Making a hospital at home and a forever in therapy
Donation protected
I had an extremely nasty crash whilst racing my motorcycle at Anglesey in September which has unfortunately left me with life changing injuries. Namely an horrific compound fracture of the humerus and a shattering of an already injured elbow, 4 complicated rib fractures resulting in a punctured lung.
Since my first post about this on my Facebook page there has been some changes so please see my current condition below including findings after surgery number four.
Elbow surgery went ahead as planned on 20th October after two previous postponements, nurses reported the surgeons were happy with the replacement elbows functionality which has normal elbow movement.
The surgeons came to see me the following morning to explain what the future holds for my arm.
Unfortunately, the news was very sad and not at all what I was expecting to hear.
As I'd lost so much bone from my arm, both from the compound fractures piercing my skin trackside and little pieces of bone having to be picked out in surgeries there wasn't enough bone left to securely attach the artificial elbow to.
The result? Well unfortunately I'll never be able to do any physical activities with my right arm again.
This really does mean ANY physical activities, I'm unable to hold my kids, swim, push a buggy, carry a bag, lift a kettle, cycle, etc... literally anything you can do that involves any sort of force or pressure into your arm/hand I cannot do it. Most people that see, hear or read about this say offer reassurance by saying it'll get better with time or it'll strengthen up.. The black and white of it all unfortunately is that my right arm has effectively been amputated in every way other than in appearance. If this implant fails, comes loose or snaps there's simply not enough remaining bone to try again so whatevers left would need amputating.
If something happens and the fixation becomes loose, infected or I forget I'm not to use it and it snaps whilst I push a door closed there is not enough bone left to replace, so my arm would need to be amputated for real regardless.
I've always been optimistic about the injuries I received, the nasty hip fractures that required immediate surgery, the 4 ribs I fractured, the lung I punctured along my elbow/arm and concussions. I went along with everything assuming everything would be just fine and something really bad couldn't happen to me.
I guess the seriousness of what I'd done only truly dawned on me the morning after the surgeons left. In reality, 5 weeks in hospital with a broken arm is not normal.
I've always been of the mindset everything will be fine and probably because of that I didn't take this as seriously as I should have or at least researched worst case scenarios to half prepare me for news like this.
This has kicked the stuffing out of me and is very, very tough to deal with but again the plus side is that I was told "we feared for your life" anything that's not that has to be seen as a positive too.
If there's a way you could help either by a small donation or to share this gofundme page please I'd be eternally grateful (just please don't ask me to clap)
Personally, this news has crushed me and as a family this has temporarily flattened us. I am confident there'll be good to come from this but I am realistic in timescales.
Financially, we're in a pickle. After following advice I applied for pip at the start of the month for some sort of financial assistance but despite my injuries and hospitalisation I would need "an assessment" which can take up to 5 months to book with another month or two added on post assessment for their report to be written before receiving a decision on eligibility.
Since my first post about this on my Facebook page there has been some changes so please see my current condition below including findings after surgery number four.
Elbow surgery went ahead as planned on 20th October after two previous postponements, nurses reported the surgeons were happy with the replacement elbows functionality which has normal elbow movement.
The surgeons came to see me the following morning to explain what the future holds for my arm.
Unfortunately, the news was very sad and not at all what I was expecting to hear.
As I'd lost so much bone from my arm, both from the compound fractures piercing my skin trackside and little pieces of bone having to be picked out in surgeries there wasn't enough bone left to securely attach the artificial elbow to.
The result? Well unfortunately I'll never be able to do any physical activities with my right arm again.
This really does mean ANY physical activities, I'm unable to hold my kids, swim, push a buggy, carry a bag, lift a kettle, cycle, etc... literally anything you can do that involves any sort of force or pressure into your arm/hand I cannot do it. Most people that see, hear or read about this say offer reassurance by saying it'll get better with time or it'll strengthen up.. The black and white of it all unfortunately is that my right arm has effectively been amputated in every way other than in appearance. If this implant fails, comes loose or snaps there's simply not enough remaining bone to try again so whatevers left would need amputating.
If something happens and the fixation becomes loose, infected or I forget I'm not to use it and it snaps whilst I push a door closed there is not enough bone left to replace, so my arm would need to be amputated for real regardless.
I've always been optimistic about the injuries I received, the nasty hip fractures that required immediate surgery, the 4 ribs I fractured, the lung I punctured along my elbow/arm and concussions. I went along with everything assuming everything would be just fine and something really bad couldn't happen to me.
I guess the seriousness of what I'd done only truly dawned on me the morning after the surgeons left. In reality, 5 weeks in hospital with a broken arm is not normal.
