A DIFFERENT STROKE !!

After 7 weeks, the physio therapist thought it was time for Colin to take to the waters !

The age old question of "does a one legged duck swim in circles?" springs to mind, although quite the opposite happened. Colin's 'maiden voyage' was quite disastrous as he sank like a stone !!

Still, with a little help from some 'woggles' - Colin managed to swim a length of the pool. Where there's a will ...

With the help from Catherine, Colin manages to 'tread the waters'.

I'm not trying to drown him .... honestly !!

MY 'OTHER' HEROES ..

On a more serious note, there are several people that I could not have got through this ordeal without. They were my "towers of strength" when my whole world fell apart on the 3rd January 2011. I know I shouldn't name names as there is always the fear of leaving someone out, however I have to mention some !

Mr Brian Warren - What can I say ?!! Your kindness, strength and compassion is second to none. A true gentleman who never complained about his tear-stained epaulettes or the fact that he was in the hospital nearly as much as Colin !

Mrs Di Warren - Your tuesday evening meals and words of encouragement for me and the girls kept us all sane !

Mr Chris James & Mr Geoff Thompson - (aka Bodge It & Scarper) who made it possible, by the construction of a ramp, for me to get Colin back home.

The wonderful home cooked meals that were left for us daily by our dear friends.

To my beautiful (and stronger than they think) daughters - for coping during this difficult time and hanging onto hope. I told you "Daddy always comes back to us."

To all of these people and the rest of you out there, I wish you more than a 'thank you' - indeed I give you a lifetime of gratitude.

"You are all my 'other' heroes."

Nicki x

SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT !!

Colin has settled back into home life and it has lifted his spirits enormously. He is getting stronger as each day passes and he is able to find his own challenges within everyday life. (The fact that he is giving us palpitations is another story, and hopefully not another blog !!)

Here is an example of what he gets up to when I'm not looking (e.g School-run).

When questioned, his reply was: "Someone has to do it !" Colin even roped Rohini in on the act, pushing him to the best netting positions !!

A Job Well Done !!

ON THE LASH !!

Apologies to those who have visited the Blog lately only to find no update.  I had turned over publishing duties to the girls but they've had a busy time at school so I've stepped back in to keep the momentum going.

As usual Colin continues to defy logic and convention.  Having mastered the art of negotiating stairs with an unwilling leg he moves ever closer to regaining independence, although sadly there's no improvement with the right hand yet and so tying his own shoelaces remains beyond even his resources ;-)

Not having seen the Standens for over a week, Di and me invited them over to the local Golf Club for a chat and a libation.  So having described the best wheelchair route for them to take to the verandah, avoiding stairs, Colin studiously ignored the advice as you can see below.......

We all had a jolly nice time and Colin showed great willpower and fortitude by declining my offer to buy him a beer, opting for a Budweiser instead ...........



Budweiser - like making love on a beach ;-)

LIFE GOES ON

At about 0635 (UAE time) on 3 Jan 2011, I took a 'phone call from a damsel in distress. "Colin's had a brain haemorrhage and I don't know what to do next".  My immediate reaction was "Don't panic" Then I panicked.

For just over a month I've been privileged to be cast into the role of mentor, advisor, go-between, gopher, sounding board but never whipping boy in the process of Colin's recuperation and rehabilitation.

Today, 7 Feb 2011, the damsel in distress took Colin home.

By virtue of this Blog you have been able to follow Colin's progress to date and now that he's home it's time for him and his lovely girls to take over from me and complete the story.

Catherine, Harriet and Colin are now the designated drivers of this Blog.  I might just cast a little comment now and again - who knows ?

What I do know is that Colin Standen is a remarkable man.

BW

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Today has been a VERY special day.  There was some excellent Gym action this morning but I won't bore you with that - you know what he can do.

