Morning all.

Huge thanks to everyone who sent their best wishes, it was much appreciated.

My heart attack, like most people's I suppose, came out of the blue. I mean I suppose it could have been expected, I have a terrible family history with 2 grandparents, my mam, dad, and two younger brothers all having had one. But unlike most of them, I had no other risk factors. No high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no diabetes, non-drinker, no fags this century. I sleep well, and I'm rarely stressed, (Unless I've been golfing with tikay, but that's another story)

So there I was at about 3 in the afternoon, sitting on the settee, sport on the telly and the laptop open. I had just entered a $25 bounty hunter and a $15 freezeout, (I usually play $5 or $11 max so quite high stakes for me)

Suddenly... CRUNCH! Pain like an enormous pair of pinchers squeezing my chest, and even more pain shooting down both arms.

I knew immediately what was happening, and I knocked on the bathroom door where Mrs Red was cleaning..

Me: I'm having a heart attack.

Her: I'm having a heart attack who?

I quickly convinced her that I wasn't joking and she dialled 999. They told her that it would be quicker to take me to the hospital than to wait for an ambulance. We recruited our eldest daughter as driver and off we went, me doubled up in the rear foot well, Mrs Red on the seat brushing my hair soothingly with her foot.

We had a choice between The Royal hospital in Leicester, or the George Elliott in Nuneaton. We chose the GE because it's smaller and usually less busy.
When we got there A&E was absolutely rammed, every seat taken, people sitting on the floor, a long queue at the admissions desk..
I staggered past the queue and grunted, "Heart attack" to the nurse behind the glass.

The NHS is totally wonderful and I love it to bits. It's also teeth-shatteringly infuriating and I could run amok with a sledgehammer, smashing everything to pieces.

At this point, the wonderful part kicked in, a porter appeared with a wheelchair and whizzed me off to a cubicle where I was hooked up to an ECG machine, had a cannula inserted, blood taken, was given tablets, injections, and had stuff squirted under my tongue. In no time the pain started to ease, going from an 8/10 to about a 4 in a few minutes.

Presently, Mrs Red, who had been giving my details to the nurse at the desk arrived and asked what was happening. The doctor told us that I had been treated for a heart attack because of my symptoms and the ECG indications and they were now waiting for the results of my blood test. They were looking specifically at troponin levels. Troponin is a protein that is released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. If the count is over 6 that means it's elevated. Mine came back at 38.
"Wow!" I said, 38, what happens now?"
They assured me that 38 wasn't particularly high, but that they needed to measure it again in 2 hours because if there is damage, it would continue to increase for 12 hours.

The next reading was 577. At this point, the teeth shatteringly infuriating NHS took over.


TBC.

So very sorry to read this Tom. Sending much love.

Was just a scratch Mo  😁

Hope you are looking after that scratch well so it doesn't turn into  a 
 into a deeper cut. X

Unfortunately yes. Loads of tablets a day, well 10 so not loads compared to others but too many for me, Id like to stop them but they keep upping them. .

We just did a trial run....my heart played up so was a tad limited to what we did after first week.

Morning all.

Huge thanks to everyone who sent their best wishes, it was much appreciated.

My heart attack, like most people's I suppose, came out of the blue. I mean I suppose it could have been expected, I have a terrible family history with 2 grandparents, my mam, dad, and two younger brothers all having had one. But unlike most of them, I had no other risk factors. No high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no diabetes, non-drinker, no fags this century. I sleep well, and I'm rarely stressed, (Unless I've been golfing with tikay, but that's another story)

So there I was at about 3 in the afternoon, sitting on the settee, sport on the telly and the laptop open. I had just entered a $25 bounty hunter and a $15 freezeout, (I usually play $5 or $11 max so quite high stakes for me)

Suddenly... CRUNCH! Pain like an enormous pair of pinchers squeezing my chest, and even more pain shooting down both arms.

I knew immediately what was happening, and I knocked on the bathroom door where Mrs Red was cleaning..

Me: I'm having a heart attack.

Her: I'm having a heart attack who?

I quickly convinced her that I wasn't joking and she dialled 999. They told her that it would be quicker to take me to the hospital than to wait for an ambulance. We recruited our eldest daughter as driver and off we went, me doubled up in the rear foot well, Mrs Red on the seat brushing my hair soothingly with her foot.

We had a choice between The Royal hospital in Leicester, or the George Elliott in Nuneaton. We chose the GE because it's smaller and usually less busy.
When we got there A&E was absolutely rammed, every seat taken, people sitting on the floor, a long queue at the admissions desk..
I staggered past the queue and grunted, "Heart attack" to the nurse behind the glass.

The NHS is totally wonderful and I love it to bits. It's also teeth-shatteringly infuriating and I could run amok with a sledgehammer, smashing everything to pieces.