I've always been of the mindset everything will be fine and probably because of that I didn't take this as seriously as I should have or at least researched worst case scenarios to half prepare me for news like this.
This has kicked the stuffing out of me and is very, very tough to deal with but again the plus side is that I was told "we feared for your life" anything that's not that has to be seen as a positive too.
If there's a way you could help either by a small donation or to share this gofundme page please I'd be eternally grateful (just please don't ask me to clap)
Personally, this news has crushed me and as a family this has temporarily flattened us. I am confident there'll be good to come from this but I am realistic in timescales.
Financially, we're in a pickle. After following advice I applied for pip at the start of the month for some sort of financial assistance but despite my injuries and hospitalisation I would need "an assessment" which can take up to 5 months to book with another month or two added on post assessment for their report to be written before receiving a decision on eligibility.
I've made the awkward decision keep the page running, not to be greedy in any way shape or form but to help us once recovery has begun. I realised that although I'd be out of hospital at this point I'm still going to be essentially out of work too. I've already been off for seven weeks and likely to be for another seven at least with no sick pay other than ssp. So, while the donations so far has paid for my "home hospital" set up any help towards everything else would be even more heart felt.
The other thing is again, once I've been discharged from hospital I'll need to get various rails put in through the house in case of a fall and to stop me using my right arm. I should be able to put some weight through my right leg in another 4/6 weeks or so, hopefully I'll be able to walk small steps increasing the risk of a fall.
Once the arm is out of plaster 11/12 weeks I will need to keep it in a sling all day every day, for life. The temptation to use an arm I think would prove too much for me and a can't have my daughter witnessing her Daddy's arm snapping off in front of her.
The life I've known for 41 years isn't over, the rules have just changed a bit and although I've shed many a tear I'm still so lucky I wasn't taken away from my everythings.
Thank you to each and every one of you that's been so kind already. The donations received so far have paid for an adjustable bed, powerchair, commode and liners, rise and recline chair, a table, two access ramps, wee pots, two vests and a pair of shorts.
The other thing is again, once I've been discharged from hospital I'll need to get various rails put in through the house in case of a fall and to stop me using my right arm. I should be able to put some weight through my right leg in another 4/6 weeks or so, hopefully I'll be able to walk small steps increasing the risk of a fall.
Once the arm is out of plaster 11/12 weeks I will need to keep it in a sling all day every day, for life. The temptation to use an arm I think would prove too much for me and a can't have my daughter witnessing her Daddy's arm snapping off in front of her.
The life I've known for 41 years isn't over, the rules have just changed a bit and although I've shed many a tear I'm still so lucky I wasn't taken away from my everythings.
Thank you to each and every one of you that's been so kind already. The donations received so far have paid for an adjustable bed, powerchair, commode and liners, rise and recline chair, a table, two access ramps, wee pots, two vests and a pair of shorts.
Once I'm out of hospital you're welcome to call over and see how your money has been spent... and see me at the same time (although I may only have one of the vests on)
Not really sure where I'm at mentally as it's probably too much to process, I feel totally devastated, but very lucky and grateful.
Not really sure where I'm at mentally as it's probably too much to process, I feel totally devastated, but very lucky and grateful.
On top of all of this we have another little girl due January 25th so the timing of it all is awful.
What we've realised in the hardest of ways, with my lack of mobility and relentless, ever increasing pain added to my partner being heavily pregnant and also suffering mentally that we just can't cope.
After the elation felt by my entire family I wasn't going to pass away, we thought it would be very simple road to recovery, a few weeks of discomfort, many items and home modifications to order to aid recovery and that would be it... The reality has been something completely different. What we didn't account for was the mental and physical demands put on her of the every day life.
My partners day is utterly exhausting, both for her to live and for me to witness.
Whilst an exhausting day may seem normal for most mothers please remember that walking up to 9000 steps a day being almost 8 months pregnant is not normal, nor is caring for us both whilst carrying out an extremely difficult, high profile job.
Add to all the above the mental torture she has had to endure, not just at the beginning but during ongoing recovery too.
She was told over the phone by someone at the circuit it was looking likely I was to lose my life, she was then told that my life was safe but I would lose my arm, then she was told that I would just have life-changing injuries and that my arm would stay.. imagine the stress experienced in those few hours before the helicopter brought me back to Cardiff where she was waiting. But, every time my partner looks at me now she doesn't just see ne she sees the father of her child/children having the accident that almost killed him and I can't imagine what that might be like for her.
It is with immense pride I would just like to ask you to spare a thought for her after reading this please as she's gone through far too much.
Sincerest thanks to you all x
Organizer
Drew Stoodley
Organizer
Wales