I open my eyes and watch the fox circling on his clip above my head. Light streams through my window and fills my room with the promise of another day. Another day of being rolled over. Another day of beeping. It’s been two weeks since Kevin and I got hit, and the time seems to … More Chapter Six: Moving Day
And so our days fall into a routine. The nurses come and go, all of them angels – yes, really – doctors, consultants, surgeons; the constant flow of Lucy’s support team. In between, I read, or talk with Lucy, take photos of what’s around her – her wee bag (Gladys), the controls of the bed, the … More Mum’s Story – ICU
A lady is at the door. I have no idea who she is. “Hi Fran,” Mat embraces her with his whole body. She wears a long cardigan and big sturdy boots, her black and red hair quaffed perfectly into an elegant sphere. She walks over to my bed. “Hi Lucy. How are you doing?” “Good”, … More Chapter Five: The Kindness of Strangers
A mop of lively dark hair walks into my room wheeling a screen. “OK Lucy,” says the enthusiastic young doctor, “I have the CT scan I promised I would share with you”. Of course I have zero memory of this, but flash him a big grin, excited to be looking at something other than a … More Chapter Four: Beeps, Butts and Britishisms
For the next few days, I wake up every morning, genuinely surprised that the accident wasn’t a dream. It doesn’t disappoint me, or make me sad, it just surprises me. I open my eyes to look at the exact same spot I was studying on the ceiling before dozing off, and think to myself; oh, … More Chapter Three: ICU, The Early Days
Mat is here, and we are in a room full of white and beeping. There is a lady. She has short hair and is making noise. I pick up loose fragments: I have been in the Operating Room for 12 hours… … More Chapter Two: In and Out
‘Female. 31. High-speed motorcycle trauma. Significant blood-loss from groin area. Multiple fractures. Likely Pelvis. Neck. Deformed shoulder’. … More Chapter One: And then it Hit Me
I woke up this morning with an uncomfortable blend of dread and curiosity brewing in the pit of my stomach; the sort of feeling that consumes you when approaching the scene of a car crash. Is this about to be the start of something ‘uge? Will this date be etched in the history books for generations to … More It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Brexit
When I was about 8 years old, I had an alter ego. A dog by the name of Uffie. I would spend … More O is for… Otherkin
Characterised by the burning desire to ‘collect’ – i.e. reach the summit of – every hill on a given list, hill bagging is … More H is for… Hill Bagging