At this point, the wonderful part kicked in, a porter appeared with a wheelchair and whizzed me off to a cubicle where I was hooked up to an ECG machine, had a cannula inserted, blood taken, was given tablets, injections, and had stuff squirted under my tongue. In no time the pain started to ease, going from an 8/10 to about a 4 in a few minutes.

Presently, Mrs Red, who had been giving my details to the nurse at the desk arrived and asked what was happening. The doctor told us that I had been treated for a heart attack because of my symptoms and the ECG indications and they were now waiting for the results of my blood test. They were looking specifically at troponin levels. Troponin is a protein that is released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. If the count is over 6 that means it's elevated. Mine came back at 38.
"Wow!" I said, 38, what happens now?"
They assured me that 38 wasn't particularly high, but that they needed to measure it again in 2 hours because if there is damage, it would continue to increase for 12 hours.

The next reading was 577. At this point, the teeth shatteringly infuriating NHS took over.


TBC.

So very sorry to read this Tom. Sending much love.

We are a few years off it yet . Our dream is to retire. We wont be doing that in the UK so are looking at all our options. Thailand being No.1.

Hi Tony,
Still on the railway , still with Northern. Life's different now and I miss Stacey so very very much but I keep plodding along and book holidays so I have something to focus on. We've always loved travelling and now Reece can take care of himself it's a bit easier to do. I hope you are well and living life to the full. I wanted to post it was his 21st because its such a milestone we never thought we'd reach at times
. Xx

Well in truth we all feared the worst, & we all hoped for the best. His resilience, & your unwavering support, prevailed.

Now & then I find myself on a "Northern" train & I always look out for you. One of these days.

I'm fine thanks. Age is taking it's toll, everything aches & creaks, but all good.  

I'm suddenly reminded of taking Gill on holiday up to a cottage in Scotland around 12 or 14 years ago, & on Christmas Day we ended up having a coffee or a pot of tea in a pub in Plockton, up by Loch Carron in the Highlands, & you & I had a 'phone call & it all got a bit emosh & soppy.

In a way, Reece was the glue that helped bind the blonde Community together for so long.

I remember you being on holiday too. Blonde held me together for years, helped me get through so much with all the support especially Tom and yourself,  knowing I could pick up the phone and just call you. When things go on for so many years, like things have with this family, you tend to back off, well at least I did, as think people must think I am making some of this up. So much has happened and continues to do so in this little family it is quite hard to belive myself. I will keep fighting for Stacey and her case and always will support Reece as long as possible,  but we are thinking we need to try and think of us a little bit too before its too late. We have dreams and hope to turn them into reality...Everyone needs a dream. Xx

What is young Mr Reece doing these days?

How are you keeping Mo?
He is registered as unfit for work so he plods along. Doesn't do too much and his life mainly focuses on his bed room  xbox etc. He has a few very close friends from school that he occasionally meets up with, but doesnt quite have the energy that they have. They do come and pick him up too and off they toddle in a car. He also has a girlfriend who comes over every other weekend to stay. He doesn't go to hers much as his health conditions cause him to feel uncomfortable staying over.
I'm OK...unfortunately the trip to Thailand didn't go quite as planned as I was not well. I have a heart condition now and the humidity triggered it so was quite limited what we could do. Managed OK the first week or so. Still loved it though, can't wait to return but need more tests first.  I've managed to log in again to Blonde, for some reason I can only do it from my phone at the moment so if there are typos, get over it as I find it hard to navigate on this phone. Stay safe and hopefully see you at some point. X

Hi Tony,
Still on the railway , still with Northern. Life's different now and I miss Stacey so very very much but I keep plodding along and book holidays so I have something to focus on. We've always loved travelling and now Reece can take care of himself it's a bit easier to do. I hope you are well and living life to the full. I wanted to post it was his 21st because its such a milestone we never thought we'd reach at times
. Xx

Reece

Reece and O'Cean....
Not allowing the picture of Reece, I've tried various ways to reduce the size but I cant seem to do it.

Reece is back on TPN for the last year,  he tried a little break but they told us last August he needed to go back on but only he could make that decision,  but had little choice so either go back on 5 nights a week or we would lose him.
Anyway, he's now trained to put himself on and off so that's a massive help. Hes doing ok. Picture to follow.

Hi Tom, I also think of you and yours often.
We are OK, still got an ongoing case for Stacey  so its all very emotional still and always will he I guess.

I will do my best to get a picture of him when he surfaces from his pit.

Xxx

Hi everyone new and old....hope you are all well. Ive not been active as life has to take priority. .

Just thought I'd let you know that Reece is 21 today

Unreal....xx

The home office has ordered an enquiry into the police failings in Stacey's passing so i'm on a long road to justice. The enquiry has unearthed at least 35 individual failings on the police side of things. Her passing is now down to Domestic abuse homicide.   

Still waiting Mo! Glad to see he’s doing so well

It's on its way...