Living life to the full

Council backs plans to restore building as food market

2008-05-11T13:59:00.001+01:00

AMBITIOUS plans to turn the clock back in a town's high street have moved a step nearer.
Stockton Borough Council's cabinet has backed plans to return the 1825 Shambles building in the centre of the town's High Street to its old use as an indoor market selling fresh produce.
The authority has agreed to borrow £180,000 to get the scheme under way, in addition to £91,000 already earmarked for the project.
Officials believe the revamped Grade II listed building will attract high-quality, specialist and niche food retailers selling organic and Fairtrade goods and local produce.
The Shambles used to be a focal point of the town centre, but market traders moved into the Spencer Hall, part of the Castlegate shopping mall, in the 1970s.
The Shambles was redeveloped with small kiosk units which are now too small for many types of business and no longer suitable for fresh produce.
Sue Burgess, town centre and markets service manager for Stockton, said the new-look Shambles will complement the Castlegate centre on one side and the Wellington Square shopping precinct on the other.
She predicted: "It will be as much a destination as a place to shop and I think it will increase the footfall in the High Street. I think its effect will be to give people more reason to come in and use this area of the High Street.
"We have been talking to a lot of producers interested in moving into the Shambles."
Most existing tenants of the Shambles were last year given six months notice to leave. The notice period ends this month. Three will continue to trade in the building.
Bainbridge Carpets will be the last to leave. A spokeswoman for the firm, which has been trading in the Shambles for the past 25 years, said: "We are out and there is nothing we can do about it. The people of Stockton are not pleased, but there is nothing to be done. We are just sick and have had enough."

Beyond Boundaries: Across the Andes

2008-05-11T13:25:00.003+01:00

I was so pleased to see another series of Beyond Boundaries, I have watched each one and I have really been inspired by the people taking part. I can so relate to all of them, no matter what their disability is. It seems to me that maybe because of our disability, we have, I know I do, have a zest for life and a hunger to want to achieve as much as possible.

I can particularly relate to the members of the group who have CP, although I not in the Andes, I feel watching them that I am taking every step with them, I know just how much energy it takes just to go a short distance, never mind crossing the Andes. I know they will achieve it and it will inspire them to want more.

Some of them have become recently disabled, and I can relate to this some what, with Mum becoming disabled herself. It hits people hard because it's something they may never of experienced before, but being part of a group will help them to adapt to the surroundings and by the time the journey has finished, they will have experienced something that many abled-bodied people haven't and I am sure that they will realise that being disabled isn't the end of the world, it's just the beginning.

Bowen therapy going really well

2008-05-01T19:52:00.003+01:00

Well as form the title you have probably guessed that my therapy is going well. I had my second session yesterday and it really was a gentle put intensive session, covering a lot of work. Firstly I transferred onto the bed, and this is where my Physio could see a difference, in the ease of which I had transferred, I have to say I had not really noticed. I then got into front lying position, which I have always found uncomfortable but bearable this week mind It did seem a little better. Anyway the Physio then started the treatment with the same movements on my spine hips legs and shoulders that I had in the first session, with breaks in between each movement, then I changed to laying on my back and he started to work a lot with my neck as he found last week and this week I was quite tight. There where quite a number of different movements some on my face and jaw.

After the session was over I then walked with him back to my chair and he was really please at how well I was walking with him, considering he had not seen me walked before. I then asked him if he seen an improvement in me and he agreed and said yes, you are becoming more level and there had been some changes in my spine (improvements).

I came home from that session and I felt really quite tired so went to bed early and I think it was one of the best night's sleep I have had in the last few weeks, result!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Physio for Mum at home

2008-04-26T11:51:00.004+01:00

Well today I jumped into action again and helped Mum with her Physio, and I have to say we managed to put her limb on a lot quicker this week, and it's only the second time I have done this. Mum seems to manage a lot better and managed a few steps this time, which is great, although after she had stood with the zimmer frame for a while I realised that it wasn't wide enough and she looked as if she was gripping hold for grim death.

