Hi everyone
 
The first post-operation reports from Dad himself are that he had a very difficult night after the operation and yesterday he was in excruciating pain, which he described as the worst pain he’s ever experienced.  One can’t help but wonder if he has, in fact, been in comparable agony immediately after the accident but of that, he fortunately has no memory.
 
The bone graft operation which Steve performed entailed taking a 5cm wide piece of bone from Dad’s pelvis, cutting it into strips and inserting it into Dad’s leg, along with a metal plate and 4 screws to provide additional support.  During the accident, Dad lost a significant area of bone from his leg.  It was a compound fracture with many breaks from his shin downwards.  The hospital in Tours had previously told us that this complex break, with missing bone along with many fragmented pieces of bone, was in a particularly tricky location because it was near his ankle, which meant his long term prospects of how this would affect his leg’s stability and balance were questionable.  Dad has fortunately, thankfully, been in superlatively good hands, having Steve as his surgeon, giving him the best opportunity for the best recovery possible. 
 
Dad now, sadly, has to ride out the pain and count the days until the cast comes off, with some very intensive physiotherapy ahead to regain his mobility as quickly as is realistically possible.  He is being encouraged to try to stand and move around his bed a little with the use of a zimmer frame, but he is still extremely weak and his muscles have wasted away so much that this is very hard for him to begin to do.  This is not helped by the fact that he is still struggling to eat anything other than tiny quantities, so he has very limited energy intake at the moment too.
 
No doubt, things will start to improve gradually but in the meantime, Dad has to endure the pain and discomfort from this latest procedure.  The pain he had yesterday has subsided a little today so each new day should see the pain dwindling.
 
We’ll let you know when we have more news.
P.S.  We’ve just heard that Dad won’t be back in the UK for at least 6 weeks.  He will begin his rehabilitation in a specialist centre somewhere Paris in order to allow him to return to the hospital he’s currently in so that they can do post-op check-ups themselves on his leg on two separate occasions, before Dad returns to the UK.  This is disappointing in the sense that Dad will still be so far away, but it’s much better that it is the operating hospital who assesses Dad’s leg’s progress in two and six weeks’ time.
 
 
Love
Nat
xxx

Hi everyone
 
We know everyone will be anxiously waiting to hear how Dad’s operation went yesterday. 
 
The operation didn’t take place until very late in the day, due to other patients’ emergencies taking priority.  From what I know, the operation went well, with bone being taken from Dad’s pelvis to replace the bone which was lost from his leg during the accident.  As predicted by Steve, Dad’s surgeon, Dad is in a great deal of debilitating pain and discomfort, for which he is having morphine.  It is expected to be several days before the pain really starts to subside, so we’re hoping that he’ll spend as much of that time as possible asleep.
 
We’ll of course keep you posted when there’s more news.
 
Love
Nat
xxx
 

Hi everyone

 
Dad did not have the operation today because he has an infection which needs to be under control before undergoing surgery.  The operation will go ahead tomorrow (Tuesday) instead.
 
He has had a challenging day today emotionally and was particularly overwhelmed when he received a parcel of goodies, very kindly sent by some friends in America. 
 
Because his operation was originally scheduled for today, there were no visitors planned, but there are a couple of very kind nurses and a doctor who looked after him whilst he was in the Intensive Care unit, who have been visiting him regularly and who came to see him today too, a gesture which he also founds very touching.  Preparations have also been underway for the operation, so this has helped to fill his day, although he was disappointed that due to these he missed a visit from Steve Hansen, his surgeon.  Once tomorrow’s operation is behind him, Dad will be counting the days to having the cast removed and being able to really get his physio underway with full steam ahead!  Needless to say that he will then start to feel far more positive as he sees the results of this and his physical strength returns.  Simultaneously, I’m sure his emotional fragility will melt away and he will start to feel far more upbeat.  Although he tries to stay positive, it’s frustrating beyond measure for him to be so immobile but his darkest days ARE behind him and he will also be happier when he is ready to be transferred to a UK hospital, nearer to family and friends (and a local M&S food hall perhaps too!).
 
Things are improving a little on the food front – he did actually have some hospital soup, which he quite liked!!!!
 
That’s all for now, really as none of us are there to report personally, but please do keep your messages coming as I’m now able to email them all to him on a regular basis.
 
Love
Nat
xxxx
 
 

Just a quick Blog from yesterday and todays visit.
I arrived a 2pm yesterday afternoon, Dad looks quite well however he is still very weak, we had an interesting time trying to get him from Bed to Chair and vise versa, even managed to put my own back out trying to lift him!!


