Eastern Europe Trip

It's now two weeks since the accident, so it seems appropriate to reflect on events since we returned back to England last Monday...

Tracy has been made comfortable in hospital as the medical experts in the "Pain Team" (yes, they really call themselves that... I'm now considering a career move, as I like the idea of replying "I'm a member of the Pain Team" to the question about what I do for a living!) have got her pain under control. This means a number of separate pain-killers, each aimed at targeting a specific type of pain. She's still in some discomfort, especially during the 3-hourly "log rolls" where they roll her onto her side to sort out the bedding and make sure she's not developing bed sores, but nowhere near as much as she was in Slovakia.

The consultant finally came to discuss her case with us on Tuesday, and the bottom-line is that they don't want to operate on her back as there's a risk of further complications and infection, and it is much preferable in the long-run for her back to heal naturally. The broken vertebrae are in reasonable condition (ie not crushed) and in sufficient alignment to allow them to heal if she remains immobile. So she'll be on her back for the next 4 weeks before they repeat the scans and then they will look to fit a back-brace to hold her back in the right position to enable a full recovery.

The focus is now shifting from her back to her arm. We're now waiting for the consultant plastic surgeon to take a look at it and decide what course of treatment will be necessary. As with her back, the current opinion is that it is best to wait and see - to allow the skin that is still alive to recover and that which is not to become clearer. Only then will they be able to target the skin grafts sufficiently well, and to minimise the impact of the operations.

Her other injuries - the broken ribs in particular - are being left to heal naturally (as is normally the case with broken ribs).

She remains in good spirits, and is breathing much better, able to eat a little (which is difficult as she's lying flat on her back constantly).

As for me, my broken leg remains in a splint but is not too painful. I'm due back at the doctor's in 2 more weeks for a repeat x-ray, and expect to be off work for at least another 4-5 weeks. I'm currently unable to drive (or ride), so am totally dependant on Tracy's daughter Katie and my sister Nikki to run me to/from the hospital every day so I can see Tracy... and we're both really grateful for all the help we're getting.

We've both been heartened by all the messages of good wishes and the flowers we've received (although these can't be left at the hospital and my house now resembles a garden centre!).

It's going to be a long journey back to full health - particularly for Tracy - but we've started, and remain confident that this is one journey we will complete...