Well that's another lap of the sun almost competed and a landmark reached that I perhaps shouldn't have, and definitely wouldn't have but for the guided skill and care of too many folk to mention.
Over the course of the past three years or so, in medical circles I have been many times called a 'Lucky Boy'. (they have also affectionately referred to me as a 'desperate case' but that's another story for another day) smile emoticon
There is no question that I am indeed a lucky boy, not only for sending the Grim Reaper packing twice now, but I am also truly blessed for having such wonderful family and friends.
Many of these friends have come into my life in recent years, particularly in cardiology and in my workplace at Tesco Bridgewater Extra Community, and in this season for friends and family I wish to thank each and every one of you for being there.
Thank-you all for the birthday messages, and it only remains for me to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2016, and here's to absent friends.
Have Bike will Travel
Thursday 24 December 2015
Sunday 27 September 2015
Brief Encounter
My heart missed a beat, half a dozen he or so in fact as I waited for her next words, I could hardly bear it no longer.....................
No not a page from a romantic novel, but rather yours truly waiting for a Coronary Care Unit doctor to confirm to me that, lo and behold, at the tender age of 46 I needed major heart surgery....or it was curtains.
This was in 2012, and it's fair to say that up until then that this really was my biggest crisis in life, apart that is from the evening I was preparing to sit down to watch Brief Encounter and suddenly realised I had run out of teabags!!
Now, that fiasco was bad enough, but this latest message of joy was a different proposition entirely. I can remember lying in Coronary Care and to paraphrase Oliver Hardy thing to myself "Well Stephen, this is another fine mess you've got yourself into!''
The aforementioned surgery took place on Thursday 27th September, within four weeks of the 'Brief Encounter' (see what I did there) with my pretty doctor, and I am now at around 60% of where I was before my 'argument' with the surgeon's oscillating saw and all manner of tools he had at his disposal, and from which I came off decidedly second best.
Apart from a collapsed lung during the surgery, everything went ok.
When I first got home I could barely walk 100 metres, that then became 200 metres....then I managed 400 metres and so forth, and within a week I was walking half a mile.
During that winter of discontent, my aim was to get up to about 5 miles which, despite the best hindering intentions of a bit of fluid on my lungs and unbelievable muscle ache in places I never knew existed, I managed to achieve. However, my biggest focus was getting back on the bike.
Approx. 4 months after my op I decided I would have my first cycle 'sortie' down the road. 3 miles was my absolute limit that day but that didn't matter, I was back on the bike.
Over the next few weeks I put the bike on the turbo trainer and slowly but surely built up my strength and stamina, yes there were complications along the way but nothing that couldn't be overcome and by the summer of 2013 I was up to 150 miles over a 3-4 day weekly schedule and I continued to build from there.
The accompanying photo was taken in 2014, exactly two years on from that day back in September 2012, when trivial things that seemed important suddenly weren't so important.
It is a third of the way through a 50 miles bike ride and hopefully it will give encouragement to others who are facing or who have just come through a similar problem with their ticker, to tackle it head on and come out the other side.
Fast forward if you will to 2015, and a lot has certainly gone down since. I have lost good friends along the way, some to heart disease, and I have also been re-acquainted with, and made some wonderful friends through my heart journey and also my new employment at Tesco Bridgewater Extra in Banbridge, where quite frankly the support and depth of care has been both staggering and humbling, and something for which I will always be grateful.
This year two of my grafts had the audacity to block and had to be dealt with very quickly (see previous post) but you know what, these things only make you stronger.
Now I am not for one second going to say that, open heart surgery in particular is a walk in the park, it most definitely is not....your body, and mind for that matter, go through a pretty brutal ordeal.
But if you are fortunate enough beforehand, as I was/am, to get warning shots across the bow, there is no question it is life-saving surgery and, despite what at times may seem like a mountain standing in the way of recovery and progress, the road does flatten out and things do get better.
Wednesday 23 September 2015
6 Words
"Daddy are you going to die?"
Never have six words hit me like a bolt, than those spoken by my daughter as I lay in a hospital bed a few weeks ago, well at least not since I was once reliably informed we 'have no teabags in the house'.
It's been a while since I last posted, and in that time I have had the Grim Reaper on my case once again, he just doesn't know when to give up.
For quite some time, about 18 months to be precise, I'd had unbelievable fatigue, the type of which frankly has to be experienced to be believed, and which at one point had very nearly scuppered the charity cycle back in July.
A few weeks after getting back from the bike ride I had a follow-up Heart CT Scan done, and although deep down I knew something wasn't right, I still had managed to convince myself that all was ok.
Anyway the scan was duly carried out and, as is the norm in such matters, I was told to contact my GP in about 4 weeks time.
In the words of one of my medical team, this really was only a matter of "crossing the t's and dotting the i's", after all I had just cycled 500 miles in 5 days a relatively short time previously, so there couldn't possibly be anything seriously wrong.... right?
Wrong!
A week later as I sat on a break at work, I received a call from my cardio's secretary to inform me that he wanted to see me in a couple of days. Now, when you receive a call like this it can only mean one thing, and it isn't that they want to invite you for a coffee.
Sure enough I hadn't right planted my backside on the chair in his office when I was told rather matter of factly (wouldn't have it any other way) that two of my bypass grafts were completely blocked and were 'doing absolutely nothing'.
