Dearest Friends,
I just wanted to update you and to thank everybody for their wonderful cards and presents. This is the first e-mail that I’ve written (well John’s writing and I’m dictating/whispering) since I was admitted to Intensive Care (ICU) 5 weeks ago. Most of you know I’ve had unbelievably bad luck and have come down with Guillain-Barré syndrome following a tummy infection that has led to me being paralysed from the neck down. I’ve needed to be on a ventilator to help with my breathing.
It all started at the beginning of December. I initially thought I had ‘flu. I was presenting at a conference and feeling extremely tired and it was pointed out that I was having difficulty walking in high heels. The next symptom was that I couldn’t finish my supper at my favourite Thai restaurant. The following day I developed foot-drop, tingling fingers and weak arms. I had a suspicion what was wrong. I was due to go back to Paris that night (for the final month of my fantastic year doing research there) but luckily I didn’t. Alex Leff, John’s brother-in-law (and a consultant neurologist) confirmed my fears and I was admitted to the Royal Free hospital that night.
Following admission on the Sunday night, my weakness got dramatically worse and, for those of you who want to know, my vital capacity fell to 1.2 litres over about 16 hours. I was admitted to ICU, intubated and ventilated and, well, here I am. The first couple of weeks were the worst, with the combination of nerve pain, abnormal bowels and temperature control, and of course the weakness. I won’t go into more details for now but I think that in the last week, I have started to improve. I’m getting some control back in my legs and my right hand. My pain is under control and I’m generally feeling a little bit better. The next phase is all about recovery of my muscles as the myelin starts to be regenerated…..but this process is unbelievably slow. The first step I need to get through is getting off the ventilator.
As I’m sure you can all understand, I haven’t really been up to having visitors quite yet. Your cards and well wishes have really kept me going. It’s been so amazing and so lucky to be so near to my close family. John has been given time off from work, and to be honest without him here every day, I don’t know what I would have done.
When I am strong enough to get off the ventilator I hope I will go to the neurology ward here at the Royal Free, and ultimately I think the plan is for me to go to rehabilitation at Queen Square neurology hospital in town. I think while I’m on ICU I’m not really up to having many visitors, but hopefully I will after that- I can’t wait until that time!
Until then, it would be wonderful to hear what everyone’s up to. John is able to check my emails and he can bring me the printouts. I have to stay positive although to be honest, as you can imagine, it’s hard at times. The team of nurses and doctors here at the Royal Free have been absolutely amazing, and I can’t begin to tell you what it’s been like being ‘on the other side’ – I’ll save that for another e-mail.
This experience has just reinforced my love of life, and when I get out of here, there is so much I want to do. I’m sending everybody all my love, and for those of you that know John well enough please feel free to take him for a drink – I’m sure he needs it!
See you soon hopefully
All my love
Laura
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Hello my lovely Laura. Loving the blog idea - so very very you.
ReplyDeleteHave been thinking of you so much, and was thinking earlier about when I first met you. Was on the Tommies primary anaesthetic course, and I remember us sitting on the wall next to the Thames, having a crafty cig, and talking about photography...and I remember being so interested and fascinated by you.
Gosh, that was quite a long time ago now! But haven't we had fun in the meantime.
I'm so pleased that things are starting to get better. I can't imagine what it must be like for you. Ram's has been giving us regular updates. Totally understand that visitors are too much, but whenever it feels right for you, just say, and will be there.
Anyway, you ask about what we've all been up to....
Well, I've not been up to much really. Just went back to work last week after my cruciate surgery, and can't tell you how nice it was to get back. Was going quietly crazy spending too much time on my own. Lunching is all very well, but really, I think even I can lunch too much!! And there are only so many trash American TV shows that a girl can watch without starting to believe that actually she is a rich upper East Sider (Gossip Girls is very good if you're getting bored).
Anyway, will sign off now, but will be back with more gossip soon.
Much love, always,
Kate x x xx x x x x
I've never blogged before! But what a great idea. It has been really hard wanting to see you and give you a big hug, so this is a great option. I hope John has told you how much we have been thinking of you. I wish there was something more we could do, but for now will oblige by taking John out for drinks (Ferg), sending you more random toiletries (me) and looking forward to when you're out of ICU and we can visit.
