7th June 2008!

[gon2seed]

I had been out at St Leonards rugby club dinner, I went straight from work with a mate. (All this is pretty much a guess and from witness acounts. I remember nothing, I can only remember playing rugby about a month before!) It was a good night (aparently). Varying congecture over my cosumption of booze, but my colleague reckons I'd had a few, but was not legless (unlike later! Ed). We went too Casa for some aperatifes, and I set off for home at about 2.30. Probably arrived at 3.00, only to discover I had left my front door key in my locker at work. I shoud've hit Mrs Evans window wth a stone, i'd done it a couple of weeks before, and I promised never to do it again!
It was a warm night (thank god it could have saved my life!), which might have meant my middle son slept with his window open. This will account for me getting a ladder from the garage and climbing up to the extension roof. I didn't fall off the ladder (contrary to some stories in the press!) I must have realised the wimdow was shut, then been on my way back to the ladder, when I fell! I must have gone flat on my head, as I fractured my skull in two places and broke my wrist. Unconscious on the floor in the early hours of the morning, with my wife asleep in bed, not a good place to be!

What happened next? Will he live? (I guesss you know the answer to this as I'm writing this!), how did this effect the friends and family?

Unfortunately its time for Coranation street, so the next episode of this saga will have to wait?!

TO BE CONTINUED!

 

[wildwood]

AHh I heard this story from a colleague of mine last year but never put 2 and 2 together.......I believe is a fellow rugby friend of yours..

Small world ey?

 

[gon2seed]

Well 'what happened' next was! at 9.30 Mrs Evans was greeted by an unconcious bloke outside the kitchen door! The tea and toast were forgotten, and after screaming, she discover I was bloody and bruised, but still breathing! The kids got a rude awakening, an ambulance was called, but when they assesed me, they called for an air-ambulance to take him to Stoke. On my way, to land of clay (well it is national poetry day!), the family were phoned, and the kids sorted out. Michelle and my mum were collected, and followed me by road. (thank's Dave.)

When they arrived at A@E, I was already on lifesupport, where I remained for two days! It was not long before visitors arrived. (ambulance had contacted fire control, and my boss turned up within an hour!)

I opened my eyes for the first time to a request on 12th June(5 days). Tubes in my nose @ throat, breathing for me and feeding me! After 10 days moved to high depedancy ward. Fire Chief visited me. Moved to Cannock on 28th, Still paralysed on right side. Rehab continued till I was released after 6 months in hospital. Speech an memory were very poor at first. Not even sure who my wife was, or that my dad had died 5 years previously! I am recounting all this from eye-witness reports; I have no memory of the incident at all. (infact I have no memory of the 3months after the incident, and only remember playing rugby in early May a month before my accident! Luckily I can't remember people having to help me to the loo. I can only remeber being able to make it under my own steam!

All I can say is how lucky I am to have a marvellous wife, mum, and kids; to have such good friends; and to work for such a caring organisation as the British Fireservice! Next time I'll bore you with my life after hospital! Now that will get you logging off in droves!

 

[cookie_monster]

bloody hell seed, you really have been through it.

im just so pleased to see you and (Ed) back on fine form. i for one have missed your posts and you always manage to get me to crack a smile when im sat in my drab office wishing for 4pm and home time.

i had no idea as to the extent of the damage you managed to inflict on yourself as id missed the papers that reported your tale. i dont know if you are fully recovered yet, but i hope so, and if not, i wish you all the very best for your future progress and speedier recovery than youve managed so far.

one day, im going to meet you- i need to know who this mysterious man who used to have a crush on my mum is! you may be lucky though and have no memory of my mum being your old french teacher!


x

 

[gon2seed]

Oh Cookie Monster, I may have lost some memory, but I do remember your mum!


and my predilection

PS Thanks for your kind words Cookie, you'll have to wait till next time to hear about my after hospital recovery!
Meeting up? Sounds like a date! Lets hope you have no physical resemblance to your mum*, and Mrs seed doesn't hear

*Actualy you'll have to excuse me! I'm getting quite unecessary with the thought of it!

