Any pearls of wisdom you think I should share?
You know, I dont think there's any pearls of wisdom to alleviate any of his concerns right now. It'd be easier for me to speak to someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer than speak to someone in this guys condition.
Fair play Stu, well done.
You're probably right, I guess I asked the question on here to highlight his situation.
What was most interesting to me was his 'visitor book', many said in it (as did I) that after visiting him HE was the one who made the visitor feel encouraged.
His wife and sis-in-law are fantastic with the support they give and I don't have praise enough for the nursing staff, they are in a league of their own.
He said that since his accident many window cleaners who know him have converted to the pole, as has his brother. He added that he would do anything he could to encorage others to do the same.
So when I bang on about H&S I now have Darron in mind. It gives me more reason to 'evangelise' about safety.
My missus used to work in the spinal unit in Salisbury. The outlook for someone paralysed from the neck down isnt rosy. I think you'd have to be particular kind of individual to be able to pull things back together and make something of what remains of your existence. There are allsorts of aids and developments that help someone in that kind of situation but in all honesty its never going to be something we'd cherish or aspire to.
A 'friend' of mine, and I say that very loosely, jumped 25' off a bridge on to a dual-carriageway this time last year, he was paralysed form the waist down, in addition to two totally shattered feet. They were as minced as you could ever imagine. Anyway, a year later he is now 'walking', albeit with the use of one crutch. He has slowly slowly slowly managed to get himself back together, although one of his feet will never be of any use at all. But lookng back, this time last year we were visiting an invalid in a hospital bed who's only form of movement was by pulling himself up with his arms; whose legs were 'dead' and had no movement in them at all; he was having his back end evacuated by nurses and was looking to a future confined to a wheelchair.
Unfortunately his mind set doesnt appear to have changed a great deal since then, he'll probably do something equally stupid before long.
Saying that, miracles do happen, maybe this guy you are visiting will be one of them Stu. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.