My Bonus Birthday
by mikef, under Update by Mike
Welcome all to my second post. In this post I wanted to try and thank everyone who has helped me get to this point. From the events that have been relayed to me of my first 12 days this would be an impossible task without missing anyone.
So rather than attempt to do this please take this e-mail as heartfelt thanks to the people that helped me including the ambulance officers, doctors and friends and of course family that are the reason that I am here today so thank you, thank you, thank you.
I have been humbled by the wonderful assistance and the willingness of my friends to move heaven and earth to help my lovely wife and my daughter to manage this ordeal. I simply have been unable to believe the way people respond to such adversity and help people in need. I cannot possibly describe my gratitude even close to how I feel so please just take this as thank you as I know you have helped our wonderful family.
I’m not yet familiar with the full response of the community of my cycling friends, work colleagues, mother’s group friends, triathlon friends, university friends, and school friends but I’ve certainly had communication and some wonderful encounters with friends I have not seen for years. It has been overwhelming and wonderful relief from the daily grind of getting this wretched body going again.
I’m now well settled into the rehabilitation routine and am enjoying the small improvements that my body is making everyday. There are some wonderful signs with my body with some movement in my legs, abdominal muscles, and even my thumbs. I’m aiming to make the most of any movement I get in any limb. It requires a lot of effort and most of all patience. You would not believe the concentration it takes to move a muscle that used to move of its own volition just 1 mm. it is so rewarding when you focus your mind and get something to move that has not moved for two months. This condition is about setting a new baseline for your body and celebrating every little achievement like it is the biggest achievement in your life. It has been very helpful to have some past achievements of mine to compare this to. As silly as my small achievements seem, they must be celebrated. I’m not trying to pretend that all these achievements are my own. Despite breaking my neck in two places, I certainly have been a little lucky with my injury. My injury is giving me a chance to use parts of my body again. I intend making the most of this chance.
Before completing this message, you would not believe the thanks owe to my family. My wife, has been simply amazing as a lot of you already know. Quite simply I owe her my life. My lovely mother and father and my parents in law have basically given their lives away for long enough for me to get back on track. The love I feel for all of them is amazing. Families are wonderful and don’t forget your own as you read this message. During this ordeal my grandfather has passed away. My grandfather died at the age of 96. Certainly a very full innings to say the least. He lived life to the absolute fullest and everyday was a fantastic day. As sad as I am to have missed his funeral I’m taking the spirit in which he lived his life and applying it to my own.
This Sunday is my 36th birthday and to celebrate my first bonus birthday we plan on having a nice quiet barbecue at the rehabilitation center. If you would like to attend please feel free to drop in from 11:30 onwards. Come and say hi and have a snag and maybe some cake if there is any left.
Regards,
Forbesy.
email: Michael@monichael.com.au
August 24th, 2008 on 9:09 pm
We all love you Mike, Moni and Ash.
Love Lexie, Simon, Lily and Seb
August 24th, 2008 on 11:26 pm
Hey Mike,
Nice to see you taking control of the website. Also really encourgaing to hear there’s more and more improvement. Looking forward to coming and seeing you again soon mate. Off OS for a few weeks, but will be back in soon after I get back. Happy happy birthday man. Hope the BBQ is a great day. Wish I could be there for it.
Keep smashing the OTs and physios, set your own path and work their asses off man.
Woodsy
August 25th, 2008 on 9:00 am
Hey Mike,
I am stocked to read about your amazing progress. Mary and I are away in Canada, and have thought about how you are progressing regularly. I look forward to seeing you again when we return. It is an understatement to suggest that your approach is inspiring. Take care.
Best regards,
>Steve
August 25th, 2008 on 1:30 pm
You beauty Mike. Can I help you cook? Surely we can come up with more than a snag. Not sure if the VB airline will allow me to carry some of the Hornsby Award Winning snags. How Italian would you like the hamburgers? Guess it will have to be a red. Just work on the thumb – finger coordination bit to roll over the tasty morsels and control the tipple. By Sunday you will then be 0.589% of what I am but still gaining. By the way, Swans were definitely not a good bet. Only two from nine and without a win over a top 8. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Love Dad.