ReplyDeleteWe're all back to the school routine: walking the children to their school and then cycling off to teach every day myself. The next few weeks are busy as about 60 of the children I teach are entering drama competitions so it's endless rehearsing and me nagging them to learn their lines...
Kiz has just auditioned for the musical Annie so we are being treated to her alternative versions of Tomorrow. She'll find out if she's got a part next week and is beside herself with excitement at the thought!!!
Archie is growing his hair long and to Ferg's delight has taken up cricket. Ferg fully expects him to open the batting for England one day!
Emma is a chatterbox and just wants to follow the older two around and do whatever they're doing, including 'her homework' every day!
Glad you've got internet access sorted; hope that keeps you from getting too bored while you recover.
You are in our thoughts loads. Hope to see you soon. Lots of love A xx
Laura, Laura, Lovely Laura,
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say?
My dear old chum, what the hell are you doing, you silly old fool?!
I've been out of my mind with worry since I found out through Jude about all this, just before Christmas. I
I wish I could be transported to your bedside, to bring you a plate of smoked salmon out of the blue, like you did for me in Bristol, a lifetime ago.
I just want you to know that we love and miss you and that your wonderful husband (who I am now kicking myself we didn't meet in Paris) sounds fabulous.
I'm not sure how these blog things work but I hope John is reading this to you, and is giving you an extra special hug and an extra special kiss from us.
It was my birthday the other day by the way... and all I could think about was us girls tarting ourselves up in Groove Villa, ready for my 21st in Lakota. And now I'm half way to 70!! Ha, ha, ha!!
I expect to see you grooving again soon, lady!
My biggest love to you, my dear fabulous friend xxx
Ems xxx
Dearest Laura,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to hear your news - it feels as though you are sitting beside me telling me all about it - and I hope you enjoy these messages from everyone as well.
We've been desperate to hear how you're doing and although it sounds horrendous I/we are so pleased to hear that things are slowly getting better - here's to things speeding up in the recovery process...
So what's been up with us? Rich has been working some sets of nights in the ICU, I've had flu (pretty pathetic in comparison with your saga), Ruari is getting more charming and mischievous each day (I wonder where he gets that from!) and Tana has had chicken pox!
We had friends with 6 girls staying over new year (7 down to 3 months) - quite different from our lovely time with you last new year but lots of fun as well!
I'm supposed to be working and Ruari is still running around so I'll sign off just now, but look forward to more updates and news soon.
Loads of love,
KRRT xoxoxoxox
Hi Laura
ReplyDeleteI have never done the facebook thing or a blog before but your current predicament (for want of a better expression) has spurred me into action!!
Like all of your friends, we were shocked and upset to hear what was going on. Our thoughts and best wishes have been with yourself and John especially over the difficult Christmas and New Year period when so much general merriment and happiness should be the order of the day. I hope from your comments and the fact that you have written to us all to update us (no mean feat on a ventilator with a trache tube!) that you are indeed on the road to recovery!
Anyway not sure whether you have heard but Simon and I have brought an apartment in a place called Les Praz which is a small village about 1 mile outside Chamonix in the French Alps. We only completed on this just before Xmas and moved some furniture in over the New Year. We still have a few things on order but we have our first guests, Mike, Fi, Cath and John coming over with us in a couple of weeks so it will put to the test.
We dearly hope that when you are feeling up to it that you and John can go and visit for some R & R in a beautiful place with some alpine air. You would both really love it, and in the summer when the flowers are out and the sun is warm it is just as lovely as in the winter when the snow and ice are on the ground!
As we were over in France at the New Year, we went and skied in Val d’Isere on New Years Eve with Hannah and Jonny and the others and then went and stayed with them in the chalet in St Foy for New Years Eve dinner which was lovely. Thanks for the bed by the way we slept in your room which was very nice. Hopefully you can get there another year and benefit from Nick and Nickies hospitality as well.