I then helped her to sit and bend her limb and I went and got my reciprocal walker, mind don't worry I didn't let her try and walk with it, but it is a much wider base and as soon as she stood, she looked so much more balanced and relaxed a bit and I think it was because it was wider and more sturdy. All in all considering she has experienced her first fall 3 weeks ago she has improved in a short space of time, I can even see a difference from last week

Well done Mum from you personal Physio

Amazing Photography

2008-04-19T15:16:00.005+01:00

Think I have found my vocation in life, I think I should of become a Physiotherapist

2008-04-19T12:04:00.003+01:00

Well today I think I have found my vocation in life, what is that you may say, well to be a Physiotherapist. Mum now has her artificial limb, and today I spend some time with her, initially to help her to fit it on but then I helped her to stand in her zimmer frame, and my full instinct kicked in and there I was helping her stand and move the limb by supporting her. I was like me having physio all over again, when I had my surgery to straighten my leg and although Mum found it hard and strange (only the second time she has stood with it) she managed well, and she said that's because I have a great teacher, and I said, that's because I have been taught well, so I am well happy that I can help her to progress even if its through my experience I know she will master it

My first experience of Bowen Therapy

2008-04-19T11:46:00.003+01:00

Well yesterday was my first ever session of Bowen, I have to say I was a little nervous about it, as I don't know a lot about it, but It was an amazing experience. I had to lay on my front, which I find a little hard to do but I was helped to do this. then once I was comfortable I had a number of towels laid over me, covering my back and legs, then the therapist carried out gentle but subtle movements, starting on my back, and then covered me back up and left me for 2 minutes, came back made sure I was ok, then removed the towels and carried out another movement. This went on for quite awhile, with break in between each movements.

I had quite an instant effect in terms that I was quite warm in a matter of minutes this was quite normal and as a result felt really quite relaxed, I think if it had gone on any longer than the hour I would of probably fell asleep.

I have to say I slept really well last night and this morning I feel really good to the point where I had managed to slice a banana onto my cereal, which normally is something that I haven't been able to do.

The Bowen Technique

2008-04-13T11:43:00.001+01:00

The Bowen Technique is one version of a group of technical interpretations of the work of Australian self-proclaimed osteopath Tom Bowen (1916–1982) known as Bowen Therapy, which is a holistic system of healing. The Bowen Technique was limited to Australia until 1986, when it was named, and introduced to other countries by Oswald Rentsch, who observed Bowen at work one morning a week for two years.

It has since been developed and furthered by many others and is now one of the nine therapies involved in the move towards voluntary self regulation in the United Kingdom. The three other surviving students of Tom Bowen — Keith Davis, Kevin Ryan and Romney Smeeton — have methodologies that vary significantly from the way Oswald Rentsch teaches the technique. Dr Kevin Ryan teaches his interpretation of the Bowen Technique to osteopathic students at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Methodology
The Bowen Technique involves a gentle, rolling motion, with very light touches. The rolls claim to either tighten or loosen off muscles depending on the way the move is done.

The practitioner will stimulate sets of points, often with two minute pauses, supposedly to allow the body to use the move and integrate it into the body's system. The Bowen Technique is not a form of massage, though it does claim to release areas of built-up stress in the muscles, and clients describe experiences of profound relaxation after a session, often falling asleep after the first few moves.
A view held by some Bowen Therapists is that the specific way that Bowen Technique addresses the muscles stimulates the stretch and golgi tendon reflexes as well as joint proprioceptors in a way that heightens the sensory awareness of the body in the area worked on. This can lead to strange sensations such as heat release, tingling and a general increased awareness of the areas being worked.

These sensations are sometimes mistakenly associated with some form of "energy healing". Through increasing sensory awareness the move taps into the body’s ability to self regulate which, in turn, practitioners claim stimulate the body to heal itself.

It is widely accepted by those defining Bowen for the regulation process, that Bowen is a stand alone therapy, not mixed with other treatments. Bowen himself was very specific about his clients not receiving other treatments for at least seven days after a Bowen session and did not perform any other therapies himself.
Since 1998 the technique has become increasingly used in primary care settings in the UK, with many chartered physiotherapists using the technique in hospitals, hospices and other funded health settings.

