Dr Bashear announced I could be moved downstairs to rehab. It then took 3 of us to gather all my cards flowers and other bits together before I was stuck in a wheelchair and delivered to Ward 312 I’m sharing a ward with 3 others including a couple of familiar faces from the Stroke ward. Alf, Edward and Neville

Delay in getting hooked up to my food as there isn’t a machine handy on the ward

seems as if Karin sneaked off to Saltburn for the day with the dog yesterday. She brought me back this neat Iron nodule she picked up off the beach.

Today is the day for the Videoflouroscopy it seems everyone wants to come and watch. I'm perched in front of the x-ray machine while the Radiographer and Carol in their child friendly x-ray proof aprons position me and feed me milk shake and Barium at arms length with a two foot long metal spoon. i certainly cant reccomend the milk weetabix barium combination they also tried, it could have done with a bit of sugar on it!

Karin having a break from visiting today and supposedly going to visit a friend in Newark whilst Linda looks after Lottie and Dan.
Told off again for exceeding the 2 visitors at a time rule! Marc, Evie, Joe, Linda, Ellie, Isaac, Simon, Bet and Des. Si & Tom visit later on.

Another visit home this afternoon and Noel arrives to see me before he heads off to explore Captain Birdseye's Flo Selecta!

allowed home for the afternoon, although I'm not allowed to do anything its nice to be able to sit by the fire with the dog and play some board games with Lottie and Dan.

Carol the swallowing expert visits today and I'm back to 3 teaspoons of fruit puree but this time full spoons, plus some more exercises to do before. I'm no longer puffing out cheeks or blowing through straws but:
-gently massaging the right side of my face with a shaving brush in a circular motion from slow to fast
-using a pink sponge on a stick to brush the roof of my mouth on my right side
-yawning and turning my head to the left putting my chin down and swallowing

visitors today Jane, Paul Riley, Rachel, Dean, Karin, Kade, Linda and two Princesses!

visited by Karin, Brian Davidson, Ian, Chris and Mike and Lottie and Dan

Fruit puree intake increased to 10 1/2 teaspoons 3x a day
Visitors: Karin and Dan, Bet and Des, Dave Bond, and Linda

Finished a whole pot of apple puree today
visited by Karin, Ian and Karen

Visitors: Karin, Lottie and Dan, Chris Froggatt, Chris and Mike, Ian and Karen, Stuart Smith, & Tom

Managed to walk over for a window seat to watch the sunrise over sheffield from L1
Also managed to shower standing up. lots of progress today.
I'm told a bed is available in Derby for me so I'm pushed down into a waiting area in a wheelchair ready for when my transport arrives. No comfy ambulance this time though its a Medicab and i'm squeezed into a back seat behind some lady who spends the whole journey describing her complete medical history in great detail while I'm coughing on my own saliva in the back. A most unpleasant journey i just hope they cleaned the back out before picking up any other passengers.
Things improve as I have my own room in the Royal and Karin has redirected my visitors; Arms, Kade & Linda, Ian, Stefan and Sean

Managed to have a shower this morning sitting on a chair but its good progress, I'll no longer require those bed baths.

Visit from Olly all the way from Edinburgh via Train/Brompton and Dean, Karin and Fireman Stu

Making some progress walking unaided as far as my chair and starting to swallow but still nil by mouth. Today i am mostly sporting some lovely new stripey pjs courtesy of lottie :-)