Seemingly it was the vein that was harvested from my left leg that was the culprit and, as anyone who has had bypass surgery knows, they give this particular vein a life span of around 10 years at best, and the fact that mine was playing silly beggars so soon was causing a bit of concern to all, all that is except myself.
Now I don't say this lightly, but it was the same when I was told I needed heart surgery back in 2012 and this time was no different. The way I see it is this, it is entirely out of one's hands and when you hear news like this you have basically two choices, you can either pour a cup of tea (or something stronger), find a dark room and proceed to crawl up into a ball and feel sorry for yourself or.....you can grab life by 'Fagan and the Two Magees' and get on with it!!
Anyway, I've since had a stent placed urgently in my left main artery stem (one of, if not the most, important parts of the heart) and will shortly be re-joining the good folks at Cardiac Rehab to 'find my limitations' in a controlled environment.
That said, next year it is still my intention to complete another longer charity cycle, (whether it will happen or not is immaterial) and then I'll 'probably' retire disgracefully. When I put this plan to my cardios I honestly thought one of them was going to chin me and I was duly thankful that he wasn't a violent chap.
But I'm a great believer in having a purpose, or a focus if you will, in life. And when you have a rather nasty medical condition, that focus becomes more important than ever, and my medical team can also see where I am coming from.
Things are still far from perfect (they never will be), but like the last time...I'm determined to get to something resembling near normality. There are literally thousands of people far worse off and I simply view my Heart Disease as an absolute nuisance in comparison.
Anyone who really knows me will tell you I am an easy going, glass is half full character, and it has taken this latest adventure with Ischaemic Heart Disease to finally stop me in my tracks.
This time round it will all be a bit different, my latest brush with Mr. Reaper has made me look at where I'm going, make a few changes and seriously re-evaluate things a bit.
Whilst it is certainly not my intention to depart this mortal coil anytime soon, it is not something I have any real control over. When I was in hospital I had cause to cancel a dental check-up, however an appointment with my maker is not something I will be able to cancel but I am entirely at peace with that fact.
Which brings me nicely back to my daughter's question, and my answer is a straightforward....... no and yes, but I will continue to live life to the best of my ability, and hopefully be around to see her grow up.
As always peeps, thank-you for listening.
Never have six words hit me like a bolt, than those spoken by my daughter as I lay in a hospital bed a few weeks ago, well at least not since I was once reliably informed we 'have no teabags in the house'.
It's been a while since I last posted, and in that time I have had the Grim Reaper on my case once again, he just doesn't know when to give up.
For quite some time, about 18 months to be precise, I'd had unbelievable fatigue, the type of which frankly has to be experienced to be believed, and which at one point had very nearly scuppered the charity cycle back in July.
A few weeks after getting back from the bike ride I had a follow-up Heart CT Scan done, and although deep down I knew something wasn't right, I still had managed to convince myself that all was ok.
Anyway the scan was duly carried out and, as is the norm in such matters, I was told to contact my GP in about 4 weeks time.
In the words of one of my medical team, this really was only a matter of "crossing the t's and dotting the i's", after all I had just cycled 500 miles in 5 days a relatively short time previously, so there couldn't possibly be anything seriously wrong.... right?
Wrong!
A week later as I sat on a break at work, I received a call from my cardio's secretary to inform me that he wanted to see me in a couple of days. Now, when you receive a call like this it can only mean one thing, and it isn't that they want to invite you for a coffee.
Sure enough I hadn't right planted my backside on the chair in his office when I was told rather matter of factly (wouldn't have it any other way) that two of my bypass grafts were completely blocked and were 'doing absolutely nothing'.
Seemingly it was the vein that was harvested from my left leg that was the culprit and, as anyone who has had bypass surgery knows, they give this particular vein a life span of around 10 years at best, and the fact that mine was playing silly beggars so soon was causing a bit of concern to all, all that is except myself.
Now I don't say this lightly, but it was the same when I was told I needed heart surgery back in 2012 and this time was no different. The way I see it is this, it is entirely out of one's hands and when you hear news like this you have basically two choices, you can either pour a cup of tea (or something stronger), find a dark room and proceed to crawl up into a ball and feel sorry for yourself or.....you can grab life by 'Fagan and the Two Magees' and get on with it!!
Anyway, I've since had a stent placed urgently in my left main artery stem (one of, if not the most, important parts of the heart) and will shortly be re-joining the good folks at Cardiac Rehab to 'find my limitations' in a controlled environment.
That said, next year it is still my intention to complete another longer charity cycle, (whether it will happen or not is immaterial) and then I'll 'probably' retire disgracefully. When I put this plan to my cardios I honestly thought one of them was going to chin me and I was duly thankful that he wasn't a violent chap.
But I'm a great believer in having a purpose, or a focus if you will, in life. And when you have a rather nasty medical condition, that focus becomes more important than ever, and my medical team can also see where I am coming from.
Things are still far from perfect (they never will be), but like the last time...I'm determined to get to something resembling near normality. There are literally thousands of people far worse off and I simply view my Heart Disease as an absolute nuisance in comparison.
Anyone who really knows me will tell you I am an easy going, glass is half full character, and it has taken this latest adventure with Ischaemic Heart Disease to finally stop me in my tracks.
This time round it will all be a bit different, my latest brush with Mr. Reaper has made me look at where I'm going, make a few changes and seriously re-evaluate things a bit.
