Back on the bike …..
by Mike, under Update by Mike
A busy couple of days so not much time to post anything.
Lots of visitors on Friday and then over the weekend too, so thanks to everyone who came in — especially the lovely Julie who came equiped with lots of yummy treats and who managed to get Ash to play and talk to her! See – Miracles are possible!
A good day for Mike today, he’s still resting his weary shoulders and just trying to spend a bit more time each day in the chair. He has mastered the art of “what’s the time Mr Wolf” even though Ash thought it was a ‘leg game’.
Last Thursday Talbot received a FES bike for trial which we had been looking at for Mike anyway. They use electrical stimulation to trigger muscle groups in an order such that you can “pedal” the bike with your arms or legs. You sit in the wheelchair and roll up the machine, get hooked up and off you go. Mike managed 15 mins on his arms last week – video to follow shortly and 15 mins today with his legs — surely there is some muscle memory there and they will just start peddling on their own???
Suffice to say that Mike felt and looked much better after a spot of ‘exercise’. It must have been good for him – he ate for Australia that night. He has already been hassling the physio’s to get use of it each day. If not, we have to buy one for his room! On another good front, they are doing some tests that mean he might be a step closer to hydro – that damn super bug they gave him in hospital seems to be a bit of a stumbling block at the moment so fingers crossed all.
Most importantly … on to a HUGE list of thankyous: Danny for organising pickup and availability of some fantastic items for auction at the recent SKCC ball, SKCC committee for letting us auction said items at the ball, Spoken for donating a frame and jersey for auction, Giant for donating a bike, Matt Lloyd for signing and sending over a jersey for auction, Firinn (by Chloe Elizabeth) for some wonderful jewellery pieces, the fundraising committee for all their time to date, Jules, Lorian and Pete for whipping up some brochures at the last second, the Belgian Beer Cafe for buying the frame and giving it back for us to re-auction, Pro-Motion for buying the jersey and donating it to Mike — it is up on his wall at the Talbot and gives him a huge lift — youandiride.com for donating a pro-ride day which was a huge crowd pleaser, and Baden Cook for offering to come on the ride day with the highest bidder. Oh, and to the SKCC club champ (who shall remain nameless) who allowed himself to be auctioned off for a blind date! Also a massive thankyou to Inner Circle and ANZ for their amazing and humbling contributions. And of course a huge thankyou to all the people I have forgotten to include here. The usual suspects who just hang out and keep us company so that Talbot doesn’t seem so much like a hospital, to Harri, Chris and Scott for the fantastic work they are doing with Mike, and to those who keep cooking for us. And to all of you who keep posting messages of support – thanks!
Ash and I did our first ‘normal’ think since Mike’s accident yesterday when we took Charli to the park and for a play. She loved it so might have to make sure I do that a little bit more often over the coming weeks.
The OT’s are heading out here on Wednesday to check out what modifications we need to do to the house so better race off and de-clutter! Look out neighbours — stray pieces of furniture and some boxes might be landing at your place tomorrow in an attempt to make the house look wheelchair friendly!
And lastly a confession ….. I had trouble working out how to post messages on the site (to those of you I work with, this in fact will not be at all surprising) so the catchy, journalistic titles are all thanks to Sparky (Mark Mathews) and nothing to do with me. I am sorry to say that I will fail dismally but hopefully Sparky will come over the top and tidy up my poor attempts!
August 19th, 2008 on 12:22 am
Hey Forbesy – reckon if they had a FES bike category on the velodrome at Beijing, you’d have a better crack at it than our mob over there right now. At least I know you’d beat those poms! Cheers Sparky
August 19th, 2008 on 11:24 am
Hi Mon. You are truly an amazing person and you really inspire me. Thinking about you lots as well as Mike and Ash. Even though I’ve never met Mike, I track his progress regularly on this website and hope the very best for you and your family.
August 19th, 2008 on 12:32 pm
Monica Karen – you may be confess to being a nuff nuff with technology. However, those that work with you know that you are a complete superhero.
August 19th, 2008 on 6:36 pm
Well well well Forbsie you have touched many people with your POSITIVE attitude. I was in a meeting today and a guy sked me how I was and I sid ‘fantastic’. He said why ? So i explained about friend who had a cycling accident .. two other guys said ‘are you talking about michael forbes’ I said yes. They said that guy is amazing, we saw his website on the weekend and he has blown us away ! Please keep everyone updated with your website it will make people sit up and take notice of not only what you are doing but what they can do themselves.
I rememeber you saying one day, after you had won that cycling race in the northern suburbs, “that this cycling is easy I just rode away and finished first’ .. well mate that is nothing to what you are doing now. You will blow the rehab people away with what you will do … they too will be amazed.
keep positive, you have changed the way I approach each day.
cheers peter.
August 20th, 2008 on 3:45 pm
Hi Mon,
You have touched so many peoples hearts here at the ANZ and we wish you, ash and Mike all the best for this recovery period. All our love and support from the ANZ CDS team. “Live strong” as Lance Armstrong says…..I actually wear hi armband just to remind me that every day…..opsi, I do hope Mike was a fan of lance……..I love his book “its not about the bike”.