Now we are back to the reality of work and the realization that we have two mortgages to pay! Still at least it’s a type of pension plan that we can benefit from, from day 1 as can hopefully our family and friends.
Simon says hello and I am sure will write you a note or two as well as send you some pics of our new place. I have some lovely pictures taken at Emily and Jason’s wedding, especially one of you taking icecream from the icecream freezer! I will attempt to upload them but no promises as this technology is a bit new to me.
Keep up the good work of getting better, as you say there are lots of things to do in life and setbacks like this remind us all that life is not a dress rehearsal!
Love and kisses to both you and John
Caroline
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteSo good to get some news that you are feeling better. The last fews weeks sound so horrible, but as ever you are positive as can be. You really are amazing.
I'm still out in Finland where it's minus fifteen and very snowy. The sun is shining though and it really is stunning. Went cross country skiing yesterday which was lovely, but am feeling the pain today. Jasmine is nearly 6 months and is full of life. I can't wait for you to meet her.
I will be back in mid-Feb, so I really hope to come and visit you then. Of course I will stay away until you feel up to visitors and will keep reading to see how you are getting along.
Sending you loads of love and healing wishes. Keep your chin up honey. Thinking of you.
Hello, Hello
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear the news from Stuart. I hope that this blog is keeping your spirits up.
Life in Sydney is going well...thanks to you putting me in touch with DG! Am here for another year, and was planning to sit the JFICM, but the Faculty have now turned round and told me that they want me to do an Australian primary!!! The bureaucracy over here is unbelievable...oh well, guess I'll have to come back and finish Respiratory medicine with you after all. Anyway after witnessing how much they need to know about the Henderson-Hasselbach equation and the like, it's probably a good thing I'm not sitting the exam. Don't worry, by the time you get back to it I'll still have more years left to do....you'll probably finish before me! I think Madge (Prof) has given up on me ever being a respiratory physician. We can skulk off down the King's Rd for a 3 hr lunch on the "study days"
RPA is great, am doing anaesthetics this year for 6 months which is a real plus and then back to ICU for the final half of the year. Rob H and Mark Daley have been asking after you. Then it will be back to whatever punishment they have in store...what do you think, West Mid maybe or the House of Horrors again!
So lovely that John and your friends have organised this blog.
Lots of Love
Helen
Morning lovely Laura! (yes well nearly afternoon but it is a saturday!)
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant - the very clever Hannah Rose has to be congratulated muchly- and now have worked out how to do it so all is good!
Was down in Brighton on thurs night for the lovely Kate Regans birthday. At the Ginger pig in Hove - very tasty. When you up and about should def have a restorative visit to the seaside to take some air!!! (or something!)
Also have been told can def go to Sydney with Dill- Hooray!! - so have been sending emails this morning in some hope of getting a job and your lovely husband has also been sending some too I think - very useful. Good choice!
Am very excited about it now especially the thought of a lots of warmth and sunshine!!
Also trying to sort out wedding stuff - portaloos and generators!
And finding places for all you lovely people to stay
Lots of lovely B&Bs or a very atmospheric old manor house with a very relaxed attitude to dusting! Fancy it?!
Very good to hear from John that you have been put through your paces by the physios on all sorts of conraptions. Really sounds like things are going in the right direction lovely.
Oodles of love and hugs as ever
George xxxxxxxxxxxx
Hey Lau + John
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely update. gosh, it bought tears to my eyes...such a soppy old bird I am.
Anyway, I'm glad to hear things are improving, albeit slowly. Hang in there darl, you'll get there.
Well, we certainly missed you both at St Foy. The snow and weather (although mighty chilly) was great and we all came back rather chunkier than when we went. Chez marie didn't disappoint, although we didn't order every dessert this time....ANANANA's!!!
NYE was fab, we were skiing in Val d'Isere and the obligatory lunch at La Fruitere resulted in lots of poor quality skiing after lunch. So, we gave up and went to the bar next door, where much dancing on tables and vin chaud was had.
The party continued after a treacherous ski down to meet Nick at the ski lift. A carpet burn on my head, an almost broken finger, and a chipped tooth ensued (don't ask!). We toasted you both (repeatedly) at midnight-and eventually made our way to bed after the obligatory drunken game of twister.