Research
To date only three experimental studies have been performed that have collected data following treatment of the Bowen Technique. Firstly a study by Kinnear and Baker (1999) was performed, entitled Frozen Shoulder Research Programme. This study considered the effects of Bowen on shoulder flexibility and pain. The study showed significant improvements (p<0.05) in shoulder flexibility compared with the control group. Changes in complaints of pain were not tested statistically. Lack of ethical, methodological and analytical detail in this study draws caution to the strength of inference from the findings.

A further study by Whitaker et al (1999) investigated the effect of heart rate variability and ANS changes in subjects treated with Bowen. Two groups were treated - those with medically diagnosed fibromyalgia (n=7), and a group without pathology or symptoms (n=11). The results showed a significant change in HRV in the fibromyalgia group but not in the asymptomatic group, mainly demonstrating a decrease in heart rate. All subjects in the former group reported some relief in symptoms. However, three of the fibromyalgia group were used for more than one reading, resulting in 11 sets of data per group, thereby raising issues of methodological bias. Furthermore with no control or placebo group, HRV comparisons are not possible, giving rise to questions of validity.

The first properly conducted study, with approval from ethics and applying strict methodology using The Bowen Technique has now been completed and was accepted for presentation at the First International Fascia Research Congress in Boston in October 2007 This examined the effect of The Bowen Technique on Hamstring flexibility in asymptomatic individuals and was conducted by Michelle Marr BSc (Hons) PT MCSP, senior lecturer at Coventry University and Julian Baker Principal Instructor of The European College of Bowen Studies.

Application
A typical session takes place over 30 to 45 minutes, with occasional 2-5 minute breaks during the session to allow the body to respond to the treatment. Sessions are usually part of a series of three to five sessions, beginning with general stress loading points such as the lower and upper back, before moving on to problem areas specific to the person being treated. However, for the sensitive individual, a session can last only 10-15 minutes. The Bowen Technique has allegedly been successfully used on animals as well, and practitioners of Bowen Technique for animals can be found all over the world. The Bowen

Balance tested

2008-04-12T11:39:00.002+01:00

Well yesterday I had a very productive Physio session and came away very happy and curious to say the least. I tackled the stairs again this week and although I have been walking a lot more this week on my crutches I seem to be quite tight but having said that I did manage the stairs nevertheless, and my Physio wasn’t worried and concluded that I could do stairs. I then went back through to the gym to do further work on steps in the bars and I managed well. Then the fun started, a wobble board was placed on the floor in front of me, and for those of you who have read my story so far will of read about my experiences with the wobble board, and be wondering why this time should be different ?. Well this was slightly bigger than what I am used too and this particular one had a puzzle inside it, with areas cut out and 3 balls, the idea being that using your balance you had to move the balls into the holes, and after a couple of attempts I did actually manage to get one of the balls in the hole!!!!!!!

An example of the puzzle wobble board

After spending time doing the exercises, we went into discussion mode, the reason being is that over the last few weeks since using my crutches I am finding that I am tightening up somewhat and when I use my frame although it restricts me a little in terms of stride I am not tight. I have a theory for this and that is when I am in the frame I am in a more upright position, and in comparison when using crutches I am not in as much of a straight position. Therefore the way I am thinking is the messages travel with ease to the correct pathways when in frame position but when using crutches I am at a slight angle and the messages can only travel part of the way and end up going down the old pathway, and because I am walking a lot with them I am starting to get tight. When I discussed this my Physio agreed because it is a different posture when walking with crutches and therefore e you will experience different feelings.
As our discussions developed I was introduced to one of the new physiotherapist and we were chatting and they were given an outline of my condition and the problems that I have, and how I have over come a lot of them by using different methods and equipment, and how much I strive for better in my disability to achieve more that is out of the box so to speak, anyway the discussion deepened and I started to get excited because we have agreed that I would be a good case study for the new Physiotherapist to try out the Bowen Technique and see what results we achieve. I am very excited about this prospect and what challenges this may bring out. I am going to start this next week and I can’t wait.

End to a busy week

2008-04-11T19:11:00.000+01:00

So glad it is Friday an end to a busy week, poor Mum had her first fall so as you can imagine it has a massive shock to her, luckily she didn’t break anything, just bruised and help was at hand to help her back up. I think it had annoyed her that she had fallen because the action she was doing ie standing and reaching up for something, she has done many times without any problem. I am so glad she was ok all I could visualise was us going to hospital again, I said to her don’t worry its just one of those things it happens.

