I still have two (95%) functioning legs, BUT, I had exactly the same issue with a knee that started to seize uo. It was found that the 'nail' that they inserted through the center of my leg had started to knoeck against the inside of the kneecap and so was decided that it should come out. A few days later a very simple operation and the differance was and still is amazing. I have almost full movement back in the leg now and the other one, while still full of scafolding has also settled into situation normal.

While this is not about me, what I'm trying to say is that although Debs must be fed up to the back teeth with hospitals and ops, should they decide to rid her of some of the scaffolding it could well be advantageous in the long run and will (hopefully) be a very straight forwards op.

Fingers crossed and best wishes to you both for the Deb's continued recovery.

I've not visited here for ages and was shocked to see this thread. I kept wanting to jump to the end to see how it turned out, but managed to follow it through. It's amazing to see the progress you've made in what is a relatively short time, as it wasn't looking very promising from where I was sat 20 odd pages of posts previously!

Keep up the good work.

Buck

Debs and Ian,

Sounds like things are going (relatively) well, and you certainly seem to be getting a level of care, interest and after-care that is way beyond that known in the UK.  And don't be concerned about being cheerful, you have both gone through a lot of pain, stress or both to get where you are now, and you are headed in the right direction which is the important thing, and it is still good to hear about Deb's progress - just remember that we're banking on her for free access to a CA disabled enclosure, with free grandstand and pits access.....

All the best,

Mark

Not that we don't care any more but, now that we are getting to see Termie in the virtual flesh occasionally (as it were), it's time this was unstickied.

I hardly thought we'd see Termie making plans for '09 when this post started out. It's a tribute to her, Ian and the French medics that she's able to do so.

Keep up the progress!!

Aaagh, I've come unstuck!

Thanks for your continuing moral support, it is great to know your mates are out there and I certainly hope to be up and about enough to get to the race.  If I can wangle a blue badge then maybe I should auction helpers' passes on Sell or Swap? ;)

The medics are still umming and ah-ing about the mechano in the knee but hopefully a pow-wow between my doc' and the surgeon will take place shortly.  It's certainly beginning to p*ss me off that I can walk but the knee still hurts so *ffin' much when I do so.  Grump. >:(

Still, my problems look pretty minor beside FS's and at least I'm still on the planet.  We heard of the death of a friend of ours this week and one of my oldest and dearest Shropshire mates, who has had me under his roof every year for the last 30 when I pay the place a visit, is sadly on his last legs and I am unable to visit him to say goodbye.  I know I'm very lucky and have to keep telling myself this every day.  Enjoy what you have - you never know how long it's going to last.

You are right Petie. :)  Some of the people in here are so tragic you want to weep, but many make such progress it's really heartening.  Most depressing are the younger generation who are knocked down (often literally) before they've had a chance to live a full life.  At least I've done loads in my time and don't regret much so if I can't do the things I love doing (riding for instance) any more, at least I've had the chance to do them already. 
See you in 2010 then.  Must book the tickets, then I can worry about which campsite and grandstand I'll get..... ::)

 Hi Termie, just checking to see if progress is still ongoing OK as I'd heard nothing of late.  Hope all is well and life is easier these days.

Peter, no truer has been spoken and since my condition arrived 33yrs ago in a sudden accident, I understand that there are those worse off than me.

What we have to understand is the help and after care that an individual needs to get back to an almost a normal life. This part is difficult, I had no frigging help except from a loving and desperate family.

To you and Termie' I will state that you are part of a very caring family, that is CA.  What else can I say?

I wish in my heart that you both recover so that we can chat, laugh, drink again. And Joke obviously.

Still here in Wheelchair City but about to embark on a week's "holiday".  I had got a bit fed up as I've been out of action for nearly seven months now and was beginning to get a bit jaded.  So a little time off was suggested.  I could have had two weeks but I insisted that they leave one "in the bag" in case I'm still here in June and need to be let out for something or other....To be truthful, Leftie, the care here is absolutely first class - whatever help I need is at hand if I ask for it.  There are even resident shrinks if you need them.

On Tuesday I walked across the physio room undaided (well, the physio was about 2" away all the time) - only about a dozen tiny steps but it was a start and a great feeling.  I can get about on crutches reasonably well but I run out of umph when the pain sets in.  Long-term I think I'll be reasonably "normal", even if I'll probably have to give up some of my pleasures in life - riding being the major one.  Happily, it looks as if I'll be able to drive a normal car but much will depend on how well the right knee progresses.  Whatever happens, it's likely to need to be replaced after a few years.  Given the state of my car though, I think I came out of this pretty well.
 
You are right, Leftie, the people around you count for so much at times like this, and CA have stepped up to the plate, as ever.  And in Mr T I have as supportive and loving a partner as anybody could wish for.   All in all, I'd say I'm a pretty lucky gal. :)

Better stop being sentimental now.  This is CA after all. ;D

Drinking, chatting, laughing... no probs!  See you in June.