Anyway, I'm back at work (on nights-groan) but have some odd days off in the forthcoming weeks, so I'll try to come up to london to take John out for a coffee/pint one of these fine days.
Keep getting better honey. You know we all miss and love you.
Hannah
PS:When you are out, you are both more than welcome to come and stay in the country with us for some R + R. In fact, I insist.xxx
Hello Laura!
ReplyDeleteI was so glad to see your blog and see that you're on the way to recovery. It sounds like you've been through a horrendous ordeal. You seem to be coping in your usual stylish way and not letting it get the better of you. Not even completely incapacitating illness can defeat our Laura!
We've been thinking about you and John alot over the last few weeks, I hope you've been feeling the love.
Things have been pretty hectic in the platt-rolles household since the new bambino was born. He's called Max and he was born on december 9th, he was 10 days early. I had a booking in appointment at St marys birth centre that morning. I told them I was having some minor contractions but just thought it was braxton hicks, then was back there 6 hours later holding a new baby. I got to the hospital in the nick of time, he was born 20 minutes later! We got a taxi down, I was having contractions every two minutes desperately trying to keep quiet, the driver was not impressed, muttering to Steve how we had left it too late and should have called an ambulance. He was almost right but luckily we just made it. Anyway Max is incredibly sweet and good, he's been really easy so far, much easier to look after than his noisy demanding big sister. By the way, he's named after Max Planck the father of quantum physics and not the formuala 1 owner famous for having sado masochistic parties with hookers dressed as nazis! We went to get his name registered last week. I had to work quite hard to persuade steve that we couldn't register him as maxabillion (so that it's better than maxamillian!) So he's just plain Max.
As you can imagine two small children have dampened our ability to party over christmas and new year. We went to cornwall for christmas where my parents had rented a house right by the beach, near St Austell. It was really beautiful, sunny and breezy and we spent the time eating delicious food, going for walks on the coast and building sandcastles. I didn't see Alice for the entire time, she was far more interested in her cousins, but that was good and I could just look after Max and catch up on some sleep. After that trip I decided I really want to live by the sea. I'm busy now trying to fix up some work in San Francisco for a couple of years. That would be perfect.
We spent new year at my parents house with my sister watching Jools Holland and playing cards. At midnight we opened a bottle of champagne between four of us but didn't finish it! My parents outparited us and didn't get back from their party until 3 but we were all in bed by 1.30.
Anyway I had better stop now. I will write more later. Keep on sending your updates and more importantly keep on getting better.
with lots of love and a big hug,
Lucy xxxxx
Hi Laura. Great to see you the other day at RFH. I hope you did not mind me popping in to see you. Awful weather this morning but off to work soon. Love to John. Roshan X
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteNot so long since you and John were sitting at our table in Paris enjoying a bottle of wine (at least i hope you were enjoying it!) and planning dinners and drinks and such like. And then life with all its twists and turns gets in the way ... but only temporarily. John told me about what had happened when he was over recently and all I can say is how much I admire you both for your strength and courage and how i can imagine how tough it is and that your evident love of life will pull you both through and you'll be back drinking at ours in the 11e before too long (perhaps the drinking may have to wait a bit longer, don't know, am not a medical man). But you still owe Paris a month and, well you know what the French are like, I doubt the debt will be allowed to rest unpaid!
As for us, no spectacular news. I was in Pakistan for a lot of the autumn (well a month) and am trying to get some other trips sorted out. went skiing for a few days earlier this month which was cold and sunny and great. and xmas was a blast with anne-sophie being very french in london. she was much happier once i got her down to vintage shops in brick lane where she could deploy all the spending power of her newly powerful euro in the UK sales. here she is
Hello Laura,
On pense bien fort à toi. Bon courage. Des que tu ira mieux Jason et moi vous attendons a Paris. Je t'embrasse
Anne Sophie
lots of love from both of us,
jason
Hello lovely girl.