Whilst it is certainly not my intention to depart this mortal coil anytime soon, it is not something I have any real control over. When I was in hospital I had cause to cancel a dental check-up, however an appointment with my maker is not something I will be able to cancel but I am entirely at peace with that fact.
Which brings me nicely back to my daughter's question, and my answer is a straightforward....... no and yes, but I will continue to live life to the best of my ability, and hopefully be around to see her grow up.
As always peeps, thank-you for listening.
Monday 13 July 2015
And I would cycle 500 miles.....
And I would cycle 500 more.......well not quite yet.
I'm sure The Proclaimers will forgive me. Poetic licence aside, a week of walking sideways has passed since I set out to try and cycle 500 miles in 5 days round the roads of Northern Ireland and Donegal for the Children's Heartbeat Trust and it's as good a time as any to sit down and reflect on the whole experience.
A meeting with my cardio on the very eve of the trip was 'eventful' and despite a few reservations and the knowledge that I wasn't to be deterred, I was allowed to continue with the assurance that I would quit if the crap hit the fan.
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| Setting off from Tesco Bridgewater Extra with Amy, Pamela and Davy |
So, next day the team and I were met at the start by Lynn from the charity and after a bit of a natter we were off down the road.
Heading out of Banbridge was when it dawned on me that this was finally it, months of planning were behind me and it was time to finally get on with it and pedal.
After a quick stop in Portadown it was off through the Orchard County to the next stop at the Navan Centre where after a bite of lunch for me, Pamela, Davy and Amy decided to have a look round as I headed on for Tyrone.
At a bridge on the approach to Caledon, I spotted a motorcycle parked up on my side of the road and a gent with a camera on the other side.
As I got nearer I realised it was a certain Mr. James Lee esq.
Jim had kindly taken the time to come down and see me pass by and take some photos both here and up the road in nearby Aughnacloy, not only that but he stopped and gave me a donation on the roadside which was really, really decent of him...thanks Jim!!
As I got nearer I realised it was a certain Mr. James Lee esq.
Jim had kindly taken the time to come down and see me pass by and take some photos both here and up the road in nearby Aughnacloy, not only that but he stopped and gave me a donation on the roadside which was really, really decent of him...thanks Jim!!
By this time the temperature was in the high 20's (it topped out at 29C) and from Tyrone it was into Fermanagh and on to Enniskillen via Tempo, a road I'm in no hurry to be on again.
It wasn't so much the terrain but the road surface, a common theme on my journey.
Anyway from Enniskillen it was out to Castle Archdale where we had kindly been given 2 free tent pitches for the night.
Now I know from bitter experience that Fermanagh is infamous for its midge population and the little blighters took a serious dislike to poor Davy whose arms and head were used as target practice.
The next morning dawned damp, but by the time I set off it had brightened up.
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| Kesh: Co. Fermanagh |
Even though I had an excellent team around me, I was still determined that it should be a holiday for them. So, as I headed solo for Donegal the guys ventured off to see the Marble Arch Caves and whatever else they might happen to encounter.
I went through the village of Kesh, a place that holds many memories for me from my camping days. With the exception of a new road layout, the place hasn't really changed much in the 20 odd years since I last graced it with my presence, although like everywhere else the addition of more shops seem to add more bustle to the village. Anyway enough of this reminiscing, I headed along the shores of Lower Lough Erne through Boa Island and crossed the border at Belleek. It's been a fair few years since I was on this road and it again brought back a lot of memories.
I went through the village of Kesh, a place that holds many memories for me from my camping days. With the exception of a new road layout, the place hasn't really changed much in the 20 odd years since I last graced it with my presence, although like everywhere else the addition of more shops seem to add more bustle to the village. Anyway enough of this reminiscing, I headed along the shores of Lower Lough Erne through Boa Island and crossed the border at Belleek. It's been a fair few years since I was on this road and it again brought back a lot of memories.
From there it was on to Ballyshannon and Donegal Town itself.
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| Donegal Town |
Now Donegal Town is a lovely place but it is not for the faint of heart and it really is every person for themselves in the town centre traffic. However I survived and after a quick stop at the beautiful castle I continued my journey north.
Soon I was heading along the Barnesmore Gap, a beautiful stretch of road but on this particular day a strong head wind was my constant companion.
I could see 5-6 fellow cyclists spread out about a mile ahead and was able to use them as a kind of marker. After passing them it occurred to me that it had been a while since I had heard from the support team, it then became evident that the phone reception was non-existent and that, with 45 miles to go, I was on my own and down to my last drop of water, two fig rolls and one jelly baby.
Thankfully when I got to a mile from Lifford and nearby Strabane, the phone picked up the UK connection again and soon rang, however they were about 30 miles behind me so I decided to slow my pace and venture on. The guys eventually caught up with me on the outskirts of Londonderry/Derry and quickly replenished my food and water levels.
By this time it was around 6pm so the others headed to our hostess at Limavady as I followed behind. I arrived in Limavady around 8pm and after meeting our lovely host Mary and her friends (and not forgetting Brodie the Labrador) we settled in. Mary had prepared a lovely meal for us which went down a treat and soon it was off to bed.
Mary had to leave early next morning and had left us the key, so after having spares cut (only joking Mary) we prepared for what I knew would probably be the hardest day of all, along the Antrim Coast and on to our next stop near Ballyrobert.
