Message Eighty Eight (the END... and a beginning)

I've decided to take up the mantle and write the blog myself. I've started a new one because I didn't want to write for my own team, and it's a fresh perspective. Potential names for the sequel jokingly included: The Last Laugh, I Laugh In The Face of Danger (as Simba famously says), I Had a Brain Haemorrhage! Lol, Shake a Leg, At Least I Didn't Break a Leg, Gloria Gaynor Said It All and Patient's Guide to Pet Therapy (a nod to Dad's personal blog you can see here), but I settled on How To Walk. You can read more of my story here:

www.howtowalkbyelizabethstarr.blogspot.com

A big applause for Dad and the amazing job he has done of keeping you all up to date, often when it was very painful. And a big applause to you, who have thought about me, prayed for me and visited me. I kept every card I was sent hanging proudly and there's nothing like countless people across the globe rooting for you to give you strength. Basically everyone who saw my bed was struck by the number of people who cared for me and I was struck too.

Message Eighty Seven (By Elizabeth)

"The staff use walkie-talkies (radios) to communicate as it's got floors and twists (not huge though). I got a kick when I came back one night and heard them radioing "Elizabeth has entered the building"  I said they looked fun and can I play with them, and the staff member burst out "they're not fun!!" That novelty must wear off so quick when you're trying to get someone to assist you.

The physio is a Zimbabwean lady called D. She used to be a manager in the NHS but took a step down to have more quality time with patients. She's super nice and chuckly, but also very teacherish. We've gone back to basics like sit to stand and ironing out all the wobbles, which she says have improved really quickly. There are a lot less sound effects partly because I don't feel so wobbly and partly because its's too melodramatic and they'll just look at me like, "what?!" She always laughs when I do something stupid but is also a bit disparaging. Today she give me a "nice talk" basically saying I need to shut up and concentrate, so I didn't speak a word after that and mimed and we couldn't do what she envisioned because I kept giggling but silently and it was making her laugh too and she said she was gonna give my parents a bad report and I loudly then blamed her for making me laugh. We've also been using the parallel bars a lot and practising that technique. Her advice was: 1. control EVERY movement, 2 stay in the middle, 3. try harder. I feel like I've moved from primary school to secondary school. 

 I've also been given a lot of homework, excises from physiotherapyexercises.com which makes me feel more in control as I can DIY. There's also a bike machine I can use and she's taught my parents more stuff they can do with me, like gymball/plinth work and sit to stand and they're keen. She said I'm improved a lot in just a week,  probably cause I've cut the messing around and I've been remembering all the steps to walking well on the parallel bars."

Message Eighty Six (by Elizabeth)

I had a good second day, the first I unsurprisingly feel a bit rocky. I had a long
session with the much-acclaimed speech therapist. She is really nice. She said she once had a patient who had strained their voice trying to do a poo. Careful everyone. The neuro-psyches are looking out for me and have taken it upon themselves to help me with my dissertation and are gonna take me to the library. They also did some complex testing and the answer is, surprise surprise, I'm very bright but impulsive. They're gonna look at how I can help this. (I blew the memory and word-defining tests out the water obvs).

I heard the phrase 'hydro' and looked up like a dog catching a sent. They take a man to hydro Friday afternoon in Hinckley (as the General, although closer, is hard to book). I told the physios l love "splish splash", but they can only take one at the moment but at least I said. She said I will be having daily physio though so yay.

They're very accommodating to me and different rules apply to different people depending on their needs, so I can like, go out for a meal in the evenings, not the back by 8 rule of the hospital.

I am getting used to doing step-transfers with two, and I have been wearing my foot splint a lot more because of this. I've quickly got used to my own room though I miss the communal banter. Most of all I like the control of the light and can make it nicely dark

Message Eighty Five

On Saturdays we are in the routine of collecting Elizabeth ready for breakfast.  But the sun was shining, so we headed for Bradgate Park.  Anny came down from Sheffield for the afternoon, and we had friends round for scones and cream.

Liz now does 'step transfers' which do not require a banana board.  She is learning to stand in a controlled and sedate manner.  In the park we watched two 'one year old' twins doing their standing and they were not nearly so elegant.

Joanna has been away for the weekend with our church learning to surf(!?)

Saturday morning- breakfast in Bradgate Park

Resident of Bradgate

Amazingly, my wheelchair is invisible.

Message Eighty Four

Elizabeth said "put it on the blog, but warn my friends it's heavy on the God stuff."  I don't think we would be where we now without the 'God stuff'.  Two of our pastors (church leaders) made a video of Elizabeth talking about her story.  It's is on this link Elizabeth's Story.  The clip at the end was taken by Joanna and is Elizabeth's 'walking out' ceremony.  It is her leaving Ward 2.  The music that accompanies this is a song by Tom, our pastor's son, which Elizabeth particularly appreciates. 

Our pastor  used the video as an illustration in our service at the Leicester Arena yesterday.  The night before, the venue had been used for a big boxing match. (No connection, just a random fact.)

Elizabeth is settling into Barclay House.  All the staff are positive and friendly.  Liz is straight into Speech therapy and Physio,  Her new OT is also going to come and inspect our house for overnight stays.

Of course Liz still misses her old nurses and therapists.  She appreciates them so much, but we all feel blessed by the new venue, and it's the beginning of a new chapter.

Message Eighty Three

We have just got in from a meal at Mithaas, an Indian vegetarian restaurant near to Elizabeth's new address at Barclay House.  My Mother is staying with us.  Joanna has just returned from a short beak in Bedford with Auntie Ruth.  Elizabeth has had two nights at her new address, and is feeling a little more settled.

Wednesday's move went well, but it was also very emotional, as the comments you recorded on the last message rightly anticipated.  The end of Hospital life has been an opportunity for all of us to release some pent-up emotion.  Elizabeth was sad to leave the wonderful staff at Ward 2, but we have found that Barclay House has another set of welcoming and committed carers and therapists.   To begin with, it was strange for Elizabeth to experience the luxury of her own room, but she is adjusting to the new freedom, which includes going out later in the evening, and living a more normal life.

Elizabeth's Psychologist, R, and Psychology Assistant, N, are up for the challenge to help Elizabeth prepare to return to university.   Today she also met her new Speech Therapist who travels down from Derby each Friday to work with Barclay House.  Elizabeth thinks she will be her Therapist's new project.

Address: Barclay House, 165 Barclay St, Leicester LE3 0JE   Phone: 0116 255 3039

Barclay House

Another view

Message Eighty Two

"I have news" said Elizabeth when we arrived this evening.  At 4:15pm Liz was told that she has a place at Barclay House.  Mercifully R, Elizabeth's physio was right next to her as the news was quite overwhelming.  It's been a long journey and now the end of her time in Hospital has come.  Her last day will be this Wednesday. (Apparently there are four people waiting for her bed.)  We were all affected.  Liz has so many people she has become attached to and now she is going to have to say all those painful good byes.  The departure time will be 3:00pm, and that is when she will walk, holding on to R, to the front door and leave.  Joanna will help Liz take down the strings of cards from all of you.  Also the many pictures pinned to the walls.

Everything in this life has a beginning, middle and end.  Each one has it's story.  We are so thankful for the wonderful care Elizabeth has received every single day of her time in Hospital.  Liz is close to independent walking, but what could be better that having two physios, both who have become like friends, walking either side of you as you leave.