ReplyDeleteHope that you are behaving still and following your timetable!! Sorry not to be around this weekend but off to the country residence of the dimond roses then and then a couple of days in hampshire with the lovely Dill so will have lots to tell when next up to see you.
For a small giggle have a look at Dill's facebook page and the video called Dill that a friend of his has posted! Brilliant!!
Tons of hugs
xxxxxxxxx
Hey Lau
ReplyDeleteHope you're ok. Em and Jas gave me a quick update after their visit to you. I hear you are making progress and am so pleased. Keep it up darl, you are such a brave soldier!
The Wilson Pickles and Caroline and Simon have just left. They came down for the evening for dinner and dangerous dancing to corny old tunes. Had a lovely time, and then went for a walk (cut very short by ghastly weather) and a pub lunch in the country. Yum yum. Lovely to see them all!
It's my birthday in two weekends' time, so we're coming up to town. If John's around, we'd love to spoil him to lunch. We're going to Matter, the new uber cool club in the O2 arena, to see Trentmoller and dance our socks off. I do hope to be able to come and say hello, but obviously only if you feel up to it. I'll let John guide us.
We've bought our Glastonbury tickets for this year. We're going to hire a campervan. I've had enough of the tent-mud-carnage combo! Word on the street is Blur and Bruce Springsteen will make an appearance, but you know how the rumours go....
Depending on how you get on, we could do a mini festival later on in the year! Something a bit low key, with minimal trekking and NO MUD!!
Anyway, make sure you do all your exercises, and keep getting better.
Always, in our thoughts
Han x
Hi Laura, Hope this works! What a fab idea!
ReplyDeleteAnd love the pink..
Hope you're getting stronger, sounds like you're making good progress which is fab.
Have you started the book? I haven't quite started mine, am reading a short history of tractors in ukrainian which is v funny. Keeps me up when I should be sleeping post nights. That and Gossip Girl. Kate is so right - Gossip Girl is the new SATC! Totally fabulous!! I have the first 2 seasons on dvd if you want to borrow them, I prescribe it as fashion therapy.
My news, well life on the coast is cool, still miss london a little, well a lot actually but I get loads of excuses to head up. And most study days can be combined with a champange cocktail in the Charlotte St Hotel.. Where there's a will.
Meeting Tash and John for a particularly glam night out in a couple of weeks, isn't it great news about Tash's job! Any recommendations for fab restaurants appreciated.
Mike and I are looking at houses at the mo which is quite exciting but feels a bit grown up too, so expect a house warming this year sometime...
Otherwise settling into the wessex rotation, everyone's really nice but it takes time to meet everyone.
Well take care and sending lot's of love and hugs, can't wait to catch up properly when you're all better, stay strong and we're thinking of you all the time,
Lot's of love Pamela xx
Love from Mike too x
Bonjour Laura
ReplyDeleteDésolée d'écrire en français car mon anglais est trop mauvais. Je vous souhaite de tout coeur de guérir très vite pour revenir nous voir en France à Marie-Lannelongue. La maladie ne devrait jamais atteindre quelqu'un d'aussi gentil que vous. C'est très injuste. Je suis contente de vous voir soutenue par tous ces gens qui vous aiment. Vous le méritez. Ne perdez pas courage, bientôt tout ça ne sera plus qu'un mauvais souvenir.
A très bientôt.
Bien amicalement. Sylvia (labo d'anapath)
Dear Laura,
ReplyDeleteWord has finally reached stanmore about you. I was shocked. I asked Annie, and managed to get the blog. I understand that if you would rather wait for visitors in the ward then i respect your decision. Since i have not seen you in ages, would love to see you when you think you are ready.
This blog is a fab idea. I am happy to hear that you are making progress and that you love life so much. I have read and re-read the blog so many times. Also, this is for john, a drink and/or a meal, the doors are always open. Would love to see him and have a chat. So, ask him to get in touch the drinks are on me.
So, do you have a good view from your room? What chocolate did you have? Do you get the hair dressers to come and wash your hair everyday and do some make up and stuff? What are the chances of getting a portable ventilator and say going to a window to see a bit of the outside world?
Is there anything else that i can do to help you at all?