A little story from this week

First of all, sorry for the delay in posting this week. Time is rushing by and the 8th of May is just over  a week away. I am putting the finishing touches to my latest training blog and will post very soon. However I thought I would share with you a little story from this week.

Firstly, I have picked up a horrendous chest infection and haven't been anywhere near my bike since Saturday. If it's not gone by Monday I'm off to the quacks for antibiotics or steroids or a new body or something.

Anyway during the week my Mum, following a doctors appointment had to go into hospital. Mum being Mum didn't want to worry anyone and told Dad not to tell anyone. So as you can imagine, when we couldn't get hold of her or Dad all day we started to get worried. I went round to their house and there was no one home. I called Dad's mobile endlessly and just got a 'not possible to connect' message. I tried some friends of theirs just round the corner. Nothing! In the end I started panicking and called Stepping Hill hospital to see if a Mrs Knott had been admitted. She had, so I quickly drove down and found Mum and Dad in the Medical assessment unit. They had been there four hours and Mum had been given numerous tests an examinations. I gave her a good telling off in front of some other people in the room, for not letting us know. All she could say was "how did you find out" Parents hey! They think we are daft!

Peter Kay - knows how to dunk a biscuit

Mum introduced me to a lady who was in with her Mum. I think her Mum had been admitted with a suspected stroke and was in a wheelchair waiting for the doctor. My Mum had been chatting to them and they knew all about my cycling challenge. They had never heard of Ataxia, which has been a regular comment since I started raising funds for them. As a charity it is alway going to be hard for them to compete with the big guns such as Cancer UK and Children in Need.

I asked Mum if she'd had anything to eat or drink in the time she'd been there. I knew she wouldn't have as she never wants to put anyone to any trouble. She has always been like that and I'm always telling her off for it. Just then a nurse popped in and I asked her where I could buy a brew. The nurse kindly offered to make everyone a pot of tea for which she got a little cheer off the old lady in the wheelchair. So I thought I'd be cheeky and asked for some biscuits too. The nurse brought in five steaming mugs of tea and a plate full of 'Rich Tea' biscuits. Result! I could see the relief in Mums face. As the biscuits were 'Rich Tea' I couldn't resist the Peter Kay joke and asked the ladies if they dunked their biscuits. That was it, they were off. "ooh I love dunking, especially a digestive...with coffee" said the Mother. "ooh yes I do love a nice digestive". So I joined in, "no, what you want is a hob nob - they are the Rolls Royce of dunkers " Then the jokes started.

Rich tea - rubbish for dunking

Hob Nobs - the dunking SAS

The Lady in the wheelchair was a bit hard of hearing. She was a lovely lady who liked to join in and I don't want to sound cruel, but she was deaf as a post. This seemed to make the jokes that much funnier. Her daughter piped up with "what do you call a sheep with no legs?" and this is how the conversation went:
"sleep? I don't want to go to sleep"
"No Mum, Sheep!"
"why does a sheep want to sleep? - that's not funny?"
"No Mum what do you call a sheep with no legs? - a cloud"
" A cow? why are we talking about sheep and cows"
"No Mum - oh never mind -  What do you call a spider with no legs?"
"what spider? where Margaret? I don't like spiders"
It was just like a Peter Kay sketch and I was giggling away inside.
"No Mum, What do you call a spider WITH NO LEGS"
I shouted over "a CURRANT" upon which the old lady said "a curry? why would you put a spider in a curry"
Everyone laughed including the old Lady.

"Mrs Knott" came a voice from the corridor. The doctor had interrupted comedy gold. I was a bit disappointed as we headed out of the waiting room. When the doctor had finished, she told us that Mum would have to wait for the consultant registrar as the doctor wasn't 100% happy with things and we had to go and sit back in the waiting room. As we walked back in, Margaret and her Mum were heading for a ward. As she passed, Margaret gave me a £5 donation and said "good luck - I think its marvellous what you're doing" I was taken aback. What a lovely gesture from someone who didn't know us at all. I have been overwhelmed at the generosity of people since I started this challenge. It is very easy to get cynical with this world, but there is kindness and generosity wherever you look. I thanked them both from the bottom of my heart and hoped that the old lady was going to be ok. I even had a little tear or two.

JustGiving Total as of today. A huge thank you to everyone who has donated.

Mum had to stay in overnight, as the consultant wanted a CT scan and ECG doing and it was past midnight. Mum was not happy but we persuaded her it was for the best. We saw her to a comfy looking bed near the ward desk and Dad and I said goodnight and went home to get some sleep. Luckily the next day after a lot of tests Mum could come home. Phew! What a relief.

sub note

Stepping Hill Hospital has had a lot of stick recently in the media. I have to say that they were nothing short of fantastic with my Mum. Very caring and thorough in their examinations and they looked after her like she was their own Mum. So a big thank you to them from me and our family.