Big day today ... the wonderful Campbell from the integration group mapped out a trip to the park for us all with Ash. He also showed us the way to the train station so we can escape that way if needed (to get to the footy if the swans make it to next week)! We left Talbot just after 3 in beautiful sunshine and headed off for our adventure. Ash was on her bike with her helmet on racing daddy. We headed off along Kew Boulevard and across the river to a wonderful park where Ash and daddy had their first play in 9 weeks. Was a pretty rough ride for Mike in his chair and his shoulders were pretty sore by the time we got back. It is pretty…

Monday 01/09 1 - 2:30 - Physio - FES bike Tuesday 02/09 12 - 1 - OT 1:30 - 2:15 - Drs ward round 3 - 4:30 - PT Wednesday 03/09 12:30 - 1 - SP 1-2 - OT 2-3 - Nursing ED 3-4 - PT Thursday 04/09 1-2 - OT 2-3 - PT 3-4 - Leisure Friday 05/09 2-3 - PT 3 - 5 - Quiet time (as requested by Mike)

Hi All, Firstly a few thankyous are in order ... the lovely Jacquie for organising the food for yesterday; Kate for shopping for the plates, cups and drinks; the companies who kindly donated food (I will have to provide a comprehensive list in the next post); to the Forbes clan for making, cooking and cleaning; Michelle and Daina who arrived with emergency strawberry supplies and all who attending for bringing good cheer and lots of happy thoughts. A huge thankyou to Mike for being ever positive and strong over what was I know a very, very tough day for him. We have been staying out in the flat for the last couple of nights which has been lovely. Mike thinks that we should move out here! Has been really nice…

Hi All  Just a very quick one: - Mike did type ALL of his second post - he has new party tricks for his bash on Sunday - we have been advised by the hospital that it is a dry-premises ... rah, rah, rah, boring snoring but anyway, Mike needs every bit of his nervous system so no wine is good for him. Just wanted to make sure that everyone knew. Maybe we can have ginger beer -- or I suggested going and sitting just outside the boom gates to have a quick tipple - Mike wants to catch up with people, not receive presents.

Welcome all to my second post. In this post I wanted to try and thank everyone who has helped me get to this point. From the events that have been relayed to me of my first 12 days this would be an impossible task without missing anyone.  So rather than attempt to do this please take this e-mail as heartfelt thanks to the people that helped me including the ambulance officers, doctors and friends and of course family that are the reason that I am here today so thank you, thank you, thank you.   I have been humbled by the wonderful assistance and the willingness of my friends to move heaven and earth to help my lovely wife and my daughter to manage this ordeal. I simply…

Monday 25/08 1 - 2 - FES cycle 2:30 - 4 - massage 4 - 5 - OT Tuesday 26/08 12-1 - OT 1:30 - 2:15 - Drs round 3:30 - 4:30 - PT 4:30 - 5:30 - reflexology Wednesday 27/08 - 11:30 - 12:30 - Kinesio 1-2 - PT Thursday 28/08 11 - 1:30 - OT outing 1:30 - 2 - Margaet 2 - 3 - PT 3 - 4 - TAC Friday 29/08 1-2 - OT 2-3 - PT Saturday 30/08 1-2 - Cranio 6:30 - 7:30 - Kinesio Sunday 31/08 Mike B'day. BBQ and stuff from 11:30 if people want to drop in. Catering not promised but there will be snags and bread and Ash and I will try for a cake!

All, A big, big day! I hope no-one came in to visit ..... b/c we weren't here! A huge thanks to everyone here ..... especially Nina and Jenny for organising our impromptu and very rushed 'day leave' education, to Erin for the ramp and Theresa for the physio tick! Mike has been missing his eggs provencale at Babble on Babylon in Elwood. Marty had offered to send some in, but Mike maintained that he wanted to eat them himself hot straight from the stove-top! Needless to say, it rained on his parade ... literally! As we sat down outside (b/c that way there were no steps) it started to rain. We got inside without a drama - a huge well done to Mike! A massive thankyou to Marty and his…

A busy couple of days so not much time to post anything. Lots of visitors on Friday and then over the weekend too, so thanks to everyone who came in --- especially the lovely Julie who came equiped with lots of yummy treats and who managed to get Ash to play and talk to her! See - Miracles are possible! A good day for Mike today, he's still resting his weary shoulders and just trying to spend a bit more time each day in the chair. He has mastered the art of "what's the time Mr Wolf" even though Ash thought it was a 'leg game'. Last Thursday Talbot received a FES bike for trial which we had been looking at for Mike anyway. They use electrical stimulation to trigger…

Hi, Please see below details of Mike's program for next week.... Monday- PT - 1-2 massage - 2:30 - 2:30 OT - 4 - 4:30 Tuesday - OT - 12:30 - 1 Drs ward Round - 1:30 - 2;30 PT - 3;45 - 4:30 Wednesday - PT - 1:45 - 2:30 w/chair rugby demo - 3 - 4:15 Thursday - PT - 2 - 3 Friday - IT consultant - 10 - 12 PT - 1-2 OT - 3-4

Hi All, Apologies for the lack of comments in the last few days.... a couple of good and busy days, but a little set back today. The swallow seems to be coming along OK but with the gastro last night / today, the scope test to give an official verdict has been delayed until tomorrow. Mike had a good day yesterday with two sessions in the chair. He drove the chair by himself and will graduate to his own chair tomorrow so hopefully will spend some more time upright. Most importantly Mike managed a “whizzy woo” spin around in his wheel chair — the smile on Ash’s face was worth a million dollars. A huge thankyou to Telstra for organising a 3G card to get me online at the hospital…