[Simon]

Hi Gary
Been away from the forum for bit but just quickly read thru your last update.
Amazed he's getting up so fast post accident, it was 8 weeks for me! It is difficult to see forward, I found the ONLY way was to concentrate on what you have and not on what you've lost, otherwise you will never get anywhere.
The people around him ie family (you guys) are soooo important or at least they were for me especially early on. Once Alan starts getting up and he stops passing out (a bad problem for me early on and even now if I eat heavy foods, drugs like efidrin help this but I now have fennel tea instead) he should get some physio and/or occupational therapy to teach him to use a computer with a mouthstick or voice activation. Back in my 'day' of 1983 (he says sounding very old) they didn't even exist for home use or at least not at reasonable pricing anyway. I learnt on an electric typewriter. I still preferr the mouthsticks they'ree far quicker (exccept this one is breaking up as I type hence a few typos and its my lasst til more arrive from England).
I tried mouth painting but my useless artistic skills let me down. However, I met a guy (c4 comp) who was f@#$king brilliant and he too was useless pre injury he made a living from it.
It took me a few years to adjust in terms of getting used to sitting up for long hours, just how tiring it was let alone anything else. Then over the years, worked out how to take drinks myself using large mugs on a desk with straws and ONLY in last frw months how to eat snacks like biscuits, sandwiches, toast, bananas all placed on top of an upside down mug, meaning my wife doesn't have to stop to feed me except for main meal at night. Very importtant for her as she does so much for me that she does as little as she has to (if you see what I'm saying).
My main achievement is coming heree 4 years ago, and doing this, but again my wife had to take the strain of living on a building site for 9months and being at the front end of dealing with clients when they're here.
So above all everyone around him must give off positive vibes I suppose, beyond that it is down to the individual, oh yes, a chin controlled electric chair will help a lot to give Alan independence....
Simon

[Simon]

Hi Maxine
Good news about your son but he can't be a c4 complete, obviously some neurology has escaped injury allowing him to move his arms, fingers etc.
Simon

[Simon]

Hi Gary
Yeah, if he and this other guy 'click'then it should help. There was a guy in on my unit c1/2 complete on a ventilator etc brought in just after me, helped me think how lucky I was. To my knnowledge he's still alive, had phrenic nerve stimulators put in the USA as it wasn't done in UK then. Hopefully, the guy will turn it arounfd as I can see how someone wanting to die would not be great vibes on a unit!
Simon