All you want or need to know about my accident.
You may have heard that I was involved in a very serious accident on Boxing Day 2008.
Here I will attempt to tell you the details as there have been a few odd stories around and I haven't really been in a fit state to tell you all.
I left home on Boxing Day on the Street Rod trike with my wife Fiona to go to the Pied Bull meeting at Farningham. As we joined the A21 from the A26 going down the slip road I noticed a couple of likely lads in a black car alongside us. The next thing I knew was waking up in hospital (The Royal London) with many injuries. I found out after a day or so that Fiona had died in the accident. My injuries included broken neck c6/c7, smashed left foot talus, ankle etc, smashed left hand and fingers, broken upper jaw and eye socket, dislocated right shoulder, broken ribs, broken teeth, etc etc. It all seemed like a bad dream for a few days until the reality set in - especially losing Fiona. We had only been married 18 months and had known each other 4 years. As you can imagine I was more devastated by this than by my injuries.
Many operations later I had ex-fix on my left ankle, plaster on my left hand etc. I had to be fed for the next month or so. Eventually I was transferred to the Kent and Sussex hospital in Tunbridge Wells where I stayed until late Feb. I'm bypassing loads here but I don't want to bore you too much. I have to say the support I had and continue to have from my family, friends and customers has been amazing. To bring you more up to date I have had a further operation on my left hand to try and repair the broken tendons that were missed by the hospitals, and another for the same thing on my right shoulder. I have a hand therapist every week to try and get my left hand to work a bit better - I can even play the bass a bit again. A physio is teaching me to walk so I should be able to increase the distance that I can manage (about 100 yds at present) without too much pain. I am going for further surgery on my shoulder to try and do a tendon transfer.
It has been a very long haul. Trying to deal with all the injuries and having to get people to do things for me isn't easy- whilst trying to come to some sort of terms with the loss of Fiona. I miss her so much it hurts. Really hurts.
One small ray of light is that the CPS after all this time have just decided that there is no case to answer, so now the inquest can go ahead, hopefully December or January.
I am doing a few small jobs in the workshop for my own stuff to try and build up some strength; so do pop in and say hello if you are near. I don't expect to be back full time until at least Jan/Feb. I would be most pleased if all of you kept in touch. I have just sorted out my mail box, so that is working again. If anyone is waiting for an order, please get in touch so I can arrange to sort it out.
I will add some more later for those that are interested.
Thanks Paul
More news as of 16th December.
I am going into hospital on the 19th December for a shoulder op to try and get some movement in my right shoulder. I will be in for 4 nights, then in a plaster jacket for 6 weeks with my right shoulder and arm immobilised. Yuk. After that there will be about 10 weeks rehab. Soooo... I reckon I will be back in the shop in March. Just in time for all your spring services etc..
Keep sending the emails - I try to reply as soon as poss. Otherwise, things are progressing. My left hand is getting better and I can walk about 200 yards without too much pain.
Thanks to everyone for your support and good wishes. Please think of Fiona on Boxing Day and if you have time light a candle for her around 10.30 - she love candles so this would be appropriate. I will post a message when I know how the op went.
Latest as of 7th March '10.
The op on my shoulder was pretty successful. I now have some extra movement - hell, I can even shake your hand! It wasn't without its traumas tho'. At one point I was rushed into hospital with a suspected stroke; but that turned out to be total exhaustion due to my not sleeping because of the plaster cast. Anyway, next op is a revision on my left hand to try and get the fingers moving a bit more. That, hopefully, will be the last op!
I am now looking at late April / early May for a return to the workshop on a part time basis. I will keep you posted. Please keep the emails coming or text me on 07795 420658.
Once again, a big thanks for all your kind support. I think some sort of open day in the summer might be in order,eh?
See you all soon.