Devondancer update

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:14 pm

Yes, this has turned into a remarkable diary of the whole remarkable event. Wonderful story it makes too... Triumph of and over reality, including tragedy, cyber friendship, medical adventure, romance, science, personal growth, the arts of music and poetry, healing philosophies, incredible generosity, risks, and the ever over-riding thread of love... and so much more... not to mention the plug for the best tissues on the market.

Cork · Post by **Cork** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:36 pm

Given more than 13,300 views to this thread since 27 August, about 48 days, well, that averages to be more than 275 views per day.

Moreover, that appears to make Lesley and Ro celebrities.

Three cheers to Lesley and Ro!

Hip, hip, hooray!

:-)

djm · Post by **djm** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:59 pm

Hmm, I wonder what an autograph would be worth on eBay ....

djm

devondancer · Post by **devondancer** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:50 pm

You people are just amazing! You can have no idea how much you have meant in both our lives since Lesley's first surgery at the end of July. It feels as if I have known you for ever! We are both so grateful for your kindness, care, humour, gentle shoves in the right direction - the list is endless. You have amused and interested Lesley during some of her most painful times and for that alone I am profoundly grateful, not to mention what you have done for me. I doubt if either of us will ever forget the nose hair thread, for example.

And I am so pleased to know what Puffs are.

Ro

Lambchop · Post by **Lambchop** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:29 pm

devondancer wrote:And I am so pleased to know what Puffs are.

Ro

Ah, but you have yet to experience them!

Hang in there, both of you!

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:03 pm

It's always a relief (surprize?) when the Doctors get something right.

I'm very touched by the verses. Lesley has a lovely gift. Tell her thank-you for me. And thanks to you for sharing them.

Doc

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:41 am

missy wrote:
Martin Milner wrote:
missy wrote:where's the Puffs?

That is so beautiful. And I"m sure her donor is smiling, too.
Mmmh, cheesy puffs, Marks & Spencers' are the best, but wouldn't a box of tissues be more appropriate, if less tasty?
Martin, dear, I work at Procter and Gamble. They are not tissues, or god forbid, kleenex. They are Puffs!!

Cheesy Puffs

not to be confused with Cheesy Poofs

devondancer · Post by **devondancer** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:36 am

This may be amazing, but all is well here! Lesley is very tired - partly reaction to the antibiotics and partly just reaction! - and has slept most of the day. We have been listening to her dance music, which I am getting to love, after all this time of refusing to listen to it. Any music which keeps her going must be good!

Tomorrow they hope to unplug her from a few bits of equipment in readiness for leaving ICU. She is at last making the progress we hoped for. She remains very determined but has just been flattened by recent events! I think we both have, today. I slept, too.

Things are good.

Ro

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:53 am

That's wonderful news.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:09 pm

(quietly, so as not to wake Lesley)

Excellent to hear! May it continue to be great news. The road through recovery will be long, but there's loads of company to walk it with.

Hugs,
Sarah

devondancer · Post by **devondancer** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:36 am

Strangely, and rather scarily, the news is still good. Lesley has been partially de-tubed (very nasty: don't try this at home) and is no longer stuck to the bed with pointy things and bits of electronics. She has also moved from ICU to the High Dependency Unit, which is real progress. And, she has been sitting in a chair for a short time! Looking VERY pleased with herself, too. It was a short time, because she tires quickly, but tomorrow she will see the physio for the first time and STAND UP. Yet again I've warned them that she is not stable when standing or walking, so I have my fingers crossed, but she is delighted, of course.

She slept badly last night in anticipation, and probably because she had slept most of yesterday, so this morning she handed me this.

At the top of the shaft
The sky is a penny,
Impossibly distant, earth from space,
Afloat on the night.

It is warm here, and safe.
Tunnels glide deeper,
Sparkling with ice; pure crystal music
Calling, enticing.

I should be up there
Breathing the breezes.
The climb is so hard; the universe shifts.
I need a rope.

No rope but a rock,
The core of my being,
Ever beside me, holding me up.
Roland, my rock.

I am so proud.
Ro

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:44 am

Oh... this latest has me all teary-eyed again. I hope Lesley continues to heal and get stronger in body; her spirit is certainly strong enough to make that happen. Especially with you, her rock, Roland.

Blessings upon blessings to you both!

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:00 pm

(placing a new three-pack of Puffs by the door)

She's something, that one. Wonderful to get the glimpses of her vision. Wonderful to hear her making progress.

Wonderful!

Hugs,
Sarah

Cork · Post by **Cork** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:11 pm

Well, all of that scribble happens to be very important to us, too.

Indeed, perhaps we could live for such brutally honest moments.

Overall, however, it's a relief to hear that Lesley has been transferred from the ICU to the High Dependency ward. That's a good sign!

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:41 pm

I can make it through the poetry without the Puffs, mostly because I'm not fond of poetry. But what does choke me up is how deeply Lesley is feeling and is able to express her feelings. Every time I've had surgery, I just live in the bliss of painkillers. And what really chokes me up is the bang up job Ro is doing in all of this seeing as how he was thrown into being the care giver. That's called Baptism by Fire in some places.

You're doing great Ro, hang in there.