Take care and keep up your amazing passion and love. Anything is possible Luv jacs
August 20th, 2008 on 10:45 pm
Hi Mike, Mon and Ash,
Have been thinking about you guys every day since we heard the news. Your progress has been amazing and logging into your website has become a highlight of the day. The girls (Maddison 9, Gabrielle 6 and Amily 3) keep you in their prayers every night before bed. Even Amily does her best… “Dear God, Pray that Pete’s brover gets better… and I have a good day at Kindy tomorrow. AMEN!”
So, guys, each and everyone of us is behind you all the way!!!
Love Leesa, Barry, Maddison, Gabrielle & Amily. xox.
August 21st, 2008 on 12:35 pm
Hi Michael,
I have been following your progress through this website since I heard about your accident.
It really does seem that you haven’t changed much in all of those years since high school! Still super motivated, super determined and I imagine super stubborn! (All of those traits I envied during our years of ‘competition’ in economics!)
Michael, you truly are inspirational and it sounds like you have surrounded yourself with wonderful people. Your wife Mon and your daughter Ash are gorgeous.
I have every confidence that you will continue to inspire and amaze as you negotiate this ‘bump’ in the road as only it seems you could do.
I look forward to following your continuing progress Mike!
Cheers,
Kellie Bousfield (nee Langfield)
MAHS 1990
August 21st, 2008 on 2:14 pm
Hey mate, glad to hear it’s going well. Sorry I haven’t been in for a bit…will come and visit as soon as I’m back from Noosa at the end of next week. Really cool to see you writing your own entries now. They’ve got you-tube blcoked at the hospital here…can’t understand why!! Keep hard at it and I’ll see you soon,
Mitch
August 22nd, 2008 on 11:00 am
Hi Mike and Family
This is just a quick note on behalf of the Cooks as we have only recently been made aware of your situation. After mum speaking with your Dad I have had the chance to check out your website. Have shed some tears for you all and no doubt will do again once Mum and Dad get a chance to come and have a look too. As no technology in their house, lucky if Dad masters the DVD!! Our love, thoughts and best wishes are sent to you all. Have recently read “The Rose Boys”. Dad gave it to me as it is a great read. Of course Collingwood is involved, but to see this family, they were unbelievable with what they went through. It is a credit to you all, you are a wonderful family, an inspiration to all and it is an honour to even know you. Again our well wishes are sent your way. Keep your spirits high we are all backing you. Lots of Love Adele, Andy, Jackie, Jodie and Dale and our extended families xoxox
August 22nd, 2008 on 9:30 pm
Hi Forbesy,
I heard about the accident a while ago, and while you have often been in my thoughts it has taken me until now to be able to put some of them into words.
Firstly, I need to honestly acknowledge my own feelings of shock and sadness in response to the news. I mourned the loss of your physical ability. I felt the discomfort of trying to imagine how I would respond if I was in your situation. It is tempting for me to avoid writing this – to only be positive – but I felt it was an important place to start.
Having said that, I’m now grateful to have the opportunity to pass on a long overdue thanks that I owe you. It stems back to the time we worked together at Smith’s Snackfoods in 1995/96. I was immediately struck by your response to the standard greeting of “Good Morning, how are you?” – which is so often said without much regard for the answer (which in my case was typically “Not too bad”). Your enthusiastic “Fantastic!” has stayed with me not just because of the energy with which it was offered – but because it was clear you had made the choice to be fantastic. That simple moment has stayed with me and I often remind myself that I have the choice to decide how I feel.
I saw an article in last weekend’s paper ( 16/8/2008 Sydney Morning Herald Good Weekend magazine). It was by Deborah Snow about Anna Donald – a doctor who discovered in February 2007 she was riddled with cancer. While cancer is quite a different situation than your own, I thought you might find her spirit and attitude interesting. The following is an extract from the article…
“Donald is greatly inspired by Ian Gawler, the Australian authority on mind/body medicine, who is now a friend and correspondent. He recovered from a cancer deemed totally incurable by his doctors nearly 30 years ago, relying heavily on meditation, diet and an encounter with an Indian spiritual healer.
“If it wasn’t for his example, I would be much more inclined to say, ‘Well, it’s all very well, this stuff, but show me!’ The fact is he actually demonstrated that it was possible. And you only need one example, one thing that you can’t explain but can’t refute, and you have to think, ‘Well, how can that be?”
She admits she cannot know at this stage what is working. “So far I’m defying the odds. I should have died last year, statistically. I am not disputing that the chemo, and radiation and hormone treatments are why I am alive. But I am also open to the possibility that they are not the only reason I am still alive.”
…
“I do want to live, I do not want to die. I’m 42!” she says in a voice that is half mock protest, half the real thing. “But when I thought I really was dying, it was fine. It was better than fine. It’s a bloody adventure, it’s unpredictable. But I’ve come to realise experientially, rather than intellectually, that the only time that exists is now. And trying to make ‘now’ as good as I can – that’s a real achievable goal while I’m alive.”
Best wishes,
Michael Weiling
September 12th, 2008 on 2:55 pm
Hi Michael Family & Friends,
I stumbled upon this ‘blog’ when searching for some links to the Anna Donald story in the Good weekend – I wanted to email them to a friend of mine who is living with Motor Neurone disease – who like Anna has written about her disease – and who like you Michael has a very positive attitude to her ‘predicament/illness’- the book is called ‘Legless in the Garden’ see reviews etc at:
http://books.lulu.com/content/1646698
Any way all the best with your rehab you are very lucky to have your family and friends around you and keep up the positive attitude.
Best regards
Larnich