Then on Wednesday she went back up to the hospital to follow through the limb assessment and I think it had shocked her to say the least, the limb wasn’t what she was expecting what I mean it didn’t look like a leg, the consultant said oh don’t worry (but she did) this is just the model (it looked so scary to her, with the straps on ) he said once we have tried it with you we will make the next stage and then if it is all ok you can take it away to the Physio.

When I asked her about it she said that it had calmed her a little, but I knew she wasn’t happy. Anyway after she fitted it on she was then able too with help stand and move in the bars. This I think is absolutely great the fact that she was able to not only get out of her chair but to walk away from it in the bars. Not only did she manage to walk to the end, but she managed to turn and walk back to the chair.
Mum told me all about it and she said “I will never be able to do this, I will never be able to walk” I then had to have my positive head on here and I proceeded to explain to her that it was in fact a great thing that she had managed to do what she had done and also for the first time since the operation she had actually walked away from the wheelchair. I don’t think she fully realises what she has achieved, but I think it will dawn on her in time; she is quite down since the fall which is to be expected because obviously it has knocked her confidence a lot, so hopefully next week when she goes she will improve a little more.

Happy Birthday Ali

2008-04-07T16:44:00.002+01:00

Well as you can probably guess from the title of this entry, that we had another family birthday and yes, so happy 40th Ali it was great, everyone over to my house for a drink yesterday. what a fantastic card great work to all your friends who made it for you!!!

What's been happening today, well the bad weather doesn't see to of put people off coming into the town today for the full fun fair, it's been nice to see it so busy and people enjoying themselves regardless of it trying to snow.

I bet you are getting hungry now

2008-04-06T10:38:00.004+01:00

Can you see the face looking at you?

2008-04-06T10:36:00.000+01:00

Landscape or food

2008-04-06T10:34:00.000+01:00

Amazing photos makes you hungry

2008-04-06T10:25:00.005+01:00

Pretty amazing. These pictures are entirely made of food.

Meat Loaf - Steve Steinman's The Meat Loaf Trilogy

2008-04-05T14:22:00.003+01:00

Well next Friday I'm off to the theatre with Mum to see Steve Steinman as Meat Loaf, we went to the Forum when he last did his show and it was fantastic and I can't wait to see it again

Here is just a taste

Proms flies the flag for Teesside

2008-04-05T12:41:00.001+01:00

A MAJOR award has been won by Middlesbrough Council’s Cultural Services for the BBC Proms in the Park event held last year in the town.

The event was named as the Best Event Tees Valley at the Journal Culture Awards ceremony held in Newcastle.

The council’s cultural services team and Suzannah Clarke, chairman of BBC Tees Proms in the Park Steering Group, led a multi-agency group of partner organisations that staged the Proms in the Park event last September.

A crowd of 5,500 people gathered in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square to take in the sights and sounds of international musicians and regional artists performing live.

The event was covered by national and international TV.

BBC Proms in the Park was up against two other Tees Valley events for the award – the opening night of Middlesbrough’s mima (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) and Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival.

Dave Budd, Middlesbrough Council’s executive councillor for regeneration, said: “This award is important recognition that we can attract the very best.

“It was a remarkable coup to bring BBC Proms in the Park to the town and a great way to mark the first year of Centre Square.”

The council’s cultural services development manager, Juliet Farrar, added: “This award is recognition for all the partner agencies and colleagues who worked so hard to make the project such a success – staging the Proms was a great example of partnership working in Tees Valley.

“We intend to build on this success and our events programme for 2008 is already under way.”

Offer of advice to David and his family

2008-04-04T16:19:00.002+01:00

Some of you may of read the entry "For the Love of Rachel" well I am great friends with this family and I thought I would share or should some of the conversation that David and I had recently

Hi Susie!
welcome home
Many Thanks! Good to be back!
We took a 3 day cruise with the girls to the Bahamas very nice nice to spend time with the little ones

David you don't know how close Rachel is to me it was just like reading my life unfolding.