PPS Meeting up with forumites? I seem to remember bumping into Sofa (not literally)once. Apart from that I am at a loss..... Unless you know different!

 

[cookie_monster]

Lets hope you have no physical resemblance to your mum*, and Mrs seed doesn't hear

lol! unfortunately, i got the short straw and i look like my dad...without the tash i hasten to add!


x

 

[gon2seed]

December last year they finally let me free. I had been more than ready for a long time, but it took me 6 months! (The fact that during the first month, I'd clocked a male nurse while agitated, had no bearing on their desicion!!) I had to have a carer when Shell was at school (My wifes a teacher!), which pleased an ex social worker no end!! Just after xmas, they had me back on light duties at work, I went to Headway (and continue to go) at the Amazal. Its a National charity for people who have suffered head injuries. I also went to Cannock Day Centre for 2 days a week. I really was a busy little badger! You could argue much busier than when I was a fireman, but those stories of pool, darties, and second jobs, are much exagerated. I was still have trouble with speech, memory, and basic maths (and he still is. Ed), but walking was less of a problem, despite my lack of balance!
We live near Rowly Park and the lure of a running track proved too much. Just after xmas I managed 100m and walked round for the rest of a lap. I have just completed 400m in just under 80seconds. Still nowhere near the 48 that I used to it in, but it was a big step forward. (shouldn't that be a run? Ed) I was up to 3+ miles when I packed in.

I have now decided to stop running, I have a new aim in life, walking! I did 19 miles in the North Staffs Peak District yesterday! On the second anniversary of my accident, I want to do the Staffordshire Way. I will finish after after 3 days, on June 7th 2010. It means 30 miles a day, I am doing it for the Firefighters Charity and Midlands Air Ambulance, and don't be surprised if you see me in the paper leading up to it!

Mrs Seed will be very happy when I have got this out of my system, as I have become very self obsessed (Ain't that the truth! Ed) My entire conversation oncerns my accident and recovery. (focus of his life! Ed) I still have some memory problems, and sometimes my speech is a bit wiffy, but it happend, I survived, my recovery continues to go well, and its time to move on! (Ain't that the truth! Ed)

 

[gon2seed]

On the 'Out and About' threads, my latest venture :- http://www.staffordforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=3379. Why? All the result of my accident :- www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/staffordshirenewsletter-news/DisplayArticle.asp?id=446279 if you haven't read the Newsletter.

(He was in again Thursday Ed!)

 

[Sofa]

I understand, gone2seed, that your walking route next June takes you through our beautiful Cannock Chase. Count me in as the first Stafford Forumite to put their name down to accompany you for a good few miles on that day. I am sure there are plenty of Forumites out there who will come along and help raise sponsorship money, too.

 

[gon2seed]

Many thanks Sofa, it would be great if you could join me for a mile or two. Unfortunateley, I have no idea yet when I will cross the Chase, or exactly where the Staffordshire Way goes as it crosses the Chase. I am telling other people who want to join me, the best day will be the 7th of June 2010; somewhere near Kinver (I have not worked out the exact finish point.). The significance of the date is its the second anniversary of my accident. I will be starting on Sat 5.6.2010 at Mow Cop, and covering 30 miles+ on day one, (hopefully clearing Cheadle); I will then get a lift home, and get a lift in the morning, to where I finished the first day. The second day should take me beyond the Chase, before onward to Kinver, and the finish on day three. (7th) I will have someone walking with me (the navigatour) the whole way, but although I will carry a mobile, I don't know how long (or whether! Ed) I'll reach strategic points. For these reasons the best day to join me, although its is a week day! would be the Monday. There will also be a camera so photo's would be guaranteed!

For those of you not following my story in the Snoozeletter (He is at it again! Ed), I am doing this walk for AirAmbulance and the Fireservice Charity.


PS Any computer buff, whishing to cover this on a blogg, or similar, would be most welcome!