August 25th, 2008 on 6:35 pm
Happy Birthday Fops! Wonderful to hear from you again. I hope the snags tasted sweet and the VB divine (!?). We’ll have a quiet pint for you and your family here in Bristol tonight,
Mel (George, Laura and Sophie) xx
August 25th, 2008 on 7:11 pm
PS Oops! A week ahead of myself – makes a nice change! We’ll still have those pints tonight, and next week too. x
August 25th, 2008 on 9:01 pm
There is absolutely no doubt Michael you are an inspiration. Following your progress closely on this website and am so proud of the oldest son of my dear school friend Les. I attended your grandfathers funeral and your words were beautiful – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. You know he taught me to body surf at the age of 14 with great patience – I was straight off the farm and had no idea about surf and stuff. Take care Mike – my prayers are with you
Love Di Dixon
August 25th, 2008 on 11:09 pm
Absolutely huge Mike. Great that you were able to get out and go to your favourite breakfast haunt. Love to you all.
The Clarkies and Yvonne
August 26th, 2008 on 1:10 pm
Hey Michael
Happy Bonus Birthday! Your posts have made me smile. In typical Virgo-an style you won’t rest until your body reaches the new perfectionistic standards you’ve no doubt set yourself. Well done to you.
I’m in Melbourne town on Friday so if your schedule permits we might try to squeeze in a visit.
Love, Bec
PS- it was my birthday too on the weekend. The big 3-0!
August 26th, 2008 on 4:43 pm
Can’t wait to celebrate with you on Sunday! You amaze me more and more every day – keep up the excellent work.
Love Jacquie
August 26th, 2008 on 6:23 pm
A truly inspiring post Mike. Did you type all of it?? Hope so.
So glad the party tricks are contimuing to come on a regular basis.
We really look forward to catching up with you on your birthday.
Love’nkisses
Vani and Tim
August 27th, 2008 on 7:03 am
Dear Mike,
I have been busy writing teaching programs and hadn’t caught up with your site for a week or so. This morning I remembered that it is your birthday on Sunday(same as my dad’s was) and read your lovely message.
So Happy Birthday brave spirit!
Love Libby
August 27th, 2008 on 11:03 pm
Hi Mike, it’s terrific to read about your continuing progress. Your so called ‘small’ achievements are inspiration for us all. We’re looking forward to catching up with you on Sunday. The boys are both drawing abstract pieces for you to accompany your excellent Humpty drawing.
August 27th, 2008 on 11:28 pm
Once again – keep up the good work Forbsey. Your website is always well worth a visit – there’s so many great stories and comments here from both friends and strangers. It’s a nice to read.
Hope you had a great birthday on the weekend!
FYI – MTC duathlon is on this weekend – no race for me because I am not really training since the birth of our boy. Will go down and watch Conquest try to win though. You keep up your hard work!
August 28th, 2008 on 3:13 pm
Your 24/08 post brought a tear to the eye. You and your family are very strong and your so called ‘small’ achievements are bigger than most have to face so they are huge in my books. Keep up the great progess and have a good 1st bonus b’day.
August 29th, 2008 on 1:13 pm
Mike,
Your recent post was so inspiring and uplifting. I was truly touched by its focus, reality and humility.
Those of us in Sydney who know and care are a bit out of touch, but do think about you a lot and are amazed at your progress and the will to journey on. Ian Shiels passes on his best to you. I hope to be down soon to Melbourne and will stop by to visit.
August 30th, 2008 on 2:26 pm
Dear Mike,Mon and Ash,
Sorry but I cant make it on Sunday, but I do wish you, Mike, all the best for the day….and all of the days that will follow in this journey of life. You are so right when you say that you are blessed with your family, your wife Mon and of course Ash (who is growing up so quickly). Enjoy the day and see you soon. Cheers Russell and Virginia.
August 30th, 2008 on 3:43 pm
Whilst we can’t be with you tomorrow Mike, our love and best wishes are with you, for an enjoyable day with family and friends.
No doubt Ash is going to be very excited, so we all hope that excitement is spread amongst all present.
Have a great day.
