Home. Days 1-7 25-31st March

 Well I said in my last post that I was looking forward to starting my rehabilitation at home and I can confirm that it has definitely started. 🙂 

It commenced in the best possible way with a thorough and comprehensive handover from the Roehampton team to the Teeside team ( all social distance and safeguarding measures followed of course)

After the months of care and effort invested in me by everyone at Queen Mary’s it was amazing to see the two teams sharing information and discussing my ongoing care. I really can’t thank everyone enough.

From then on in it has just been a constant round of firsts. My first night back in my own bed ( okay with a   Specialist mattress but it’s a start). My first shower in our newly adapted Wet room. My first ride in the lift we have had installed in the house ( you can see in the video I’m not convinced 😕 but I’m getting there..) and my first meal at home 😋

But crucially, I also experienced my firsts that start to build on my skills gained in Roehampton. My first time trying to use a knife and fork to feed myself using my split hooks. The video is a short clip of a much longer attempt but we thought we’d show the results of my labours rather than the efforts.

I also took my first steps outside our home in over 15 months and with the weather the way it was it just felt wonderful.🌞 I walked way too far and completely tired myself out but I had an opportunity to speak with neighbours I was meeting for the first time who were all so welcoming and supportive and it made me realise just how much ahead of me I have left to enjoy!

The hardest first of all however was agreeing to my niece Samantha launching a Gofundme page on my behalf. This first is the first time I think I’ve ever asked for help in this way and it was really not an easy thing to agree to. Nevertheless, I have to admit that we can’t possibly cover all the things that will help me regain my senses of confidence, strength and independence.

So Sam has fully swung into action and launched a Gofundme page. ( along with a separate Facebook page and Tiktok account!!!) the links to which are below. Obviously it aims to raise funds but hopefully it will help raise awareness of not only the devastating effect of Sepsis but also a wider understanding of the range and complexity of the everyday needs of an amputee. I appreciate that these are financially precarious times for us all and many people who would like to donate simply aren’t in a position to do so, but even just an onward share of the page would do so much in raising awareness.

This has been longer than I had anticipated so I’ll finish now but not before saying how touched we have been by the depth of kindness shown since I came home. I simply cannot thank everyone enough nor fully express just how much it is appreciated 🙏

Links below

https://gofund.me/85a83064

Facebook search. Ms Friday.- The journey of a Quad amputee

Tiktok @msfriday0