Termie,

There is a BIG hug waiting for you.

Jerry

Awww....can we all have a group hug  ;D

Keep your chin up Deb and focus on the positives (easy words, much harder in practice I'm sure!).   Have a fantastic week at home and fingers crossed for the rest of the recovery x

I haven't posted on this thread for a while as you all know that I'm alive and well so it seemed a bit pointless.  However, this week a few significant things have happened so I thought it was time for an update.

No. 1 thing is that yesterday I drove for the first time since the accident.  One of the many services provided by this place is access to driving school cars and specialist instructors.  I was "passed" as capable of driving a non-automatic car, after an hour's jaunt around St Saturnin and the LM suburbs and got out of the car with nothing worse than a sore and swollen right knee - something to be expected given that it hasn't been in contact with a brake or a loud pedal since last August (is it really that long ago?)

No. 2 item was a contact from the insurance company to say that the gendarmes have now confirmed that they have completed their investigation and that it was the lorry driver's fault.  Happily he was fully insured so now the negotiations begin and I should get some interim compensation before too long.  Then I'll have some idea as to what kind of car I'll be able to afford. Long-term much will depend on how fit I can get.  That is still in the air.

No. 3 item was a confirmation that I will shortly be able to leave this place and return 3 days a week as an out-patient.  My physio and I are aiming for LM week for my departure (when he's on holiday as well for some bizarre reason...), but it may indeed be before then, depending on my short-term progress.  But at least now this is being discussed.  I'm using the crutches much more instead of the wheelchair, but the former are still tiring to use for too long.

And whatever happens, I'll be at the race.  Roll on June. :)

Good to hear that your recovery continues on schdule Deb, see you in 8 weeks!

Thanks for the update, which thankfully is considerably different to what I was expecting to hear when this thread was started.

That's fantastic news, Deb!  Keep doing what the physio tells you and you'll be right as rain in no time.

Dx

Great news Deb, was it really last August! 

You'll be cheering from the tribunes in June.

Congratulations Deb. I've been monitoring your progress on the thread and I'm really glad things are on the up. All the best, Rob.

That's fantsatic news Deb.

Look forward to seeing you in June!  :)

superb news Deb.You must be a very tough old bird(sh1t ,that didnt come out right)

PM

Great news Deb.  See you in June.

t/

Really good news Deb. See you in June.

Ade

Oh Deb, that's really, really great news.

See you in June

bill

Just remember you can't attend LM in a wheelchair, you'll just get in the way. We saw someone in wheelchair once trying to get up the steps onto the tribunes, it caused a terrible queue and I thought it was so very inconsiderate.  ;)

Great news Deb!

Fantastic news Termie  ;D

Not bad for guesswork.  Hope the recovery continues to plan.

And now for the prediction/target for the compensation - 2 decent Ferraris worth

Well done Termie, it's been a tough time for you and Ian, have a good time at LM, unfortunatly I will only be there in spirit, make sure you have a tipple for me  ;D

So good to hear of your progress.
Phil

I cannot imagine how bad it must be like to be stuck in a hospital since August - what a nightmare. 

I am really pleased there is some good news for you and hope you will be back to LM in 2010 with your camera.

Great news Deb! Good to read you have taken yet another step on the road to full recovery. Enjoy the race in June, I will be there in spirit, like Ian. Will see you trackside in 2010!

Roy

Following a visit from my doc' just before lunch, it's now been confirmed that I am going to escape from here next month.  As soon as the outpatients' department has room for me (probably towards the end of May), I'll be off.

It's now over 8 months since Mr T's initial post when I was out cold and nobody else knew what was going to happen to me.  Thanks to the excellent treatment I've had here, and the support of my old man and our mates, the nightmare is now nearly at an end - although I'm probably never going to be able to walk in quite the way I once could.  But the important thing is that I'll make the race.  Our test run at the track on Saturday proved that I could at least sit in the stand and watch the action, even if the trek to Tertre Rouge might be a bit much.

I've said it before but it bears saying again - thanks to all of you for your good wishes, posts, cards, letters etc etc.  These things really do help, especially as this thing has dragged on for so long.

See you in June. ;D

In a world otherwise full of doom and gloom this is great news!

Enjoy your freedom Deb.

Dx

Well that's chuffin' marvellous  ;D ;D

Delighted for you Debs 8)

Hope to see you sausage side in sunny June :laugh: :laugh:

Steve

Thats fantastic news Debs....

Really happy for you and MrT.