I am so glad that you read her story! Thank you so much for your kind words!
its a pleasure

Rachel is in bed today. Had a teeth cleaning and x-rays. She is such a sweetheart.
I really enjoy your blog

There seems to be many nice people who visit your site.

Amy just came in and said Hi

The reason I say Rachel is so close is because I also wore dolls cloths, ok i wasn't that small but was premature, so as I say we are so close its unreal

But the main thing is that you grew up to be a wonderful person!

thank u

I am hoping the same for Rachel and Amy

I like to think I I have achieved most things I want too.

I think it is not so much the challenges that we face but how we as human beings rise to try to meet them.

yes

It's the environment that makes people disabled

Excellent point!

Well it is because if there were things like lower kerbs lower door handles etc
there wouldn't be the issues

exactly

I hope you enjoyed my blog as much as I did your book my aim is to show it how it is
I really do!

is it how you expected it to be since we have met

I have been very pleasantly surprised

It is always easier talking to someone on the telephone so IM has been fun. It has also let me meet very nice people like you!

one thing that i hope you might realise is that there is hope for Rachel and Amy as they get older, what I mean is it is possible to be independent because I know parents of disabled children always fear for the time when they no longer there to look after them

Absolutely and taking to you makes me so much more appreciate that

That is a great fear of ours

it may just feel like a huge mountain and that you will never get to the top, Yes I can totally understand that fear and it is a real fear. Although there is one thing you can do to help Rachel and Amy, and i still do it today.

If Rachel can be independent and live happily it will be more valuable to Susan and I than anything Tell me..

Well it maybe something that u want to incorporate into life now and that is sort of 3 lists

1st is a list of everything Rachel and Amy if you wish can't do
2nd is a full list of wot they can do like use knife fork etc doesn't matter how small
then and this is the sort of action plan one the 3rd is a list of things that can be done eg small goals to help them and you etc to remove the can't items and place them on the can list. Eventually you should see the I cant list reduce and the yes I can do this expand, and as they get older the lists will forever change

That is wonderful advice. Thanks you so much I will share with my wife Susan!

By having the 3rd action one you can work on little things so that the can't becomes achievable and it might be that something is repetitive but and this is only something I have realised over last year or so which is that my cerebral palsy is slowly decreasing.

That is great advice!

And that is down to my own conductive education of repeating stuff because what is happening and I can only assume that it may work for others is

That is wonderful!

By repeating something by means of doing something in the same pattern, like picking up a cup, what happens is if you pick it up exactly the same way every time
then the signal realises in the brain that hang on a minute this is the same every time, it seems to bypass the damaged part of brain and resend it down the correct neuro pathway and reconnects properly.

I am a big believer in cognitive retraining!

So that Rachel's brain will send the correct message to her when she does that task

i have found since I started doing this movement with my reciprocal walker I can walk better and I don't have any muscle tightness at all, I believe that I have reconnected the pathways.

It shows just how much plasticity that is in the human brain

And I haven't had any medication for nearly 2 yrs plus the hard work to take advantage a different pathways.

That is terrific Susie!

Museum Hits the 3.7 million jackpot

2008-04-04T16:02:00.002+01:00

Evening Gazette
04 Apr 2008

£6.6M Refurb Planned for Preston Hall Museum, Stockton

2008-04-04T15:45:00.000+01:00

Preston Hall Museum is housed in an 1825 mansion house and its grounds host a part of the historic Stockton to Darlington Railway. Courtesy Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has shown its support for a major facelift planned for Preston Hall Museum, Stockton-on-Tees, with an earmarked grant of £3.7million.

Housed in an 1825 mansion house, the popular museum has proposed a massive project to preserve its physical structure and overhaul its displays to make the most of its significant historical collections. The overall cost has been estimated at more than £6million, which will also be contributed to by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

The grand building is Grade II listed, and was largely remodelled and shaped in the 19th century by its then owner Robert Ropner, a local businessman and shipbuilder. It was acquired by the council in the 1940s and turned into a museum in 1953.

Plans include safeguarding the fabric of the building, remodelling the interior and providing a host of new facilities and access to collections.

“Following detailed visitor focus groups and feedback, we are really excited to be working on a plan for bringing Preston Hall firmly into the 21st century using the latest in curatorial techniques such as live displays and interactive events,” said Jane Hubbard, Museums Service Manager.

