January 14th 2015

Well today has been a very exciting and emotional day. Gerard finally left the safe and familiar environment at the Austin this morning after over 4 months in 3 North. The nurses and staff gave him a fitting send off and Claire travelled with him and made sure he was all safe and secure in his new room at Royal Talbot Spinal Unit. He is now set up in room 20 and is ready for the new challenges ahead! (including watching the wheelchair basketball and rugby training, trying out the bike and watching our boys use the basketball court ) It was sad saying good bye to all of our “friends” at the Austin but it is definitely time to move on and move into the next phase of “treatment”. Gerard’s Doctor, Steve Hill, and the Head of the Spinal Unit, Andrew Nunn are both based at Talbot so hopefully there will be some research opportunities and lots more education J There have been plenty of celebrations. We decided have a good Christmas and we did. The nurses set up a spare big ward for us complete with tables and chairs, tinsel from the roof and a Christmas tree. The 3 of us camped out there all afternoon with Christmas carols on the IPOD. We enjoyed our roast lamb (Gerard’s choice) which I cooked it at home on Christmas Eve, plated up and glad wrapped the 3 plates worth and then we microwaved them in the day room. We also had Christmas pudding complete with custard and ice cream, lollies, cherries and all the other bits that we normally have when we are at home. There was a passing parade of nurses and technicians who joined us for chocolates, and to help solve some of the word/IQ puzzles. Max voted it one of the best Christmas’ ever. (Maybe because he was an only child for most of the day until Zac joined us via Skype!) It was really relaxing and it got Gerard out of his room for about 5 hours or so! My tracheostomy training has been completed and Max and I were allowed to take Gerard downstairs to the café for lunch a week or so ago. All went without a hitch. Gerard has been pacing up to 8 hours each day so that makes life a lot easier being without the vent. (even though we have to take one as back up with us on our outings) The hospital staff are still in awe of how strong his diaphragm is and how well he is doing. We celebrated Max’s (and Zac’s in his absence) 18th birthday in the day room with around 30 people and plenty of cake. Maggie and Emmy also visited for a canine visit. They sniffed Gerard’s hand, wagged their tail, sat under the wheelchair for a bit and then went to sleep in the corner of the day room! Nothing out of the ordinary there.

Last Sunday saw our 31st wedding anniversary so we packed Gerard up with all of the backup gear and walked down to Cellini’s in Heidelberg for lunch. The pacer is fabulous although Gerard’s voice is softer with it on, so I did a quick switch from the pacer to the vent and back again as we tried to work out which was better. You don’t appreciate how quiet the hospital is until you get to a noisy restaurant! We all enjoyed our lunch (including the chocolate pudding with the molten centre and salted caramel ice cream- thoroughly recommended) and a quick trachy suction (in the middle of the restaurant) before we headed back up the hill to the Austin. The staff are quite surprised that we have managed so well with our outings and that we have attempted them so early in the peace… I am not sure how long we were supposed to wait ! As long as we have the orange bag (the manual vent)and a phone to dial 000 we are set! I sound so braveJ but I am not really. It is all quite exhausting. Here’s this year’s anniversary photo !

Visiting Gerard at Talbot. For those of you who would like to visit Gerard at Talbot, there are a couple of things that you need to know.

1. You need $3 in coins to get in the gate, then you can park there all day if you like.

2. He is in Bed 20 in the Spinal Unit. Follow the signs to the car park (first on the left) and then to the Spinal Unit entrance.

3. Gerard will have a rehab schedule that will be mapped out for him each Friday. I will update the new Doodle calendar each weekend with what he has booked in for the following week. So far, I have filled the calendar with events for this week, the weekend and Monday next. It will be worth checking before you head over as there is nothing worse than hanging around waiting for him to get back (I have heard that the café is not that exciting) The calendar is quite easy to use- just add your name and time and then click save. (it involves a bit of scrolling) Here is the link again http://doodle.com/gfwicwp7k6aweg4m

Hope you had a great Christmas and a relaxing break and here’s to all of us having a fabulous 2015!! Thanks again for your support and wishes. Love Sue, Gerard, Max and Zac (who will hopefully decide to come home on February 2nd!)