Dear Friends,

Health Update

Here is the latest news concerning myself. However; before bringing you up to date, I would first like to set the record straight as to the circumstances, three years ago, that caused my debilitating injury. I was sitting outside on one of my patio chairs talking to my stepson, John, when I suddenly felt Ill. I asked John to fetch me a glass of water, and during his brief absence, I may have tried to stand up and either my heart stopped or paused which caused me to fall back into my chair, sent the chair toppling over and I hit the ground with such force on my left side that it compressed my fourth and fifth disc and bruised my spinal cord. I was paralyzed instantly. John came to the rescue each time I stopped breathing and, finally after my heart had stopped, he revived me with C.P.R. that he’d learned in high school several years earlier.

Now for the update on my current situation:

At the beginning of September I had successful surgery on my vocal cord. As a standard precaution, they kept me overnight for observation and during that time my nurse gave me my medication crushed up in chocolate pudding even though she had been given explicit instructions from the Surgeon (passed on by Linda) to NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK INCLUDING MEDICATION until the swelling went down. This caused me to aspirate and thus began a tragedy of errors for the next several weeks…aspiration pneumonia once, bacterial pneumonia twice, blood clot in my leg, bacterial infection in my trach (yes, I was on a vent with a feeding tube down my nose and UNABLE to talk for a few weeks-imagine that!) My wife, Linda, says that they almost lost me six times. Twice she was asked to contact family because they were not sure that I would make it. With all your prayers I am thankfully home and on the road to recovery. It will be two to three months before I fully recover my energy and strength and will be able to get back to my physical baseline, let alone make further progress.

I am truly humbled by all of your thoughts and prayers and I believe this has helped me to fight for my life.

I would like to recognize a few, special friends who have given me the extra encouragement and inspiration throughout my hospital stay. Thanks to Merv & Pam Forney, Beth Arnold, George Flew, Jil Chambless, Scooter Muse, Alasdair Frazer, Randy Farrar, Mark Salisbury (nephew), Fiona Richards (cousin), Neil Beaton (brother) and his family who packed in an hour and drove down from Toronto at lightning speed after they got the call from Linda that all was not looking good and to the Reverend Millie Slack (who visited me almost every day!) , and most of all, my greatest inspiration, my wife Linda. I cannot believe how strong an advocate she is for me. All of the medical staff was very impressed with her knowledge and questions regarding my health and well-being. Linda is simply amazing!

Now I am at home awaiting the green light from the VA to go there for Rehab for a couple of weeks…

I don’t want to let the year get by without thanking the various Scottish Festivals and the volunteers who manned my sales table.

Finally, I am ever so grateful to those who have donated to my well-being and for those who have purchased my recordings. These funds go towards therapy and care-giving and, as I require 24×7 care, this helps more than you may know.

Good health to you and your loved ones this holiday season!

Love,

Alex