Anyway, I arrived with a bit of Chinese, rice, pork, chicken etc, he had some but only small portions for Dad as he really is not very hungry as his stomach has shrunk so much over the past 3 Months.
Spent the afternoon chatting and then both has a quick snooze before Natalie phoned and woke us both up.
Popped and found some Roast chicken and rice, dad only had a very small taste again, as he was feeling quite squeesey and nauseas. I stayed until around 9 pm and then returned to my humble accommodation.
Returned today at 2PM with some little delights, quiche lorraine and a little salmon st Jacque and carrot salad followed by sorbet. Still no appetite, Dad ate small bits but still felt sick. I paid to get the TV on and were both pleased to watch a football match, Man U V Everton and then we watched the Rugby at the Stade de France, just up the road from here, shame we could not both go!! Popped out again as Dad needed Creme Caramel, mints and water. I also bought him a small Baguette and ham toms and fromage. Not easy to buy Ham around here, being the Muslim part of Paris! However good old Lidl came up with the goods.
Got back made a small sandwich, however before we even got started, Dad was very sick, too much acid and he needed to get it all up. Once we cleaned up the mess, he felt a little better and eat a little more bread and a creme caramel.
Now watching programme about Ferraris.
That's all folks
.Max and Barrie

Hi everyone

The first part of today's update was dictated by Dad and the second is my  more detailed overview of how Dad is.

"I've moved from Intensive Care to the 3rd floor where the atmosphere is much more relaxed, however the staff levels are also a lot smaller so if you want anything done, it's a half hour wait at best. They do try but they have too much to do.

I'm thrilled to have a visit from my daughter, Natalie, who is writing this blog for me. The next big op is on the 27th, so if that goes well we might be getting somewhere!

Greetings to all and thanks for your messages.

Barrie"

Today's visit was, by chance, so perfectly synchronised with Dad finally leaving Intensive Care which meant that rather than me being able to see him for only two hours or less, I was incredibly fortunate to be his first visitor to be able to stay from 1pm to 7pm (I wasn't able to stay later because of the Eurostar's current timetable disruption!)

Dad was already sitting in the armchair when I arrived and stayed there for the longest time so far, to about 4.30pm.  Although I saw Dad just a couple of weeks ago, I have to say I was still really taken aback by how thin and drawn he has become. It's hard to conceive how someone as physically strong as Dad could suddenly become so seemingly vulnerable and frail. Until recently the considerable swelling which Dad suffered from his oedemas masked this very deceptively.    

Dad continues to have regular bouts of being overcome with emotion but fortunately he doesn't try to suppress this as he completely understands that this is a process he must just go along with at the moment in order to mentally heal and to avoid long term psychological problems.

Despite all this, we soaked up each other's company, with Dad having many stories to tell about a diversity of subjects and, intermittently, Dad listened keenly to 10 pages of your latest messages that I'd printed from the blog pages! He really is so touched by the astounding level of support from you all, so thank you so very much.   

Poor Dad certainly isn't embracing the concept of hospital food, but this may be because his tastebuds are distorting flavours because it's so long since he's eaten properly.  Having said that, another M&S raspberry jelly went down well, along with some of their shortbread biscuits and a few grapes!   

Whist Dad is doing really well with his recovery, he is inevitably finding it unimaginably frustrating that his complete lack of strength and mobility have stripped him of the simplest level of independence.  This though, is bound to be a powerful driving force for him throughout his physical rehabilitation via  physiotherapy.  He hopes to be able start this as soon as it is practical after next week's orthopaedic reconstructive surgery to his leg.

All in all, it was really lovely to have an intensive block of time with Dad today and I felt very close to him. None of us forget how lucky we are to still have him with us and it's something that stays in the forefront of our minds, in particular during visits. I am really looking forward to Dad's further and ongoing progress, but just wish we had a magic wand to make it all happen without the emotional and physical battles that still lie ahead for him! There is no doubt in my mind that Dad will be just fine, generally, in time. He's doing brilliantly and I'm very, very proud of him!

It was a long visit with a lot of insight into Dad's current situation, so I'm afraid I've gassed on a bit. I hope someone out there is still awake!!!!!

Thanks once again to you all for the mountain of support and especially too, to René who so kindly regularly gives his time and fills in the gaps by visiting Dad when we can't be there.

Dad is now looking forward to Max's visit on Friday.

