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02Aug 2009 by mforbes

Now This Is a Milestone

Rehabilitation
With the work that I'm doing in the gym and the physiotherapy no doubt contributing also I absolutely achieved a milestone last week. I can now stand up and let go of a handle on the wall after finding my balanced position and stay there without falling over! The work we have been doing has been strengthening those little muscles that everybody uses in order to not fall over when in a standing position. You would not believe how much I had have been watching people in a standing position and the way that the muscles flicker in order to keep you there. It would be very interesting from a physiological perspective if it wasn't happening to me! Here is a picture that was taken at the end of one…
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16Jul 2009 by mforbes

Leaps and Bounds

Rehabilitation
I have now been back at the gym with Patrick for three weeks and have just started at the Epworth Hospital rehabilitation facility. Between these two I am getting 12 hours of activity a week. There are a few hours of other things such as massage, hand therapy and Feldenkrais physiotherapy that I'm performing each week that is making it very busy. Monica has also started back at work giving me my first taste of real responsibility with the family again. Ashley and I set off for kindergarten three mornings a week with me in the motorised wheelchair and Ashley riding on the back on one of those scooters that you see attached to the back of a pram. Our good friends Michelle and Cam bought this and helped us…
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17Jun 2009 by mforbes

What are you doing on Sunday night at 6.30pm?

Rehabilitation
[youtube]a6OslfjSk2k[/youtube] A nice quick post to let you know that this Sunday night on the show called Sunday Night on Channel 7 at 6.30pm I will be featured in one of the stories. Channel 7 just happened to be doing some filming at Project Walk whilst I was there and they were quite interested by this Australian guy who could walk a bit on sticks! I am hoping that it is a nice positive story about working hard and what Project Walk has to offer. It should be, the interviews that were done seemed positive so I am hoping it is a good show. For those of you who attended the benefit dinner and others it will hopefully give a good overview of what you helped me do. There is…
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11May 2009 by mforbes

Good to be back on the beach

Project Walk
A great week again at Project Walk particularly with my brother and dad here to help and encourage. I have been able to add a lot of other therapy and movement at home, and when we are out and about with two strong sets of hands around. The highlights for the week have nothing to do with project walk but outings we've made. On Saturday we went and watched the redbull air race which happened to be on in San Diego, where Pete and Dad helped me to walk onto the beach. And even though I couldn't feel the sand with my feet, it was invigorating. The other highlight was this morning when again with their help I had a shower without involving commode and stood up for a shower.It…
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03May 2009 by mforbes

Welcome left glute, where are you right hip flexor?

Project Walk
I have just finished week 4 at Project Walk and I've been really happy with my progress. I have been working really hard at getting the bits that are working well to work better and the bits that are working badly to work at all! My walking has been going really well still with plenty of assistance and finally my left glute muscle is doing its job and supporting my body weight when I try and take a step with my left leg planted and stepping with my right. The next problem is getting the right leg to come through as it is supposed to! This is where I am sending out a telegraph for my right flexor to join the party! This muscle group is needed to lift the…
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20Apr 2009 by mforbes

First Situps

Project Walk
Firstly I want to apologise for not posting before now but it has taken some time to get setup with an internet connection on my computer with the specialist software to enable voice recognition. We are still not quite there as Moni is actually typing for me. We have it all working but it always takes time to setup my working station and I wanted to get a post out so here goes ....... We are now 2 weeks in to Project Walk and the progress is steady. This is exactly what you would expect in an exercise-based program. It is very rewarding to put in the effort and see improvements each day. I have been very impressed with how methodical the approach of the physical trainers is to help…
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28Jan 2009 by mforbes

I No Longer Have To Listen to the Word “Can’t”!

In Hospital
Following the amazing weekend last weekend with the boys doing the charity ride to help me get to Project Walk in the USA in early February, I was finally discharged from hospital on Wednesday. It was an amazing feeling to leave and head to the outside world with Moni and Ash by my side who have supported me unbelievably from the moment I landed at death's door in hospital on the 28th of June last year. I think the most pleasing thing for me is that the word "can't" will no longer be jammed down my throat by the wonders of the public hospital system that we have in Australia. There is a wonderful man who works at Royal Talbot who I've talked about before and it is Campbell. Campbell…
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23Dec 2008 by mforbes

Merry Christmas to all!

In Hospital
Just a quick post to wish you all Merry Christmas. Monica's family has begun to descend on us already with brother Simon and his wife Alexis and two kids arriving yesterday. I am looking forward to enjoying the festive season where my rehab and my health are not the centre of attention. I'm looking forward to focusing on the kids and enjoying their smiles and laughter over the next few weeks as we no doubt shower them with far too many gifts! I am also looking forward to beginning a new year. This one has brought a little too much bad luck! My accident was bad enough and then our awesome dog Charli passed away last week. I had a dream to walk again with her and it breaks my…
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07Nov 2008 by mforbes

Swallowing my pride… in a good way!

In Hospital
It has been quite a few weeks! I know that it has been a number of weeks since I posted a message. I apologize for this but it has actually been quite difficult to get a good block of time where it is quiet enough for me to “write” a message. Since I have been going home for weekends I've been super busy doing therapies during the week at Talbot and spending time with the family and friends on weekends. I've also been doing therapies on the weekends with massage and a bit of trampoline activity [but don't tell them at Talbot]! I also fit in at least one fes bike session on each day that I am home. This device has been a wonderful part of my rehabilitation so…
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25Sep 2008 by mforbes

Raffle Update – And the winner is …….

In Hospital
Thanks to all who purchased raffle tickets. All but 20 tickets were sold and the draw took place this morning at the fundraising meeting.  Congratulations to Meg Danby (holder of ticket 1047), the winner of the GIANT OCR-A Sport bike (RRP $1595). Meg has been contacted and is very excited about being drawn out of the box!  Thanks again to SuperSprint for letting us sell raffle tickets at the Degani Kinglake Ride on Sunday and to GIANT for such a fantastic prize.
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