Life Update
Apologies to all that I have been missing in action. Life has delivered yet another resounding slap round the chops.
If we’ve known each other for a while, you’ll know that I lost my daughter to cancer on 21st December 2023. On January 29th, we lost her husband, and their traumatised 17 year old daughter, and her 2 cats, came to live with us. This involved decanting the contents of a bedroom to other places, and fetching her stuff up to ours. We’re also emptying the house of anything usable to sell to help pay off the mortgage – our house is like a storage unit and I’ve become a Vinted expert!
On Friday 25th, Mike and I were due to meet a group of friends for lunch. It’s one of the u3a groups we go to, called Historical Inns.
Here he is with his favourite – at an Indian restaurant
We take turns organising it, selecting which pub to go to, and researching the pub itself and the surrounding area for anything interesting. Between the main course and any puddings, the organiser then reads out what they’ve found out. It’s great fun and we all love it – about 20 of us meet up each time.
That day we were meeting at The Highlands Inn, in Uckfield. Just before we were due to go, I had to make a quick business call, and was imagining Mike pacing up and down in the sitting room as he hates being anything but super early to anything.
It was literally a couple of minutes, and when I came back in the room, he was sprawled sideways on the sofa. I thought he was taking the Mickey about how long I’d been and said ‘well, that’s a funny position’ and he replied in a slurry voice that his leg didn’t work, I could see that his mouth was drooping on one side and when I asked him to raise his arms, he could only lift one of them.
Oh my goodness! He was obviously having a stroke and I dialed 999 and the ambulance arrived after the longest 20 minutes of my life.
They whizzed us off to Eastbourne hospital where he was given the very important clot buster drugs and anything else they deemed necessary.
He’s been there ever since and isn’t ready to come home yet, even though he’s desperate to do just that – most people are when in hospital aren’t they.
It’s likely he had another stroke overnight although it’s not showing on the scans. His speech remains slurred and his right arm and leg are far from right, quite common from a brain that’s been injured apparently. But he is making progress now and improving, even being able to walk, with a frame, up the ward, and up and down a flight of stairs. Painfully slowly, but he’s able to do it. I’ve been so worried about him and visit every day.
My nursing daughter assures me that he will almost certainly make a full recovery as everything was so quick, but it’s so difficult to believe when I see this big and strong man struggle to lift a cup of soup.
I’m so grateful that I found him so quickly, that he received what he needed so quickly, and that we weren’t already driving en route to the pub. Everything could have been SO much worse!
It’s a flipping good job I’m a strong and resilient person – I’m not sure how much more of this I can take!
Thank you Sarah, always nice to be appreciated 🙂
Thoughts are with you and your family. Thank you for still having your frugal sites up, it really helps us as a family and we are very appreciative of it xx
She is indeed a very strong kid.
You never know what will happen tomorrow do you and I will keep buggering on, that’s all we can do isn’t it xx
Gosh, what a time you’re having.
I send Mike my very best wishes for a speedy recovery. I know a bit about strokes, and Mike was very lucky to have been discovered and treated so quickly. I suffered a haemorrhagic stroke in May last year, and there is precious little that can be done for this type of stroke.
The prognosis is not great at all for me, but hey, although I used to feel young, I’m not, and although I expected to be around for another twenty years or so, I’m lucky to have had a good life up until my stroke hit.
All I can do is what I recommend for you, keep buggering on!
Love and strength are winging their way to you, Mike and your granddaughter. She must be a strong kid to still be standing after what she’s gone through. XXX
So sorry to hear about your husband. Let’s hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Thinking of you all! ❤️
Sorry to hear your family has so many challenges to face.
I hope Mike makes a full and speedy recovery.
My thoughts are with you and yours.
Goodness me.
I will pray that Mike makes a full recovery very soon. You have had such a lot to deal with lately, it seems. Take good care. X
With all the best thoughts and wishes for you and your family. I know from personal experience the challenges of taking in a traumatized teen. Then add Mikes recent illness – oh my! May he continue to see steady improvement, your granddaughter find peace, and the continued strength to carry on. Thank you for all you provide to the rest of us, and may knowing we care about you and yours help.
You’re not wrong!
Sometimes life is pure s***
Sending a hug, love and prayers for you all. Hope Mike makes a speedy recovery. Barbara x
Oh my goodness Lesley! So sorry to hear you’re facing another crisis in your life. Sometimes it seems that nothing can go right despite all the effort and thought you put in.
I sincerely hope that Mike continues to improve and that he’s soon home where you can keep an eye on him and rebuild your family life.
Thinking of you. I know you’re strong but take care of yourself too.