Love
Nat
xxx

Tuesday 21 October - this is an important date as Barrie is out of intensive care after more than three months
He is now in the orthopedic ward on 3rd floor in room 324
Visiting hours are much easier between 1pm and 8pm

His general health has improved a lot, he still has urologic issues to be taken care of and of course next will be the leg operation on 27 October when the surgeon Steve Hansen will do a bone graft and put plates to strenghen the lower leg

Natalie will be in Paris on 22nd, so more detailed news to come
Maite

Monday october 20  This morning open operation going from bladder to external bag!!! Hand swen by Dr Th Lazard.I am moving to the 4th floor this PM then next week 3rd floor with private room. Greetings from Barrie dictated to my pal René Ligonnet Love to all .

Rene Ligonet at visiting time


For some unknown reasons I was alllowed to sleep til 10.30 this morning with the brilliant sunllight completly hidden behind the solid rollerblind
I thought the clock had stopped
Once cleaned up, I was hoisted with hydraulic lift into my morning chair from where I dictate this message

Sitting alone in the room, I started to analyse the state of my physical condition
I arrived at the shock decision I was very very weak as I had to take a knife to open a plastic top bottle of water

Two ladies from the physio department came to help me with my breathing technique .... 60 years of asthma has taught me most of what I need to know and they were surprised to find my lungs pretty clear (a month ago in Tours I had a serious asthma attack which even the hospital had difficulties in clearing)
The love of my life is typing this for you and will be transmitting asap
Love to all
Barrie

PS for Malcolm
As much as I would like to come to Xmas lunch in my old 80's suit, the chances are slim but if you want to book 2 places provisionall, you can do so
BTW I have not seen a computer since 14 July
------------------

Sorry about the delay in doing this – it was started ages ago, but too many interruptions today!  Here’s the latest update…..
 
Hi everyone
 
I visited Dad in Paris yesterday, with great excitement about being able to chat with him for the first time since the accident.  Initially, Dad wasn’t making any noise when he spoke but then I realised that the device which allows him to speak isn’t a permanent fixture and I needed to ask the nurses to fit it for him so that his words formed sounds.  It really was music to my ears to be able to hear Dad talk.  Under the circumstances, he was in amazingly good spirits, although he is inevitably getting pretty fed up with his situation. 
 
I asked Dad if he fancied anything to eat and the nurses moved him into the armchair so he was in a better, more upright, position for this.  Dad has been eating very, very, little, so I brought with me a few goodies, including some organic apple and strawberry purées which come packaged in a soft pouch so they’re easy for Dad to hold, eat and control for himself how much he sucks out of the pouch.  I also brought a Marks & Spencer raspberry jelly, which I was hoping he’d find refreshing and reasonably easy to digest.  Fortunately, he did and polished off the whole pot, so I think this is probably the largest amount of “real food” he’s eaten so far!  With hindsight and with Dad still being a little bit shaky, I concluded that jelly perhaps wasn’t the most practical food to expect poor Dad to be able to keep on the spoon without a bit of help!!!!  Not wanting to rob him of small opportunities to do things for himself independently, I left him, in the main, to do a splendid job of eating this himself!
 
Before I knew it, the first visit was over but the first thing we did on the evening visit was to launch an attack on the next item on the menu which was an M&S crème caramel!  It was very encouraging to see Dad beginning to eat - under my bad influence, all sweet things!  This visit was spent mostly lip-reading because although Dad did still have the speech device attached to his throat, it wasn’t working.  About two-thirds of the way through the visit, an attending nurse noticed that it had detached from a tube to which it needed to be connected, which is why Dad hadn’t been making any sound when he tried to talk (I’m sure there are a few people who are probably now frantically trying to find a supplier of these devices (minus the essential tube) for me!).  So we had about 5-10 minutes of relief with spoken conversation (whenever Dad could fit a word in edgeways, of course) before Dad’s breathing became so laboured that the nurses had to replace the device with the ventilator.  So we were back to lip-reading again!!!  I was also able to give Dad a bit of a moisturising session and hand massage and noticed a massive difference in the size of his now thin hands, compared how swollen they were from the odoemae on my last visit just before he left Tours for Paris.
 
All in all, for me personally, it was a really worthwhile trip, even if I could only be there for the day.  Dad was in a really “soft and gentle” kind of mood and seemingly less fed up, for the second visit.  Although he became increasingly tired, it was lovely to have had both of the visiting hours with him being awake and communicative the whole time.
 
It’s anticipated that Dad may come off the ventilator towards the end of this week.  Steve Hansen is going to perform Dad’s second leg operation when he returns from holiday and hopefully Dad will then be able to be moved out of Intensive Care and onto Steve’s orthopaedic ward.  In addition to marking Dad’s progress and a new stage in his recovery, this will also mean more generous visiting hours. 
 
Max has arrived in Paris today, staying until Thursday and then Marie-Thérèse will be there on Friday for the weekend.
 
Love
Nat
xxx