Archive for category Life
Ellie and Arthur
Jun 8
Ellie, our Bernese Mountain dog, has been wonderful with little Arthur.
Billy, the Burmese cat, on the other hand has not been quite so accepting…..!
Ed and Arthur
Jun 8
2 handsome Fletchers!
I post this picture of Arthur and I with him aged around 7 days old. You will see that he fits nicely onto my pal when I am sitting in my wheelchair and due to his range of movements at this age he is quite safe there. However one week on and he is getting bigger and more problematically more active in his range of movements – a ‘Plan B’ may have to be thought of soon when transporting the little guy!
MA success
Jun 8
I have just received the great news that I have been awarded a Distinction in passing my MA in Developing Professional Practice from Lancaster University. I am delighted as the course was based around change management and it was necessary to apply all knowledge to your working environment; in my case Fletchers Solicitors. Studying part time was not straightforward but an understanding wife made all the difference when evenings and weekends had to be devoted to the paperwork!
Syrinx/meningitis
Dec 23
Well, it has been quite some time since I have written a post however I do have a genuine excuse! Over the course of this year I had been experiencing odd physical changes which I could not explain – increased spasms, sweating below the level of spinal cord inury ( T9/10) and pain above the level of my paralysis. After an MRI scan I was found that I had a fluid filled sack ( called a syrinx) in my spinal cord just above the site where the sever occurred 9 years ago. It was decided that an operation was desirable at this stage to firstly try to stop the progress of the syrinx and symptoms and secondly hopefully improve the symptoms and shrink the syrinx by allowing the CSF ( cerebo-spinal fluid) to flow more freely.
The spinal surgery went ahead on 23rd September but there were complications meaning I lost a lot of blood and the original procedure was substituted by necessity for a more invasive one.
2 weeks later I fell extremely ill, the operative wound burst and cerebo-spinal fluid was leaking freely. I found I had contracted post operative meningitis. I was immediately put on 3 weeks IV antibiotics and a drain inserted in my spine for 2 weeks. A second spinal surgery operation was carried out.
I am delighted to say I am feeling much better now, gradually spending more hours work and increasing the time I spend in my wheelchair.
A few kind words
Sep 1
I attach some really nice comments received in a card from a tetraplegic client on settlement of his claim yesterday. It really does make my job so rewarding……
“Ed,
It’s hard to put into words just how grateful I am for all you have done, not just for me, but my family and those close to me. Calling you after that accident has proved to be one of the wisest decisions of my life. We both know had I gone anywhere else I wouldn’t have come anywhere close to that amount. However it wasn’t just about the outcome, over the two year duration you have been of great support and comfort and would always put me at ease when we spoke. As a lawyer you were outstanding and professional. You were concerned, caring and determined to getting me the best result always with my best interests at heart and I think that more than anything has meant the most to me.
So a huge heartfelt thank you Ed, not just from me but from all those you’ve helped without even knowing.
You’re a top bloke.
Thank you
Joe Hennigan”
Dog in a Dishwasher
Aug 29
the title says it all! Ellie loves jumping in it for some reason.
Health
Jul 29
In the past couple of months my health hasn’t been as super as I would have liked. Increased spasms, neurological pain, sweating under the level of paralysis and sometimes fever symptoms have all left me lethargic and unable to train at the intensity I would like. Therefore – with a very heavy heart- I have had to pull out of the England Disabled team for the National Triathlon Relay Championships in Nottingham next weekend and the London Triathlon the week after. This was an extremely difficult decision for me to come to however whilst the North West Spinal Injuries Centre investigate the root cause of these problems I have been advised not to push myself physically and in any event I have not been fit enough to prepare correctly for the competitions. This is a frustration of my compromised functionality but I am sure I will be back in full training in no time.
Puppy
Jul 29
A week last Saturday we were able to pick up a new addition to the Fletcher household, a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy called ‘Ellie’. Lucy took the week off to look after her and Ellie has fitted in without any fuss and appears to be well behaved ( well as much as a 7 week old pup can be!). It is going to be a challenge training her to enable me to take her out in my wheelchair for walks due to the size she will grow to however it is a test I relish! I shall of course post photos and provide updates.
MA update
Jun 2
On my final assessment (before the dissertation to be handed in by mid-November) I scored 71 % which is just in the ‘distinction’ category. Just enough to get my competitive juices flowing, to get me to throw an extra amount of effort at doing a great job with the final project – game on!