Hi all,
Been rather busy dealing with issues at home and obsessing over rescue dogs online.

8 months since my accident and I still have the emotional range of a 14 year old.

Speech problems, immediate memory non-existant, can't get my body above a slow walking pace, delightful tinnitus and the amazing ability to empty my bank account in seconds if left unattended anywhere near a gambling website.

I am on enough medication to immobilise a rhino just to function without becoming a homicidal maniac. All great fun.

The medication certainly helps ease the more painful symptoms and enable me to come to terms with what I CAN do and not grieve and stress so much about what I USED to be able to do. Oops, would write what meds but I can't remember!!!

I now have Louis, the most amazing young rescue dog, as my constant companion - he is always guaranteed to make sure I get home safely if I forget where we are and is big enough to pull me along if my legs forget what they're supposed to be doing.

Now that Louis is here it has given me the strength to finally get my unsupportive partner to move out. I can hear him packing as I write this.

I have my dog, my mum and my amazingly understanding kids. I do not need to have my energy sapped any longer by someone who will not accept my limitations or make any attempt to understand or support me

Love to everyone x

So glad you have your Louis and family to help and support you - that's wonderful. Good idea to get rid of unsupportive people, have done a been of a spring clean myself.

Just have to ask ......

"mum of 2. Senior zoo keeper and former prison officer"

Which role came first - that's some transferable skills

Lol, started as a zoo keeper from tender age of 17, had to have a break after a back injury and ended up as a mother of 2.

Divorce led to a sojourn as a prison officer for 4 years, I found it just as rewarding as zoo keeping.

Family death in custody led to another halt in proceedings so came back to zoo keeping where I am most at home. Handrearing a gorilla certainly helps when rearing your own babies.

Being able to persuade a chimp or tiger to do what you ask just by body posture and tone of voice certainly helps when dealing with murderers who want to fight each other!

This last head injury has put paid to all that - so its me and my dog now

Must have some interesting after dinner stories

Must admit after a few years without a st bernard would love to have another one.

I had a St Bernard mix back in 1975. It was a beagle / St Bernard mix. At full size, she had the body structure of a beagle pup but was the size of an adult beagle. She had big paws and legs and the heavy face of a St Bernard.

I lost me two beagles three years ago to old age at 14 1/2 years. They were great companions for a person with PCS. I miss them coming inside to check on me.

Going off topic but - my youngest son would not be here without the efforts of one of St Bernard's. He was born just shy of 3 month premature when he was released he came home with a heart monitor and oxygen tanks. As soon as he came home she would only sleep underneath his cot despite our initial attempts to discourage her. Then we discovered the reason Several times she would sit up and nudge him just before the heart monitor went off - the nudge was just enough to start him going again. She wasn't taught this - just did it by instinct.

A debt that could never be repaid

That's a lovely story, sospan!

Thanks,

Writing the post made me realise how much I really miss having a dog around. Something about the companionship you can only get from a canine

Not everyone has the strength to go thru a journey of ill health. To many will cling to each other out of fear. For some they tear each other apart and if a family is involved there is always callateral damage. It is better for all and maybe the most loving thing to do is separate.