Had a week back home now, feels so strange. Was adjusting well then my follow up to rehab came through, 6 months away in June! Another patient I was in with left and had physio just 2 or 3 weeks later. Incensed it was so uneven I wrote to a local politician. "Sorry to trouble you but I need to bore you with my story. On 14th February 2005 at the age of 38 I had a devastating massive stroke which initially left me quadraplgic but since I regained the use of one side. On 6th June I was transferred from the excellent **** to the **** Unit in ****. There they decided I'd never leave my wheelchair, a verdict that though plainly wrong stayed with me for quite some time. Some weeks at rehab in **** I had just an hour or two of physio all week! I Didn't feel I was pushed to forge ahead. I made it home 23rd December 2005. During 2006 I think I saw community physios 4 times though it may have been 5. Either way it is woefully inadequate. My sympathetic GP got me a stay at The *** Unit in *** which I was very impressed with, all are so dedicated. I had 6 weeks intensive physio starting 27th November. On leaving again I feel abandoned and forced to go the expensive private route for physio, my follow up isn't till June! Most of my time at home I've had weekly treatment and can stand myself from my wheelchair and recently took my first aided steps. Progress is slow but very evident. What on Earth is the use of physio just to be dropped 6 weeks later? To add salt to my wounds another ex patient I stayed with returned a few weeks later for physio, he is already walking with a stick so can't be that he is worse off in that way. I strongly feel that fighting such awful effects of the stroke is eough without needing to fight for therapy. I won't start on speech therapy, the situation is even worse. Please can you do anything so in future everyone gets the treatment they need?" Felt much calmer then. As I told mum, we can keep up the private treatment and the stroke won't win, I am determined. Ok serious moment over!

Now only use the hoist breakfast time. Fantastic news is that I stand myself from my electric wheelchair and anything at similar height onto my rotator. Carers have one arm in case they are needed but Ross just turns me! Definitely it is strengthening my legs. Getting much easier now.

Physio was today, Monday morning. My old therapist went back to Australia, shame as I totally trusted and really liked her. Met my new therapist today. So nice, I like and trust her already. Sitting, arm manipulation, standing. Standing was so much better, easier getting there and straighter when up. Successful trip. Really an evaluation with her seeing what I can do. Our aim for now we agreed is raising myself from lower to standing, not too far off.