You will remember the Escape Recce that Colin did on 25 Jan.  Happily, he didn't suffer the fate of Flight Lieutenant Denys Cavendish RAF (Nigel Stock) in the film The Great Escape http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Escape_(film) more like Charles Bronson's character Flight Lieutenant Danny Velinski DSC DFC RAF.

With a little help in the propulsion department and Nicki running offense he played his "Get out of jail" card and finally sprung himself from Zayed Military Hospital.

A quick blast down Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Colin was home.  But there was to be a slight technical hitch related to "The Landslide".  Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I just wish it was available before the event as the following clip proves ...........



Of course there are ways around any obstacle and whilst it may not be worthy of PRC training at CTCRM, luckily two wheels proved better than four !

So there we have it - home in less than five weeks and walking.  Unfortunately for Nicki it's a step back to when Harriet started to walk.  Colin has already stepped outside to look at the swimming pool area and taken his first illicit steps upstairs - both areas that he knows are out of bounds  Personally I recommend tie-wraps although I'm sure he'll find a way out of those.

THE LANDSLIDE

One of the most frustrating areas of stroke, for both victims and those that interact with them is communication.  Invariably the patient knows exactly what he wants to say but when he looks in the "Big box of words" in his head he can't find the correct one, so makes do with the one that fits closest.

So it is with Colin.

From early on It was clear that Colin would go home to recuperate and so plans were put in place to provide the necessary access to Standen Towers, a vast, rambling mansion in the fashionable area of Khalifa City A (for those in the know, akin to living in Mannamead).

Team Colin support takes many forms - pastoral, emotional, functional, practical and often humorous.  So this is where the practical side kicks in.  A plan was developed to install a ramp, enabling wheelchair access to Standen Towers.

"What has this got to do with the big box of words ?" you may ask.  Well, the closest associated word that Colin could get to "ramp" was "landslide" (it's a shape thing !!)

So today, in anticipation of Colin's homecoming, members of Team Colin installed a bespoke "landslide" at Standen Towers.

Of course this incredible piece of work is almost certainly nugatory as Colin will surely walk up the steps and ask "Which stupid gits put that ramp there ?"

Well Colin, before you ask, "We did"

GRAND DESIGNS by BODGE IT & SCARPER

THE LANDSLIDE



FRIDAY IS BLESSY DAY

For those not familiar with life in the Middle East, Friday is our Sunday ... which is followed by Saturday - the same one that you are used to, so effectively we have an early back-to-front weekend compared to the one that you know.

Friday, being a holy day, is therefore a day of rest.  Unless you're Colin.

My wife Di and me went to see Colin this morning in what has become a routine where workmates and friends give Nicki and the girls a little bit of respite to charge their batteries at the weekend (pyjama mornings).

To our surprise, in walked Blessy, a charming Physiotherapist who proceeded to put Colin through the wringer. The following sequence of video clips demonstrates the incredible effort that he is putting in (and the great results that he's achieving).

FIRST, A LITTLE BIT OF ARM WRESTLING ....  

THEN ARM WRESTLING COMBINED WITH GURNING ....

 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWyMBmvNYs )

SO THAT WHEN THE KAMA SUTRA GETS BORING ....

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A BIT OF PARADE DRILL TO FOCUS THE MIND ....

BEFORE ATTEMPTING THOUGHT TRANSFERAL

So there you have it.  A typical (or should that be atypical ?) day in the life of a recuperating stroke victim.

A personal note here.  I've only known Colin for a couple of years, whereas most of you will have known him for most of your lives.  Having witnessed first-hand the absolutely devastating effect that stroke had on my father, I am not exaggerating when I say that the progress Colin has made in the last few weeks is nothing short of miraculous.

Top bloke !!

ONE MONTH ON

It hardly seems possible that one month has passed since Colin's stroke.

Yesterday I posted that Colin's progress was gradual but of course he just had to prove me wrong.  Check this out ...........

And if you think that's impressive, "You ain't seen nothin' yet"

Of course Colin has great incentive to get fixed quickly - just look what happened to the Air Force bloke in the background !!