Dear Friiends

[seawitch]

I just wrote three paragraphs when I. Explorer closed on me due to some "error". Too many popups and spyware.It was detailed too.

Quick recap: I shall pass the warm wishes and prayers on to Sue when i call her tomorrow.
Cat is working on emails this weekend.
Poor Sue, what she is going through.
Andrew can barely raise his hand (shakey at best), one side of his face is frozen. speech affected.
He's been pushing it too far, stubborn man that he is. He told me that the Doctors and Sue has been after him to slow down and not work so hard. Owning an architectural firm keeps him busy.
I suspect it will be some time before he returns.
Now in retrospect, he was going away from the discussion boards for a few days; said he wasn't feeling well. He may have been having what is referred to as a silent stroke or mini stroke. He complained of a headache. I hope balloon catheter works to expand collapsed blood vessel in his brain.

[seawitch]

Hi Lily and Steve,

Cat here (Andrew's daughter), sending an email on his behalf.

Lily - we got your phone message - thanks for that.
I was going to email you before, but then I think you spoke to my mum the same day, and she told you where we were up to at that point (Fri)

Dad remains in hospital, and is expected to stay there for about another week. The stroke was a mild one, and although it has effected the left side of his body, he still has speech and general movement, and we are seeing signs of daily improvement in his face and the use of his left arm. The doctors have said that given time (but not how much!) they are optomistic that dad should regain the full use of the effected areas. He hasn't been allowed to walk yet, but seems reasonably confident that when he does, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, but this remains to be seen.

Steve - Dad made me aware of his plans to meet you in London on the 12th December, and obviously he is still very keen to keep this appointment if at all possible. However until he has been given the chance to walk around, and has seen the physio/doctors about his recovery etc, we won't be able to say for definite. I'm really sorry about this, as I know that you changed your travel plans in order to see Dad.

The doctors should be round tomorrow (Mon), and I will email you both again as soon as we have any news. I hope that this puts your minds at rest in terms of Dad's general condition.

As this is Dad's email, (and mum doesn't have one!) I'll try to check it every couple of days, and as I say, I'll be back on to give you any updates asap.

Until then, God bless you both, and I send you love and greetings on behalf of my parents.

Cat.

[roux]

I was away all weekend...I feel a little shell shocked. Wasn't expecting that. You know you're in my heart and in my prayers, Andrew. And your family too. We miss you...and so does the open road. Top down, music up. You've got a lot of horizon still yet to see.
**A Texas Sized Hug for the English Knight**

[VicBlack]

Originally posted by Shenlong
All this isnt good enough.


I wanna see Andrewblow back on here talking with us like he normally would.

Well Shen - it sounds like he is going to okay tho, and I bet he'll be back in several days.

[old-reb]

God of Love, your Son became man and acted not only as a physician of souls but also as a healer of physical and mental illness. We ask you to cure Andrew if it is in accord with your plan for him. Enable him to serve you with a healthy body and mind. May he strive for Christian perfection, helped by your grace, for your greater glory and honor and for the advantage of Russia.com. Amen.

old reb

[seawitch]

After speaking with Sue for a bit, I called Wycombe hospital and was put through to Andrew. He sounded weak but he is doing much better. He shall be there until Monday next then off to Amersham (in Buckinghamshire) for a few days of physio-therapy to regain full use of his left hand.
I suggested he practice on his base guitar as the finger exercises will be beneficial. He said he will do that when he returns home.

He sounds very well on the phone. He has regained much control of his speech back and Sue mentioned that you could barely notice it over the phone. His left side was affected.
Today was the first day they allowed him to walk. He says he feels fine, but his voice shows the strain.

He sends his thanks for your concern (actually his voice broke upon hearing how you all have banded together and showed that you care). He is deeply touched at your concern.

As for Bill, his reply was tell him "believe it"...and he said nothing more on the subject.

Here are the details of what caused his mild stroke.

Andrew has been on Warfarin for years (blood thinners). The new medication that was prescribed to him to get his heart back to it's natural rythmn is called Amniodairone. It is supposed to keep his heart palpatations under control. That drug has its side affects too. Apparently the Amniodairone combined with the Warfarin caused too much bleeding and it caused the damage to the blood vessels in his brain. It is classified as a stroke according to his doctors. They were supposed to do some follow up tests while he was taking the aforementioned drug. They didn’t. Anyway, the prognosis looks good. Sue did the right thing to take him immediately to hospital before more damage took place. She said that the Doctor’s were going to do a “Tony Blair” on him (stopping the heart and restarting it with electroshock paddles) to get the sinus rhythm back to normal if the medication didn’t work .

Andrew told me he is anxious to get back to work and is bored to pieces. Friends have been bringing him magazines and he has a little tv/telephone hooked up to his hospital bed. The television keeps the boredom at bay.

He is in Ward 5-B with 7 other patients. I asked how he sleeps…his reply “with earplugs” hheheheheeh (he hasn’t lost his sense of humor). He also sends his love and can’t wait to get back on the boards. What ticks him off is that the little tv has the capability for internet access to, for example Hotmail but the hospital hasn’t bothered to hook up to the internet. (He is able to type with his other hand.)

I shall give him a call again day after tomorrow to see how he is progressing.

Hugs,
Lilly
p.s. Shenlong, He wants to know if you are still an Atheist.

[CitizenOfWorld]

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