16th February: Peeling spuds

Tomorrow will be Simon's last day with the rehab team at the Repatriation Hospital. They have shared our journey for around five months and it will be sad to leave them. From here we move on to work with the BIRCH (Brain Injury) team that operates out of Hampstead. They are the bees knees, and have an exciting programme planned for Simon. For this he will need to travel twice per week to Felixstowe (about 1.5 hours each way), plus some therapy at home. The need for travelling is so that Simon can use the excellent gymnasium at Felixstowe and we know from past experience that he really needs this equipment to maintain and improve his physical strength. Also, the Royal Society for the Blind has offered us around 7 weeks of intensive therapy to improve Simon's ability to scan his right field of vision. This will help him to read, but also make him a lot safer when out and about in the wheelchair (we did have a fall recently). The RSB therapist, Jeremy, is a real lively chap; Simon and I took to him immediately, he almost bounces with enthusiasm, and the positive attitude that he exudes is just what we need. Jeremy will come to visit Simon at home three times per week, and plans to build up to outdoor training within a couple of weeks. So from here on, Simon has a full schedule of rehabilitation plus commuting to cope with. He is motivated and very determined.

There have been many achievements over the past couple of weeks, especially with reading and writing. Simon has amended a paper that is now ready for publication; today he peeled a potato (in the occ therapy session); and he is racking up around 30kms per week on the exercise bike.

Today we heard from Simon's old school-friend, Stephen Pantlin. He wrote us a really lovely email - both of us were in tears... Great that you two lads are in touch again.

Sorry that I do not get to blog so often these days. Pretty busy now that I am back at work. I think (fingers crossed) that we have sold the house at Brighton. Not the best price, but enough for us to walk away from it. I guess it will take a month or so to settle while the conveyancers and bankers do whatever it is that they do.

Love Marian x