By this time it was around 6pm so the others headed to our hostess at Limavady as I followed behind. I arrived in Limavady around 8pm and after meeting our lovely host Mary and her friends (and not forgetting Brodie the Labrador) we settled in. Mary had prepared a lovely meal for us which went down a treat and soon it was off to bed.
Mary had to leave early next morning and had left us the key, so after having spares cut (only joking Mary) we prepared for what I knew would probably be the hardest day of all, along the Antrim Coast and on to our next stop near Ballyrobert.
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| Antrim Coast Road near Ballintoy |
The team headed into Coleraine as I took the scenic route via Downhill (which was anything but) and after a brief stop in Coleraine it was a 20 minute run to Portstewart and some lunch.
From Portstewart it was on to the coast road via Portrush and I could tell from the wind direction that this was going to be 'fun' with a small f!!
Now the Antrim Coast past Dunluce Castle and through Bushmills, Ballintoy etc is a beautiful place to be on an extremely warm day such as I experienced that Friday, but there was a vicious head/side wind from inland and it hindered progress badly.
The old ticker didn't appreciate the heat and was protesting a bit as I arrived in Ballycastle around 4.45pm, and with 45 odd miles to my destination there was no time to lose.
I 'charged' on through Armoy and on to the main Ballymena-Ballymoney road which was still being dug up meaning single lane traffic for quite a few miles which wasn't too safe on a bicycle to be honest.
But I eventually hit some carriageway and managed to get a decent pace going and soon I was in Antrim and on towards Templepatrick where our host Brian, himself a keen cyclist, met me at a large roundabout outside the town and we cycled the short distance together to his home where I met his lovely wife Fiona, son and daughter-in-law, and again settled down to some of the finest hospitality one could hope for including tea, buns and cake.
The next morning saw some heavy rain in the area and after saying my goodbyes I ventured towards Belfast via Carrickfergus where by this time the sun had again come out.
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| A Tall Ship in Belfast |
Progress along the Shore Road was hindered by traffic lights and roadworks, but I eventually made it to Belfast where the Tall Ships crowd and traffic again made life more awkward than it ought to have been.
I arrived at Stormont almost an hour behind schedule and missed Cathy and Sarah from the charity (apologies ladies), and then it was on to Bangor, which once 'was the place' according to the comedian James Young.
By now it was really hot and from Bangor it was along the coast to Ballywalter via Groomsport, Donaghadee and Millisle.
At Ballywalter I swung inland to Mount Stewart and on to a dangerous stretch of shore road to Newtownards where I had a quick 10 minute replenishment stop.
Soon it was on to Comber, Killyleagh and Downpatrick on a most hateful stretch of road, and from Downpatrick it was on to Newcastle and the welcoming sight of the Mourne Mountains, and where Tollymore Forest Park had provided us with free camping (thanks guys).
It was nice to see a face, or three, from home as we met up with my sister Sharon, bro-in-law Mark and niece Ruth.
The next morning once again started wet as we headed from Newcastle over the hills to Hilltown and Rathfriland.
From Rathfriland it was through Bronte Country to Loughbrickland and Newry where we stopped for lunch.
It was now early afternoon as I ventured on over the border where the bright sunshine of Newry was quickly replaced by torrential rain which only cleared as I got to Omeath.
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| Job Done |
As planned, we turned in Omeath and ventured back to Newry and down the carriageway to Warrenpoint and Rostrevor before picking up the coast road in bright evening sunshine to Newcastle where I arrived around 7pm with 500 miles clocked up....WE had done it, 500 miles in 5 days.
On Monday we awoke to one of the worst summer days I have faced in all my time on this mortal coil, extremely windy, cold and with heavy rain!!
After waiting until it eventually cleared, I headed back to the official finish at Banbridge where Lynn was waiting with her trusty camera, and my Tesco Bridgewater Extra colleagues had provided a warm welcome and some champagne, wine, flowers and cards...thanks guys!!! (my apologies to my colleagues who were expecting me the day before).
It was also fantastic to see my friend Aron and his wife Judith there with their daughter Grace...the inspiration for the challenge.
And, with that the cycle challenge/adventure had come to a successful conclusion....until next year. ;-)
Monday 29 June 2015
Route Details
Thank-you!!
Wednesday 1st July: Banbridge - Castle Archdale
Tesco Bridgewater Extra, Banbridge 9am, BANBRIDGE 9.10am, Church Street/Seapatrick, GILFORD 9.50am, Newry Canal Towpath, PORTADOWN 10.30am,
High Street, Armagh Road, Dobbin Road, Vicarage Road, Cloghan Road. ARMAGH 11.40pm. Ballycrummy Road. NAVAN FORT 12pm. Killylea Road. CALEDON 1.30pm.
AUGHNACLOY 2pm. Ballygawley Roundabout. AUGHER 3pm. CLOGHER 3.20pm.
FIVEMILETOWN 4pm. Altaveedan Road. Cooneen Road. TEMPO 4.45pm.
Tempo Road. Dublin Road. ENNISKILLEN 5.30pm. Friths Pass Bridge. Castle Bridge
Irvinestown Road. Enniskillen Road (Trory). IRVINESTOWN 7.30pm. Lisnarick Road. Killadeas Road. CASTLE ARCHDALE (Finish) 8pm.