“We are looking at a whole range of new exhibition topics to inform, educate and enthral our visitors from shipbuilding to the history of social and domestic life, the Stockton and Darlington Railway to an appraisal of local heroes.”

The hall in 1900. Courtesy Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

The museum houses a massive collection of some 65,000 objects, from armour and militaria to a reconstruction of a Victorian street and fine art. The art collection includes the famous Georges de la Tour painting, The Dice Players (one of only two of the 17th century painter's works in the UK), and Mustering the Warrior Angels by JMW Turner.

It is set in large grounds where a track bed from the original Stockton to Darlington Railway survives. All these things will be brought to life not only with new displays but also an engaging programme of live interpretation and activities, including costumed actors in the Victorian street and traditional craftspeople giving visitors a taste of the past.

The context of the hall and its estate will also be given attention in the new styled museum, from aspects of social history to household economy and staffing in the Victorian era.

“We are delighted to be able to support Preston Hall,” said Dr Keith Bartlett, regional manager for the HLF in the North East. “Not only is it a much-loved museum in Stockton but it is a significant heritage landmark in the North East, and the home for collections of national importance. The support of the Heritage Lottery Fund will ensure that the building and its collections can be enjoyed by everyone as they learn about their past for many years to come.”

The HLF grant is a ‘Stage One Pass’, meaning that the money has been earmarked by the HLF for the project, but is not yet guaranteed. Stage Two involves a more detailed application to be developed to secure the grant.

Mum did me proud yesterday

2008-04-03T16:07:00.002+01:00

Well all I can say is well done Mum, you might be thinking what has been happening, well she went to the disability centre at the hospital yesterday for her first assessment for her new limb, and it went very well.

During the assessment they made a plaster cast of her leg (stump) Mum said felt a bit odd but was ok, and then she will go back next week and start walking with her new limb, the look of shock on her face when they said that was as I can only guess was priceless, anyway they said once the limb has been made you will be in the bars next week to test it and they can alter things if need be if all is ok she will be able to take it away and continue her physio. I am so looking forward to seeing her walking again.

I'm on a bit of a high so far

2008-04-01T18:50:00.003+01:00

Well its only Tuesday and already I have had a good week, in fact you could say I am on a bit of a high, it started on Monday, although I had had a tough Physio session I decided that I was going to keep on keeping on and have continued to walk more during the day and that for one, seems to lift me. Anyway I attended my first work meeting on Monday, what I mean is I attended the meeting on my own without the colleagues in my team, as the time got closer I had prepared for it and as waited for the people to come, once settled I realised that I wasn't going to be as comfortable in my powerchair, so I decided hey what have I got to loose (other than the prospect of sliding off it!!!) I know I can sit on a normal chair (mind you it has been a while) so I bit the bullet so to speak and walked into the meeting and sat down.

The look of slight surprise on people's faces was quite nice too see surprised in the fact that I don't think they knew I could walk. Anyway the meeting went very well and I felt really comfortable to be able to discuss my points with everyone there. When I came out it was like I had had an outer body experience, in that there I was sat quite normally and participating without direction and the rest of me was looking down, when I say the rest of me, I mean my disability had left me and floated above me.

It was like yes I did it usually I have felt a little uncomfortable in meetings, particularly if I don't know the people attending, but I was fine and came out happy that I had achieved a couple of things yesterday.

Jack auditioning to work with Santa this year

2008-03-30T11:58:00.003+01:00

Is it a dog or a reindeer, no its Jack auditioning to work for Santa this year ???

What do you think, has he got the job ?