I know that you are going to make the race but who is going to drive you round the lanes after the Great British Welcome? ;D

That's fab news Deb, hope the recovery continues to go OK, you had us all very worried at the start, I can only imagine how it was for Mr T and of course for you.  We won't see you in June but I'm sure you'll have a fab time x

A tribute to the stiff upper lip and the French health service
Well done to you both great news

Doug

That's good news.   Really pleased to hear your on your way home. 


See you in June.

t.

Now that, I would venture to suggest, is the true of Le Mans spirit! I'm absolutely delighted to hear this news and look forward to seeing you both in June.  :D

Get in!

Excellent!

... and if you really need to get to Tertre Rouge we'll find a way to get you there ;D

Debs,

Outstanding news - really, really pleased for you and Mr T.  See you there and, if you need to get anywhere, aside from Mr T, there's plenty of willing volunteers here to help out getting you to Tetre Rouge or elsewhere.  All the best and look forward to seeing you in June,

Mark

Good news, and my prediction/target must have been just that extra little bit of help that you needed

Great news Deb.  We'll set up a piggy back relay to the Stella Bar.

Fab news Termie. The Micra pic was shocking :o I believe Lady PP still owes you a drink for the airbed loan at DFH in 07. I will make sure that is repaid this June.
The Guiness tent was a right hoot last year so I suggest you take advantage of the Team Zarse offer of Piggy backing. A fine group of hot young studs should have no problem with the transport... perhaps you should suggest one of those things they used in Egypt. Carried shoulder high on a raft by men in posing pouches. ;D
PP

That is good news, Deb.

Well done for getting through it all.

Hello Deb
I’m new to this site been on the Beer Mountain for a while though just been reading through this thread and felt I had to post, few years back now (’93) I had a accident which required rebuilding the knee ACL had the op in feb of that year then lots of physiotherapy to get back walking again.  I know it’s no where near what you have gone thorough but my spur to get back to walking was a visit to Le Mans that year in June.  Managed it and had a brill time the heat, French wine and larger and a visit to the Tertre Rouge bar did me the power of good.  I’m not going this year first I’ve missed for 10 years due to work problems but I wish you a great time and I’m sure the lads will get you to the Tet for a beer!

Keep up the great work and have a ball in June

Cheers Lee  :)

Where are you going to find some of those?

Dx

Well, after a few pints of, the guinness goggles might kick in.
If I ws going, I'd volunteer (Not sure about the attire though) to shoulder a corner of the sedan chair.

Although knowing andy, he'd probably sneak in there and eat all the grapes.

Brilliant news.

Truly good news at last

Deb, when I had my knee rebuilt a few years back in the January the major spur in my recovering was the thought of getting back to the Sarthe in the June and a determination not to just sit still when I got there.

Obviously the same forces have been working on you too, must be magic in the air over there.

And the answer to Toby's question is clear, we will all want to drive you around after the GBWelcome

And yes, I'll take a corner of the chair lads, where is that oversize posing pouch I havent usd for SO-O-O-O-o-o long?

bill

Bill,

That is just too graphic a thought...........

MG Mark

well Mark, I need something to hold up the belly too

at my age...

purrupps I ought to borrow a well used and abused skin suit

if it has been washed since the incident of the things that went brrrrrrrrppprpp in  the night...

OK

maybe not

To some people 30+ is still young Dx. ;D

On my first trip to LM in 2001 one of the thing that most impressed me was a group of guys hauling on ropes attached to their mates wheelchair to drag him through the mud, he was going where they were going (like it or not I suspect ;D and his wheelchair was fully laden with the beer). I have of course learnt that that this is not anything exceptional at LM, it's just the level of good will that makes LM so great. I am sure "Access to all areas" will not be a problem  :D

Well, flip me Termie - give a man a heart attack won't you?!?

I am probably the last person in the CA world to know about this, as I've been off the grid a bit since changing jobs and emigrating a while back.  Last saw you at Le Mans in '07, so it's been a while.

So glad that you're able to make it to the race this year... Let's hope it's a goodun!

Best wishes,

Patrick (aka Papa Lazarou)

Well done and congratulations Deb. That's the spirit.
Steve

Liberation day has arrived!  On Wednesday the doc' told me I could leave and I said goobye to the hospital this morning.  I'll be back there three days a week, starting Monday, but it's great to be home.

Celebrated by visiting my friendly local Nissan dealer and buying myself another car. ::) 

Huzzah ;D

Good for you TT, happy shopping ;D

You're making it sound like parole ;D

You've proved the Nissans are tough, but get these people to sort you out http://www.safetydevices.com/

Good news Deb, still 3 weeks to get yourself all prepared for the 24h.

Had a quick look at page 1 of this thread and suddenly realised that your accident happened in August last year (on my birthday  :-[ ).
Already 9 months no wonder you call it liberation day.

Deb,

This is great news!  Those of us meeting in Wokingham tonight will raise a glass (or two) to you.