Thursday 2nd July: Castle Archdale - Limavady
CASTLE ARCHDALE 8am. KESH 8.40am, Boa Island Road, BELLEEK 10.30am, Cliff Road, DONEGAL TOWN 12.30pm, Keadew Bridge, N15, Barnes Bridge, Donegal Road,
BALLYBOFEY 2.30pm, LIFFORD 3.45pm, Letterkenny Road, LONDONDERRY/DERRY 5pm, A2, GREYSTEEL 6pm, BALLYKELLY 6.25pm, LIMAVADY 7PM.
Friday 3rd July: Limavady - Ballyrobert
LIMAVADY 8.30am, DOWNHILL 9.50am, Mussenden Road, Sea Road, ARTICLAVE 10.10am, Windyhill Road, Castlerock Road, COLERAINE 10.40am, Bann Bridge, Circular Road, Millburn Road, Portrush Road, Portstewart Road, Coleraine Road, PORTSTEWART 11.15am, Station Road, Juniper Hill, Dhu Varren, PORTRUSH 11.30am, Dunluce Road, BUSHMILLS 12.30pm, Whitepark Road, BALLINTOY 1.15pm,
BALLYCASTLE 2pm, Drones Road, The Dark Hedges, ARMOY 3.15pm, Gracehill Road,
CLOUGHMILLS 4.15pm, CLOUGH 4.30pm, Drumagrove Road, Cushendall Road Roundabout, BALLYMENA 5.30pm. ANTRIM, 6.15pm, TEMPLEPATRICK 6.45pm,
BALLYROBERT 7.10pm, Kings Moss Road (Finish) 7.15pm.
Saturday 4th July: Ballyrobert - Newcastle
Ballyrobert (Start) 8am, Doagh Road, WOODBURN 8.50am, CARRICKFERGUS 9am, Belfast Road, Shore Road, WHITEABBEY 9.30am, Duncrue Street, Whitla Street, North Queen Street, Millfield, College Avenue, College Square East, Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, BELFAST CITY HALL 10am, Victoria Street, Queen Elizabeth Bridge, TITANIC QUARTER (Dock Cafe) 10.30am, Sydenham Road, Parkgate Avenue, Connsbrook Avenue, Upper Newtownards Road, STORMONT 11.30pm, Ballyregan Road, Ballymiscaw Road, Craigantlet Road, Old Belfast Road, Crawfordsburn Road, Bryansburn Road, BANGOR 12.30pm, Ballyholme Road, GROOMSPORT, DONAGHADEE 1.45pm, MILLISLE 2.15pm, BALLYWALTER 2.45pm, Mountstewart Road, MOUNT STEWART 3.30pm, NEWTOWNARDS 4pm, Comber Road, COMBER 4.30pm, Belfast Road, KILLYLEAGH 5.40pm, DOWNPATRICK 6pm, CLOUGH, 6.30pm, DUNDRUM 6.40pm, NEWCASTLE 7PM, Bryansford Road, TOLLYMORE FOREST PARK (Finish) 7.15pm.
Sunday 5th July: Newcastle - Banbridge
TOLLYMORE FOREST PARK (Start) 8.15am, NEWCASTLE 8.30am, ANNALONG 9.20am, KILKEEL 10.00am, Cranfield Road, Lurganconary Road, ROSTREVOR 11am, Burren Roundabout, Warrenpoint Road (A2), NEWRY 12am, Buttercrane Quay, Merchants Quay, Canal Street, New Street, Canal Quay, Newry Canal Towpath,
POYNTZPASS 12.30pm, SCARVA 12.50pm, Tesco Bridgewater Extra, Banbridge (Finish) 2.30pm.
*Times are Approximate and are subject to change*
Monday 22 June 2015
Thank-you!!
Three tiring days during which the customers and Tesco colleagues generously donated over £600 and where we met some wonderful people and heard some inspiring and sad stories that made us humble.
Massive thanks to Tesco Bridgewater Extra Community for allowing us space in-store to collect, to Tesco Community Champion David McKay for his absolutely awesome help and hospitality
...... and a big, big thank-you to my merry band of helpers, my wife Pamela, David Bruce, Aron McKee and his daughter Rebecca, mum-in-law Sally, sis-in-law Carolyn, my dad, dad-in-law, bro-in-law Mark and of course Amy and Katie.
Wednesday 17 June 2015
A Bike24 'boost' for charity cycle
Now without going into the finer details, let's just say the original shipment went 'awol' in the post and this is where Christiane Boost from the Bike24 Service Team comes in.
Aware of my plight and without so much as a second thought, my new champion Christiane made arrangements for another part to be sent to my humble abode without so much as an extra penny leaving my pocket.
Now that is what I call excellent customer service....thank-you Christiane, thank-you Bike24!!
Thursday 28 May 2015
King for a Day
Now then dear readers, every once in a while I divert away from my adventures on the bike to bring you some non-cycling related scribbles.
It's Tuesday September 12th 1978 in Ballybofey Co. Donegal, and local football team Finn Harps are at home to the might of English First Division side Everton in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
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| Andy King: Everton v Liverpool, Goodison Park. October 1978 |
Everton had actually been drawn at home in the first leg but generously agreed to switch the ties to play first in Donegal thus generating more interest in the game. (Finn Harps had once played Derby and lost big time, ruining interest in the home game)
The game was roughly 20 minutes old when Everton star player Andy King, who five minutes earlier had opened the scoring, chased a long pass.
