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CARING FOR DIANE               GO TO LATEST UPDATE

 Diane and Betsy

Diane, my dear wife, unfortunately suffered a severe stroke on 12th. September 2009 ( a date etched on my mind) and was admitted to High Wycombe Hospital where she spent an uncomfortable 6 weeks in the stroke unit. It is true to say that she was well looked after, but the ward is a distressing place to be with other patients suffering various degrees of stroke severity from mild to terminal.
We worked hard to prepare a room in our house to get Diane home with me and we achieved this by October 26th.
We have a special motorised bed, chair and hoist to transfer her between them.
We elected not to wait for a "Care Package" as this would have meant an extended stay in hospital for Diane before it could have been put in place.
Also, there had been virtually no progress in supplying anything after 6 weeks in hospital.
So far we are doing well, with some minor mishaps.
My family have been wonderful and my daughter Emma has taken 6 months leave from her important job with the Buckinghamshire PCT.
She comes in every day to help look after Diane.
My other daughter Sarah helps as well and my son Richard is on stand-by and does any work we need such as constructing a ramp to our front door.
Diane is amazingly cheerful and we have some good laughs together, and that is the good thing, we are together.
I will post regular updates here to report our progress and how we are managing including the degree of support from the NHS services, which may be of general interest.

UPDATE HISTORY-November 2009 to May 2010 Use this link to see the diary of events

UPDATE 21st. MAY 2010
Several major landmarks have been reached and passed successfully since my last update. Diane and I went out in a car for the first time since she left hospital 7 months ago!
The ramps to get outside are all fitted and the wheelchair has a headrest, so we could arrange a demonstration of a WAV, Wheelchair Adapted Vehicle.
Gowrings of Newbury were the suppliers we chose who could supply a WAV through the "Motability" scheme.
It all went very well. I drove around the nearby country and Diane was fine in the wheelchair in the back. I have ordered a similar WAV and we should get it in July.
Gowrings kindly said they would loan us a car for grandson Oliver's Birthday party on the 6th. June, at no charge.
I have had a powerpack fitted to the wheelchair this week and today I got Diane around the back to our terrace for a cup of tea. The garden is somewhat overgrown but full of flowers. One of our carers said it was like a "Secret garden". I'm happy with that!

LATEST UPDATE 7th. JUNE 2010
Another  major landmark has been passed!
Yesterday 6th. June we made it to Oliver's 18th. Birthday party using the loan vehicle from Gowrings. It arrived Saturday 5th. in the morning and I was able to check out the way to get the wheelchair on board. Sunday morning, I got Diane into the wheelchair, Emma did her make-up and I got her into the WAV. We drove to Emma's house, only 5 miles away, but one small step for a man, one giant leap for us! I'll continue this with pictures later!

LATEST UPDATE  3rd July 2010
Still making progress. I can get Diane around to the conservatory at the back of our house for lunch now all the wheelchair ramps are in place. The next step is to get out to lunch in the WAV car- when we get it. It is due on the 2nd of August and we have a family party arranged at daughter Emma's house on the following weekend.
Diane has actually made some progress now she is having a regular massage from one of our carers, Sarah. It has done more to help with moving her paralysed side than anything so we are booking in more sessions!

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