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10 June 2011

Posted by DMC on 11 June 2011 in Diary |

When I was at Lord’s the other day Brian Osborne delivered a lovely postcard from his daughter Kate who has spent part of her year off, before going to Durham University, working with small children in Uganda. The postcard she gave me showed half a dozen beautiful Maasai girls dressed with traditional beaded ornaments but to my amusement wearing long red modesty skirts which they certainly did not wear in my day. (See 31st of December 2010 entry). With the postcard came a little handmade straw figure, presumably representing Christ, which we are to hang on our Christmas tree next year. It’s good to have Kate back, even if she was well looked after in Uganda. She and her like set a great example to the youth of today.

Shortly after Sally and Sarah and left after giving me my shower, dressing me etc, Lynne, my really helpful occupational therapist arrived to craft a splint for my right hand, similar to the one away on the left.

The idea being that at present in order to access the left-hand side of the keyboard I have to lean right over putting a lot of pressure on my right arm and shoulder, so I thought I had the right hand finger splint as well this might overcome the problem. As usual Lane was up to the task and what she made in conjunction with the articulated arm rest I believe will probably do the trick. Having said that I’m trying more and more to use voice activation for almost every mouse movement but there are one or two which are rather tedious or difficult so I take the easy way out and use my splintered finger to press the appropriate key.

Poor Lynne I think was rather fazed by the number of my support team who turned up or telephoned while she was here. First of all the wheelchair man came to replace the broken leg support. Then a courier from Papworth Hospital arrived with the Oximeter for me to use over the weekend before my appointment on Monday. No sooner had he left than Barbara, from Ross Nursing, turned up for the midday visit which would normally be to put me into my electric wheelchair (but today the weather really wasn’t worth the risk) so she spent 5 min or so doing my tummy rubbing. While all this was going on I received a phone call from Dr Margaret Saunders about some more drug changes +2 or three other medically-based calls and all of this while poor Lynne was trying to craft and fit this new finger splint. With all this going on there is no way I could possibly say I’m not being very well looked after.

Today’s bit of fun is for grandpa’s although I’m not too sure that grandmas will be too happy about it!  

A  six year old goes to the hospital with her  grandmother to visit her  Grandpa.

When  they get to the hospital, she runs ahead of her  Grandma and bursts into her Grandpa’s  room…”Grandpa, Grandpa,” she says excitedly, “As  soon as Grandma comes into the room, make a noise  like a frog!”

“What?”  said her Grandpa.

“Make a noise like a frog  – because Grandma said that as soon as you  croak,
we’re  all going to   Disneyland.

 

 
 

 

4 Comments

  • Christine from BC says:

    I am amazed at the healthcare you are getting and it is good to know that folk in UK still have a great healthcare system – I really thought it was “broken” long ago (I used to work in the NHS!).

    Oh and by the way, I am still wiping the tears of mirth from my eyes caused by that evil joke – thanks, Mark…….

  • Jenny Cassy says:

    I’ve just read most of your blogs, and been as my mum was diagnosed with MND last August, it made me realise that there are more people out there that understand how it is. I agree with Christine in some respects, my mum has one woman who is brilliant… but the changes to the house.. These people have left her unable to have a shower or negotiate the front door, as the renovations to the house that were booked at the beginning of Dec’10 and due for completion within 3-6 months have still not gone out to tender. We have privately had a temporary ramp built and an over bath chair fitted, as well as lots of other internal modifications. That’s me going on, and all I wanted to say is, excellent blog, and I will be viewing it regularly from now on.

  • DMC says:

    dear Jenny.

    I’m sure I reply to this comment earlier but I’d been at sixes and sevens with my computer over the last week or so and it’s still not right.

    I’m extremely sorry to hear you are having so much trouble getting the support which is so brilliantly been provided for me at this end. I’m afraid to say it very much depends where you live. It is ridiculous talking about 3/6 months in the case of an MND patient due to the uncertainty of the speed of the illness. You really shouldn’t have to be doing any of these things yourself. Now I suggest that you contact the chairman of the local PCT and complain and also speak to the chairman of your local MND Association, who are generally only too happy to assist you.

    I’m so glad that you are enjoying the blog and hopefully find some useful ideas in it. Your mum might enjoy some of the jokes or at least enjoy looking at some of the very beautiful photographs or videos which I also include.

    Very best wishes to you both.

    Mark

  • DMC says:

    Dear Christine

    I am so sorry for the delay in replying to your kind e-mail, but as you will get. I been having problems with my laptop, and indeed still am.

    I’m so glad you’re still in touch and enjoying the odd joke even if they are a bit risque.

    My very best wishes to you.

    Mark

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