However the pace of the ball was great and it ran behind the goal nestling next to a young 12 year old lad sitting on the grass near one of the goal posts.
King's pace was such that he just managed to get stopped in front of the lad who by this time was holding the ball and looking up into the eyes of this superstar before him.
However the pace of the ball was great and it ran behind the goal nestling next to a young 12 year old lad sitting on the grass near one of the goal posts.
King's pace was such that he just managed to get stopped in front of the lad who by this time was holding the ball and looking up into the eyes of this superstar before him.
As he retrieved the ball from the starstruck youngster, the Everton midfielder looked down, bounced the ball gently on the lad's forehead, smiled and winked at him and then returned to the action leaving behind a memory which has lasted to this day.
That lad was me.........and that brief encounter with this football star is something I have always remembered and still talk about fondly when the situation presents itself.
Back then I was, and still am, a devoted Arsenal supporter, but the opportunity to see a top side like Everton in the flesh, so to speak, was something even a young 'Gooner' could not pass up.
Andy King scored twice that day in Everton's 5-0 win against Finn Harps, and Andy King was a brilliant footballer.
One month after our 'meeting' in that small football ground in Ballybofey, he struck a 20-yard winner against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, and although our lives were like the proverbial chalk and cheese we did come to have one thing in common.
One month after our 'meeting' in that small football ground in Ballybofey, he struck a 20-yard winner against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, and although our lives were like the proverbial chalk and cheese we did come to have one thing in common.
As the year's passed, within three years of each other, we would be hit with heart trouble and this has ultimately taken his life at the young age of 58.
I am genuinely saddened to hear of Andy's passing and that encounter with him on an autumnal day in Co. Donegal almost 37 years ago is something I have, and never will, forget.
RIP Andy and thank-you.
Monday 25 May 2015
A Helping Hand
No pun intended in the title folks.
Thinking outside the box the other week, I decided to ask my good friend Ian Lougher if he would possibly have anything to donate towards my forthcoming charity cycle in July.
Now, anyone who knows Ian will know that as well as being one of the true legends of motorcycle racing, he is also one of life's genuine nice guys.
I won't even try to list his achievements here, lest I'm still typing as the dawn greets a new day, suffice to say he is rather good at his chosen profession.
I knew before I asked him that he would of course say yes and indeed this proved to be the case, and as such we now have a pair of Knox Handroid Racing gloves currently circulating on ebay.
They were worn by Ian during the 2012 season and are personally hand signed by the man himself.
So peeps, if you fancy getting your hands (see what I did there) on a nice piece of motorcycle racing memorabilia, and contributing to the Children's Heartbeat Trust in the process, please take your goodselves over to the listing and check them out....thank-you!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Knox-Handroid-Racing-Gloves-Worn-and-signed-by-Ian-Lougher-/131521761370? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Knox-Handroid-Racing-Gloves-Worn-and-signed-by-Ian-Lougher-/131521761370?
Friday 15 May 2015
Team
Now then, if you can divert your eyes for a second from my lovely features, and if you look carefully you will see one small word that says it all.
Do you see it, yes of course, that word is team.
There is a true saying that there is no 'i' in team, and never was that saying more apt than in the case of the rapidly approaching charity cycle.
A project like this doesn't just happen by clicking one's fingers, there is an awful lot of planning involved and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes, this is where the word team comes in.
Then there is the fundraising, yet again another big team effort.
There is also a big effort by the medical team to get me ready for July 1st and ensure there is no possibility of me cycling into an ambush, as so very nearly was the case back in 2012.
All I'll be doing is sitting on my bike, turning my legs and hope said legs, or my ticker, don't cry enough.
And everyone who donates, helps, supports or offers encouragement and accommodation etc, will be with me on the road, and are very much an important ingredient in the team.
Team......Together, Everyone, Achieves, More.
Tuesday 12 May 2015
Grace's Story
With exactly 50 days to go until 'The Raleigh' and I set off around Northern Ireland and Donegal on our cycle for the Children's Heartbeat Trust, I would like to use my humble blog to bring you a truly inspirational story of one little girl's bravery, determination and inner strength.....coupled with a family's love and devotion.
Last year during a conversation with one of my Tesco Bridgewater Extra colleagues, the 'craic' as they say, came round about a cycle I was planning for an as yet undecided charity.
Anyway, my colleague told me about his beloved daughter and went on to speak highly about the work of a charity that has been a huge help to his family.
Now, Aron McKee's word is good enough for me, and there and then the recipient of my fundraising cycle was decided upon.....the Children's Heartbeat Trust
Ladies and gentlemen, as told by Aron's wife Judith, I present to you..........
Grace's Story
In March 2011, my husband Aron, and I were very excited to be expecting our second child.
However our excitement soon turned to anguish and fear in June 2011 when the routine 20wk scan uncovered a possible problem with our unborn baby's heart.
We had to wait 4 days to get a fetal cardiac scan in the Royal Jubilee Maternity (these 4 days felt like a month).
We had the scan carried out by Dr Sands and Dr McCrossan who confirmed to us that our baby had a major heart defect....we were distraught and we had no idea what to expect.
Edith Crawford, the Ante Natal Liaison Nurse, met us and had a chat, and from that day we were in regular contact with the cardiology dept and Edith.
