Pugwash's peg-leg

Another update.

Been home about a week and just about coping.
Every minute highlights limitations.... if I can't reach it, it doesn't exist, which is very frustrating, though a little ingenuity helps.

Stuck in a house with no ramps, so have to be physically heaved in and out.

I invited the local fire department, who came yesterday to do a 'safety assessment', fitted multi fire and smoke alarms and promised a referral to my local authority; obviously no ramp exit is a serious fire safety issue!

If the authority refuse ramps, my friends have 'a cunning plan'.

On the positive side:-

I am waiting for a booked visit from the local authority to assess ramps and other aids which they may provide.

I'm also booked in (4th April) at my local hospital physio department for the first trial fitting of a very basic limb.
If I can demonstrate standing and a short 'walk' between parallel bars, then I will qualify for a referral to our regional Prosthetic Clinic/Provider, and 'take the 'next step' into the future!
I've already opened an intelligent dialogue with the regional Prosthetic Clinic/Provider, and had a welcome and encouraging chat with their secretary.

So it's up to me to 'perform' on the big day! Can't wait.

I'm fortunate to live in the UK and have free NHS health care on demand, which will mean a future limb will be provided free.
They've already provided a hospital bed and wheelchair.

I've come to the conclusion my best plan is to take a long term view to survive my present circumstances until my accident legal claim comes to a conclusion (possibly a year or longer) and take stock at that point and make some serious decisions as to what my accommodation options will be.

Again, thank you to my regular interested forum members; your support is invaluable.

Hopefully, my next update will bring news of my trial limb 'fitting'.
Until then.....determination continues.
 
Glad to hear things are slowly getting better for you.

I have a son with Cerebral Palsy, and is confined to a wheelchair as well. When I was still in the US Air Force and finally got moved into on-base housing, they came out and installed an access ramp at the front door so we could just role him in and out very easy.

Hopefully at some point you will get help to set up a accessible workbench so you can start back on something ship building related to help with therapy.
 
Kurt Konrath said:
Glad to hear things are slowly getting better for you.

I have a son with Cerebral Palsy, and is confined to a wheelchair as well. When I was still in the US Air Force and finally got moved into on-base housing, they came out and installed an access ramp at the front door so we could just role him in and out very easy.

Hopefully at some point you will get help to set up a accessible workbench so you can start back on something ship building related to help with therapy.
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Kurt, thank you for your kind words.

I'm sure your son is profoundly loved and cared for. A credit to you and his mother.

We all have different challenges thrown at us by life.
So far I have managed to rise to mine and the support from members here helps in no small measure.

The table I'm sitting at has always been my work station/dining table, with most of what I need within reach.

Since getting home my entire time has been spent catching up with all the loose ends I've not been able to attend to during 3 months in hospitals.

So happy just to still be here!
 
I'm so glad you are home. At the risk of sounding clueless or obvious, one step, or goal (I guess is a better choice of word) at a time. You have made it a long, long way in three months! What an Odessey and a heroic effort. Your determination is inspiring. Give yourself props for a task well done and an enormous accomplishment in that time. As I have said, yours is the most riveting "build log" I am following.
 
Peter Gutterman said:
I'm so glad you are home. At the risk of sounding clueless or obvious, one step, or goal (I guess is a better choice of word) at a time. You have made it a long, long way in three months! What an Odessey and a heroic effort. Your determination is inspiring. Give yourself props for a task well done and an enormous accomplishment in that time. As I have said, yours is the most riveting "build log" I am following.
Click to expand...
Peter, your enthusism for my 'recovery is legend to me.
Your words of encouragement give me strength. If I was to fail you now....I'd just fall over!
Now, where did I hide my tap shoes, Fred (Astaire)?
 
Good to hear you're home and progress is being made on making it habitable for your mobility needs. Soon, thanks to the NHS and the regional Prosthetic Clinic/Provider you might be able to live up to the title of this thread. Hope you're well and good luck in getting all of your ducks in a row.

Cheers,

Todd
 
How important it is for the citizens of a country to have a good public health system. Brits, take care of it, don't let it be taken away from you!!!
In Spain, we can't complain.
 
I personally believe that a free-market health care system is superior to a government-controlled health care system. Having said that it seems health care is one area that does not succumb to the laws of supply and demand in either system.
 
A free market health care system fails to deliver for some/many/most of the population. Ask the billions of people in Africa / India / Asia.
A government controlled 'free at the point of need' can never care for the population, as in the UK, there is a bottomless well of ill health that will never be filled. 1) we keep finding new ill health diagnoses. 2) We are now able to 'cure' illnesses which were formerly fatal, but we can prolong life, at huge cost. Like 6 months life extension on a fancy drug is the equivalent of a nurse or a doctor or even a surgeon for a year.
Or more relevantly - equivalent to the cost of care and a prosthetic for Pugwash which will return him to independence (and model building!) and (almost) out of the care system.

The insurance companies and lawyers get rich whatever the peasants want.
 
UPDATE....PROGRESS!

Just returned from Barnsley physio......strapped on an ill fitting 'leg' and had a brief 'walk' between parallel bars!
Looks like several more visits to come, but I managed all that was asked of me and I'm chuffed with today's result.
I'm pretty certain 'Mel', the therapist was impressed with this 70 year old too.
Back next week for more.
 
pugwash said:
UPDATE....PROGRESS!

Just returned from Barnsley physio......strapped on an ill fitting 'leg' and had a brief 'walk' between parallel bars!
Looks like several more visits to come, but I managed all that was asked of me and I'm chuffed with today's result.
I'm pretty certain 'Mel', the therapist was impressed with this 70 year old too.
Back next week for more.
Click to expand...
That sounds very good!
Regards, Peter
 
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