Dx

The lovely new 370Zee is out in Europe in a few weeks. Go on, treat yourself, you know you want one!

(http://www.egmcartech.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/2009_nissan_370z_images_003.jpg)

Yes, I do want one, you are correct. :P

However, at the moment I still await the Tribunal and subsequent news of my award from the guilty party's insurance so I only had the cheque from the insurance company for the old girl, much missed.  Thus I bought a Note in the end as I need space for a wheelchair and another Micra wasn't the best option as a result.  Still, for five hundred Euros more than what I got for the dear departed I got a car two years newer with half the kilometers on the clock.  There's something to be said for recessions!

nine months and back you bounce!

well done Debs, another major landmark

I hope you get a decent settlement too you deserve it

anyway

I stole this picture from Toby (dont tell him, but I knew there'd be a day for it)

And now you have wheels again it can act to inspire next year's St Sat Drive Out

(as long as the darned image loads, not a strong point for me, these pictures)

I'm really really chuffed

bill

Sounds good to me.

t.

PS.  Great new deb.

I suspect that the sadistic b@rst@rds let you out to watch the Eurovision Song Contest :o

 ;D ;D

Good news about your release Deb.
See you soon.

So, not just Debs who is after a settlement! Re-use of my copyright - gonna cost you a couple of beers or maybe the jump seat for when we go prancing horse chasing....


Really glad to hear that another milestone has been reached; with 4 weeks to go gives you plenty of time to get sorted.... ;D

at least off me you get accreditation

and a couple of beers naturrlich

AND I wouldnt dream of terrorising any horses a'prancing without a seasoned jump seat rider

four to go yeehah

Don't I get anything then??

>Martini...

Congratulations on becoming a Club Arnage God!!

Well knock me over with a glass of vodka, or wine or even Pastis for that matter, I had not realised.

It feels good being a dog, able to Pxss wherever you want and sniff... no don't go there Buster...

Think I will go and curl up and have a sleep...

Martini...LB

Maison Blanche Kennel E80/81 with handler Dr Sconefinger...LB and his motley crew.

Deb you haven't posted since July, must be a record!!!
Hope that you are well and recovery is proceeding as planned.

Internet restored after six weeks and a sacking of my previous ISP.  Have had a bit of a bumpy ride since last posting as I thumped the offending knee and now await expert opinion as to what to do next as it hurts like hell and has done for nearly a fortnight now.  I also found a lump where a woman would rather not find a lump which happily I found out yesterday is "pas mechant" (not naughty) as they say here.  Phew.

Appointment with doc' tomorrow pm about the knee.  It's all happening.

blimey Debs

behave will you

no more knocking the wobbly bendy bits please

I know how that feels and it just isn't the thing to do

hope they get that sorted quick for you...

bloody glad you got the "pas mechant" too

I'll have crossed fingers and eyes for tomorrow, I'm sure they can sort it

good luck hon.

Blimey Deb you must have really pissed someone off in a former life. Glad you got the "pas mechant". Just look after yourself we don't want to see you still in a wheelcahair next June

Good luck. 

I have a lot of faith in medical science, and at a far less serious level, the docs have done a wonderful job on the wife's knee and bunion

How did she get a bunion on her knee???

>Martini...LB

A brief update.   I saw the surgeon on Tuesday and he tells me that I have managed to detach the tendon which runs down the front of my lower leg (one re-attached by the surgeon in the original operation a year ago.)  I've just had a phone call to say he'll do the op' on Monday so it's back to hospital again for me.  At least it's local and I shouldn't be in for so long this time, but long term I don't know what it means and neither does the surgeon until he's opened me up and had a look.  Here we go again. ::)

That sucks.

And i bet the sexy physio won't be there either?

Are you going to Tertre Rouge? My mate was in for an op, up and walking 2 days after trying to see who was testing on Bugatti.

Bugger, Termie...

still it could be worse

my son had to have a tendon replaced and fixed after his cruciate ligament operation.

And physio did get the newly pinned one working as normal quite quickly

fingers crossed Debs

nil carborundem

It turned out not to be the ligament at all, but four of the pins (and there appear to be about 20 in all), have broken and lots of stuff has consequently moved about in the knee - possibly a colapse which began weeks or months ago and which my "little tap" (for that was all I gave it) just exaserbated the thing.  The surgeon has tidied it up a bit and we'll see how it goes but I see him again in November after which, if there is no improvement, he'll go in again for a much longer (5 hours or so) op' and rebuild the thing from scatch. ::)

Back to rehab as an out-patient in the morning.  At least nobody hangs about round here.

Right then!

Cue for Mucho Crossing Of  Fingers Debs (mine that is)

Problly a better thing than the busted ligament

and only a few weeks to November

Here's hoping

good luck

xxx

Keep smiling Deb, mine all broke too - it can be fixed ...... Must be nice to be back home again though.