Ritchy Update.
Posted: 13 Oct 2015, 22:20This Just posted on Facebook from Ritchy:
"I finally am awake it's now 6pm Monday 28th September..only to find I am totally paralysed and unable to speak a word ...I knew this was coming so had prepared a simple code 1 twitch of my finger was yes ..2 twitches for no. ..and 3 twitches for water. It felt like my world was totally trapped in this motionless body, in which I could hear everything going on around me and had the sense of feeling and movement in all my limbs..I lay in this state for the next four days..frustrated oh yes I was..desperately trying to move and speak....then on the fourth night about 3.00 am the words B..Bev just popped out but it was very slurred speech at least it was a starting point. Then I was transferred from Southampton Nuro hospital to St Richards the only bed they had available is on the Alzheimer's ward where I speak from right now...how appropriate I thought to myself..I now know how it feels to be trapped in your own body..slowly over the next few days I got movement in both arms and only one leg...got myself a brand new shiny wheelchair ..but I was warned this could happen it's the risk I took..so life in the Chichester Hotel is all good they are moving me on Thursday or Friday to the Donald Wilson rehab unit still within the hospital..where I will be until my other legs functions properly ..so finally a very big thank you to all of the 1000 + of you who sent me cards and best wishes...and a very special thank you goes to Mr Paul Grundy the surgeon who literally saved my life..and today I had the great news that it all was benign ..clear from cancer... My left and right hand coordination has still got to come back so it's going to be next year you will all see Steve (who is out of action awaiting a hip op) and myself back out playing again in theatre land..love and thanks xxxxx"
"I finally am awake it's now 6pm Monday 28th September..only to find I am totally paralysed and unable to speak a word ...I knew this was coming so had prepared a simple code 1 twitch of my finger was yes ..2 twitches for no. ..and 3 twitches for water. It felt like my world was totally trapped in this motionless body, in which I could hear everything going on around me and had the sense of feeling and movement in all my limbs..I lay in this state for the next four days..frustrated oh yes I was..desperately trying to move and speak....then on the fourth night about 3.00 am the words B..Bev just popped out but it was very slurred speech at least it was a starting point. Then I was transferred from Southampton Nuro hospital to St Richards the only bed they had available is on the Alzheimer's ward where I speak from right now...how appropriate I thought to myself..I now know how it feels to be trapped in your own body..slowly over the next few days I got movement in both arms and only one leg...got myself a brand new shiny wheelchair ..but I was warned this could happen it's the risk I took..so life in the Chichester Hotel is all good they are moving me on Thursday or Friday to the Donald Wilson rehab unit still within the hospital..where I will be until my other legs functions properly ..so finally a very big thank you to all of the 1000 + of you who sent me cards and best wishes...and a very special thank you goes to Mr Paul Grundy the surgeon who literally saved my life..and today I had the great news that it all was benign ..clear from cancer... My left and right hand coordination has still got to come back so it's going to be next year you will all see Steve (who is out of action awaiting a hip op) and myself back out playing again in theatre land..love and thanks xxxxx"