It was decided that it was safest for our baby to be delivered via induction procedure in the Royal Jubilee Maternity so that the cardiology team could be on hand.
I went into the hospital on 19th October 2011 (39 weeks gestation) and the process began. I was so scared as I was aware that while baby was in the womb she would be fine but the problems would start to occur when she was born.
Grace was born at 6.27pm and weighed 6lb 7oz, we got to hold her for about 15mins and then she was taken straight to the neo-natal unit. It was 4 hours before we saw our new daughter again.
Dr Casey and Dr Morrison had gone to see her in the unit and confirmed that Grace had pulmonary artresia and VSD and that she would require OHS within two weeks.
She was transferred from the neonatal unit to Clark Clinic two days later and was cared for there so well. On 31st October at 12 days old Grace was taken to theatre for her first heart operation.
She was so small and fragile and it was frightening handing her over to the surgical team. Five hours later we saw our baby girl attached to machines.
She had wires, tubes and monitors everywhere, it was so daunting.
Grace made progress for the next 36hrs and then she took a turn for the worse.
We were called and asked to make our way over as soon as possible. On arrival at Cardiac Services Intensive Care Unit we were met by Dr Craig, the surgeon and the anaesthetist.
We were informed that she had developed an infection and we had to prepare for the worst. We sat by our baby girl's bed while she was worked at intensely.
She was given a blood transfusion as she was having bloods taken every 15mins and this had to be replaced. After about 5 hrs she turned the corner and improved massively.
The next day she transferred back to PICU in the children’s hospital and then 4 days later back to Clark Clinic.
Grace progressed and we got her home on 25th November (5weeks old). Her big sister Rebecca was over the moon to see her baby sister home.
Grace continued to make progress until 1 week before her 1st birthday, when she was taken to theatre in RBHSC to have her cleft palate repaired (another problem she was born with).
She suffered respiratory arrest in theatre and gave the surgical team a real fright. It was so unexpected as she had never before shown any problems with breathing.
The procedure was abandoned and Grace recovered and was allowed home 5 days later.
Mr Hill (Cleft surgeon) had assured us that it would be fine as long as Grace had her palate repaired by the age of 2.
Four months later, we travelled to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin. Grace would have her second OHS to repair her heart.
We arrived 2 days before the procedure so pre-op checks could be carried out. The day before the surgery was planned Professor Redmond came and chatted to us to explain what would happen during the op and he told us that due to her previous respiratory arrest that Mr Russell (ENT surgeon) would check her airway and intubate her for theatre.
Mr Russell then spoke to us about his procedure and had warned us that if there was a problem then a tracheostomy may be performed, although we were confident that it would not be the case as this only happens to 1 in 300.
Grace was taken to theatre at 8am and we left her making her cat noises at the staff.
Half an hour later we were called to make our way urgently to theatres as Mr Russell needed to see us. He explained that Grace's airway was narrow and that they all felt a tracheotomy was best....Aron and I were once again distraught but had to consent as our daughter may not make it if she didn't get the trache.
Heart surgery was postponed and Grace was taken to PICU. We could not believe that our daughter would be silenced from that day. Four days later Grace was to suffer another setback as she became very unwell again and she was taken for heart surgery as it was thought her first shunt may have been failing.
She was too ill to have a repair done on her heart so a second BT shunt was placed in her heart. Grace returned to PICU and remained there for 11 days.
The day after her heart procedure she was diagnosed with swine flu, we again were left feeling very worried as we knew this could be deadly for anyone with medical conditions. We sat by her bed day and night until she was well enough to be transferred back to Clark Clinic in Belfast on 8th March. Although we had all been well looked after in Dublin we were so thankful to return to Belfast to familiar, friendly faces and to see our other daughter, Rebecca, whom we hadn't seen from we left for Dublin.
We missed her so much.
Grace recovered well and had her cleft palate repaired in May 2013 and then was eventually discharged on 20th June 2013 (four months after going into hospital).
It had been such a rollercoaster but we were out the other side!.
Grace celebrated her 3rd birthday on 19th October 2014 and she is a wee miracle. We all love her to bits.
Grace faces more surgery in 2015 to repair her heart and she gets regular check-ups in Belfast.
Dr Casey and his team along with all the other specialist teams we attend in RBHSC are fantastic and our wee loveable lady would not be with us today without them all.
We have met some wonderful friends along the way and are well supported by family, friends and of course the ladies of Children’s Heartbeat Trust!
.....................................................................................................
So peeps there you have it, a story that will hopefully give one of the reasons why I am turning the pedals for the Children's Heartbeat Trust this summer.
There are many stories similar to Grace's, please give what you can for this wonderful charity. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/OneManAndHisBike
Thank-you
Stephen
Last year during a conversation with one of my Tesco Bridgewater Extra colleagues, the 'craic' as they say, came round about a cycle I was planning for an as yet undecided charity.
Anyway, my colleague told me about his beloved daughter and went on to speak highly about the work of a charity that has been a huge help to his family.
Now, Aron McKee's word is good enough for me, and there and then the recipient of my fundraising cycle was decided upon.....the Children's Heartbeat Trust
Ladies and gentlemen, as told by Aron's wife Judith, I present to you..........
Grace's Story
 |
| A real milestone: Grace’s first day at nursery! |
However our excitement soon turned to anguish and fear in June 2011 when the routine 20wk scan uncovered a possible problem with our unborn baby's heart.