The Congdons
August 30th, 2008 on 8:41 pm
Happy Birthday Mike. Your wonderful mum and I were best friends and room mates at Teacher’s College at Wagga all those years ago. Although we have not seen each other all that much over the ensuing 40 years we have kept in touch by mail, and lately email. We have shared the many highlights of our lives and in particular the great joy our children and grandchildren have brought us. I therefore feel I know you and Sally and Peter and have celebrated your many milestones and achievements over the years.
Lesley let me know of your accident in early August and I wept for you as if you were my own. I now log in several times a week and am blown away by your incredible progess over the past 4 weeks and your wonderful spirit. You are not your mum and dad’s son for nothing are you? The love that is surrounding you can be felt through your web page. Have a special day surrounded by those you love and please give your mum an extra special kiss and smile for me.
August 31st, 2008 on 1:36 pm
Hey mate, Happy birthday!
August 31st, 2008 on 7:11 pm
Hi Mike Moni & Ash
Happy birthday Mike. Hope you have had a great day surrounded by family & friends for your 36th. Great to see your continued improvement via the web site. Must have been great to venture back to the outside world for a few hours and not staring at the same 4 walls .
Bet you mum & dad are glad swannies are playing the kangaroos and not the magpies in next weekends finals. Hopefully they can finally beat a team in the top 8. A case of have to from here on in!
Enjoy the rest of your day and the life in front of you as you move forward.
All our love Auntie BEV & Uncle ROSS
August 31st, 2008 on 7:15 pm
Hi Michael and Monica
Long time! Happy Birthday Michael. I caught up with Chambo after the Swanies game last night. Jane and I are travelling to Melbourne late October so hopefully we’ll be able to catch up. Isabella is now 7 and doing well. I’m still umpiring and teaching. We hope you are getting better daily.
Frank & Jane
August 31st, 2008 on 9:31 pm
Happy birthday Mike ! Thinking of you today…hope it’s a good one.
August 31st, 2008 on 10:18 pm
Hello Mike,hope you had a good Birthday today,thinking of you and hope the small pieces are still coming together.
God Bless
Love Lorna G.
Rockhampton. The Beef Capital of Australia.
September 1st, 2008 on 12:30 pm
Hi to Mike’s readers from his Mum
Yesterday was an emotional celebration with Mike recognising the significance of his close shave with a much grimmer outcome. He was honoured to see so many of his friends take the time to be with him for his birthday. Bruce, Pete and Lorian and I were here to share this time and his parents-in-law were here too. Over the weekend Mike and Moni have spent the time in an independent living unit attached to the Centre. It has given them real joy to have this time to themselves. This morning Mike has this joy in his eyes with the change in institutional living after more than nine weeks hospitalised.
September 1st, 2008 on 2:30 pm
Lesley great to see your posting about yesterday it must have been a memorable time for everyone. May there be many more memorable times ahead.
September 1st, 2008 on 11:51 pm
Hi Mike,
So sorry to hear about your accident. I’ve been reading your blog though and you look like you are making the most of a bad situation. Well done you – nothing less than expected.
My thoughts are with you and your fam. Take care and Happy Birthday!
Kate
September 2nd, 2008 on 4:42 pm
Hi Mike, We are a little late with birthday wishes but can see you had a great day with your beautiful family and friends.
We read regularly about your progress and nothing you achieve really surprises us; you are a Forbes afterall.
Our love and best wishes are with you
Mon and Ash.
Take care and a belated Happy Birthday, Linda and John Bagley
September 4th, 2008 on 8:08 pm
Dear Mike and Mon
We heard about your accident through Julia S. and words cannot express our shock at this terrible news. We are so sorry.
We have, though, spent some time going through your website and your optimism and positive attitude really shines through. You have made amazing progess over such a short time and are totally inspirational in your outlook.
You are in our thoughts and we wish you both the best.
Love – Linda and Anthony
September 11th, 2008 on 4:24 pm
I know Adele and jackie and Andy have already sent our very best wishes to you all but being so far away up here in the top end I just wanted to send another message from us letting you know that our thoughts are with you often, wishing you all the very best for your recovery and the all the strength and patience it takes to ‘make it happen’
jodie cook and family