For the love of Rachel

2008-03-30T10:43:00.005+01:00

Recently I have become good friends with David, Susan Rachel and Amy, this friendship came as a result of coming across there webpage on MySpace, Rachel and I have one thing in common and that is cerebral palsy. I chat with David and his family whenever we are able to connect on the computer. Rachel is a true inspiration to all who meet her and although I haven’t met her in person, I feel like I have know her all through her amazing life, you might ask how if I have not come face to face, well I have accomplished this through David’s awe inspiring account of his love for his daughter Rachel, and I have to say the title is so true to say the least, his love and devotion to Rachel just bounces out of the page.
I started reading and I couldn’t put it down, it brought a lot of memories back to me about my own life, how I was born premature, not as small as Rachel, spending time in a incubator and being able to fit in the hand of my Mum or Dad, I know that they were in awe of such a special life that had been created for a reason, and that is to show the way forward, and I believe that David and Susan felt the same way when holding Rachel. I also like Rachel wore dolls clothes as they were they only thing that fit me. At the time families believe that the constant machines will always be part of there life but as you read In the book it isn’t the case for Rachel and it wasn’t for me, we both came forward in the world and worked hard to develop our special lives so that we can fulfil our reasons for being here, and why shouldn’t we.

Then David Susan and Rachel decided that special lives were something that had meaning and the love should be expanded. They went to China and brought there love to Amy and brought her home to a special family where she could be happy and fulfil her life and be special also.

If there is anyone out there who is looking for inspiration and direction in there life then this book is one for you because I believe you will of found it here and if it moves you as much as me then it should move you enough to keep on keeping on.

Walking back to health or should that by climbing

2008-03-29T10:05:00.003Z

Well this week I have slowly been coming back together and have been walking about as much as I could manage, to try and boost myself. I have just been taking it slowly because as the saying goes you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, but in my case it's learn to walk before I can run!!!.

Each day I have manged to walk for a little bit longer and yesterday I think I had walked more than I had in a while, because I had walked during the day at work but then went for my Physio after work. It was only when I was in physio when I realised that I have slipped backwards slightly so have a mountain to climb to get back to the top.

I started off with the gym ball in the bars which was fine at first but then my physio had to support me as my balance was off, which just shows how things can change because last time I did it on my own. Hey ho I will get back there don't worry (Rome wasn't built in a day) then we went down into the main part of the hospital so that I could practice on the stairs. My physio said get back in your chair and we will go and try them, but no you know me I said no I will walk it will be easier!!. Oh boy had I forgot where the stairs were it was a fair walk, well fair by the fact that I had already been doing some work in the bars so was a bit tired. Maybe I should of taken her offer of my chair after all, but then the chair would of won and I wanted to cross the finish line so to speak on two feet.

I turned into the ward and there was a side room where the stairs were, they were the same steps as I had worked on before, but some how it felt different I had initially completely gone back to my old habits, but my physio didn't say anything first off, then I turned to go to down and I just couldn't do it down the steep side, so lifted myself back up and went down the side I had just come up.

By the time I had tried it the second time I got up reasonably easier and even my physio said you are becoming more agile, it was like you could physically see the messages going down the pathways. I then had a rest for 5 minutes and then we tried something that I have never done, which is coming down on my backside, I climbed up to the one before the landing step, and using the rails, slowly lowered myself down so that I was sat on the top step, there I was siting quite easy legs out in front and supporting myself and then I followed the instructions and slowly brought myself down the steps. When I got to the bottom I thought how am I going to stand from this position, but my physio had already read my mind and got a chair and place it at the side of the stairs, and I got myself up by one step and took hold of the rail and the the chair arm, and with a minimal of support I pulled myself up to standing.

Then the fun started, after I had had a brief rest to connect myself again, I turned to face the stairs again and turned to come down, but this time used one of my crutches instead of the rail. This was odd to me because my head was telling me to step then bring stick down, but my physio said bring stick first then step down, at first I just stood at the top and looked and she said no trust me it's stick first then leg, so I trusted her and started to come down, but then we got to the one last one and I ran out of rail and I thought I don't know what to do, because I could see my other stick on the floor, but she said, bring the stick down and step, I said no I can't work it out I need the other stick then I can step down, she said no you won't be able to, then she looked at me as I was smiling, which tells her I can do it, she then relented and gave me the stick and stayed in front of me so that I didn't fall, and sure enough I used the stick and stepped down, and she just laughed, because she knew that was my way and it worked for me, OK it might not by the correct physiotherapy way, but she knows that I trust her 100% and she does me so the relationship works.

We then walked back up to the physiotherapy department and were talking say that it was going to be feasible that I could use the stairs if I had too in time, we just got to work hard on it because I was not ready for it now.