We had to wait 4 days to get a fetal cardiac scan in the Royal Jubilee Maternity (these 4 days felt like a month).
We had the scan carried out by Dr Sands and Dr McCrossan who confirmed to us that our baby had a major heart defect....we were distraught and we had no idea what to expect.
Edith Crawford, the Ante Natal Liaison Nurse, met us and had a chat, and from that day we were in regular contact with the cardiology dept and Edith.
It was decided that it was safest for our baby to be delivered via induction procedure in the Royal Jubilee Maternity so that the cardiology team could be on hand.
I went into the hospital on 19th October 2011 (39 weeks gestation) and the process began. I was so scared as I was aware that while baby was in the womb she would be fine but the problems would start to occur when she was born.
Grace was born at 6.27pm and weighed 6lb 7oz, we got to hold her for about 15mins and then she was taken straight to the neo-natal unit. It was 4 hours before we saw our new daughter again.
Dr Casey and Dr Morrison had gone to see her in the unit and confirmed that Grace had pulmonary artresia and VSD and that she would require OHS within two weeks.
She was transferred from the neonatal unit to Clark Clinic two days later and was cared for there so well. On 31st October at 12 days old Grace was taken to theatre for her first heart operation.
She was so small and fragile and it was frightening handing her over to the surgical team. Five hours later we saw our baby girl attached to machines.
She had wires, tubes and monitors everywhere, it was so daunting.
Grace made progress for the next 36hrs and then she took a turn for the worse.
We were called and asked to make our way over as soon as possible. On arrival at Cardiac Services Intensive Care Unit we were met by Dr Craig, the surgeon and the anaesthetist.
We were informed that she had developed an infection and we had to prepare for the worst. We sat by our baby girl's bed while she was worked at intensely.
She was given a blood transfusion as she was having bloods taken every 15mins and this had to be replaced. After about 5 hrs she turned the corner and improved massively.
The next day she transferred back to PICU in the children’s hospital and then 4 days later back to Clark Clinic.
Grace progressed and we got her home on 25th November (5weeks old). Her big sister Rebecca was over the moon to see her baby sister home.
Grace continued to make progress until 1 week before her 1st birthday, when she was taken to theatre in RBHSC to have her cleft palate repaired (another problem she was born with).
She suffered respiratory arrest in theatre and gave the surgical team a real fright. It was so unexpected as she had never before shown any problems with breathing.
The procedure was abandoned and Grace recovered and was allowed home 5 days later.
Mr Hill (Cleft surgeon) had assured us that it would be fine as long as Grace had her palate repaired by the age of 2.
Four months later, we travelled to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin. Grace would have her second OHS to repair her heart.
We arrived 2 days before the procedure so pre-op checks could be carried out. The day before the surgery was planned Professor Redmond came and chatted to us to explain what would happen during the op and he told us that due to her previous respiratory arrest that Mr Russell (ENT surgeon) would check her airway and intubate her for theatre.
Mr Russell then spoke to us about his procedure and had warned us that if there was a problem then a tracheostomy may be performed, although we were confident that it would not be the case as this only happens to 1 in 300.
Grace was taken to theatre at 8am and we left her making her cat noises at the staff.
Half an hour later we were called to make our way urgently to theatres as Mr Russell needed to see us. He explained that Grace's airway was narrow and that they all felt a tracheotomy was best....Aron and I were once again distraught but had to consent as our daughter may not make it if she didn't get the trache.
Heart surgery was postponed and Grace was taken to PICU. We could not believe that our daughter would be silenced from that day. Four days later Grace was to suffer another setback as she became very unwell again and she was taken for heart surgery as it was thought her first shunt may have been failing.
She was too ill to have a repair done on her heart so a second BT shunt was placed in her heart. Grace returned to PICU and remained there for 11 days.
The day after her heart procedure she was diagnosed with swine flu, we again were left feeling very worried as we knew this could be deadly for anyone with medical conditions. We sat by her bed day and night until she was well enough to be transferred back to Clark Clinic in Belfast on 8th March. Although we had all been well looked after in Dublin we were so thankful to return to Belfast to familiar, friendly faces and to see our other daughter, Rebecca, whom we hadn't seen from we left for Dublin.
 |
| The McKee family present Jackie Fullerton, Children's Heartbeat Trust Patron, with a cheque for £4347, proceeds of Grace's Coffee Morning which was organised by the family. |
Grace recovered well and had her cleft palate repaired in May 2013 and then was eventually discharged on 20th June 2013 (four months after going into hospital).
It had been such a rollercoaster but we were out the other side!.
Grace celebrated her 3rd birthday on 19th October 2014 and she is a wee miracle. We all love her to bits.
Grace faces more surgery in 2015 to repair her heart and she gets regular check-ups in Belfast.
Dr Casey and his team along with all the other specialist teams we attend in RBHSC are fantastic and our wee loveable lady would not be with us today without them all.
We have met some wonderful friends along the way and are well supported by family, friends and of course the ladies of Children’s Heartbeat Trust!
.....................................................................................................
So peeps there you have it, a story that will hopefully give one of the reasons why I am turning the pedals for the Children's Heartbeat Trust this summer.
There are many stories similar to Grace's, please give what you can for this wonderful charity. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/OneManAndHisBike
Thank-you
Stephen
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