“Acipenser oxyrhynchus” by Duane Raver/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Well, after yesterday I slept like the proverbial log, content, by the end of it, that the rollercoaster had ground to a halt. This morning it would be a slightly later start than usual. I had time for housework and a quick bath before leaving and consequently headed to my son’s home, if not in my Sunday best, then at least decently dressed, hair and make-up done and feeling not only human but ever so slightly glamorous. It made a nice change. Mornings are usually rushed and practical.
I took my time, filled up with petrol, bought something for a lunch on the run… and arrived early. Nice. We would have a leisurely journey to London and might even get chance to stop somewhere for a coffee.
The morning was glorious though… hawks in the sky and finally some sunshine. In fact, it promised to be hot. Between the car and the front door my first job every morning is to feed the fish. There seemed to be a lot clustered at the far end around a strange looking thing sticking out of the water. I walked round…
The sturgeon, the best part of three feet long and gorgeous, are bottom dwellers… they seldom surface except in hot weather to bask for a while in the shallower end of the pond. They are ancient, the fossil record takes them back 200 million years, and they are very special. Most species of sturgeon are also considered to be at risk of extinction. It makes looking after them a true privilege.
This one had its head right out of the water though….
Another was resting on a planting shelf half out of the water…
A third was belly up and gasping. The pump had stopped working. The stream bed was bone dry so it had gone some hours earlier… the fish need both the filtration and the oxygen from the falling water. They were in trouble and dying. I put the hosepipe on to spray the surface and restore at least some oxygen.
Then shouted to alert my son, all clean and tidy for our journey. We’d been here before, when Stuart and I had called on our way to Glastonbury one day and knew the fish couldn’t wait. The sturgeon feel it first and suffer badly, then the koi. The others are a little hardier.
The next hour was one of panic, green gunge, fuse boxes, electrical work and hauling the pond pump to the surface, full of weeds, wet worms and leeches to try and restore order… By the time I finally flicked the switch again we both whooped in relief as the water began to flow once more. By the time we left all the sturgeon were swimming and the right way up. We could at least hope they would be okay.
I’ll draw a veil over the other disasters… the call from one family member to ask for help as they had just crashed the car. The young couple and their toddler were, thankfully, okay. The furious call from another about a piece of incompetence that has put back our plans by months. The accident that kept us sat in traffic for hours in hot sun…
Because, apart from all that, it was a good day.
The appointment that had taken us to London saw my son walk in with a frame rather than being pushed in a wheelchair. It saw him walk out with immeasurably better posture and more confidence with the new orthosis custom made to help correct some problems with the right leg. That had been touch and go… costing more than I earn in a month, at first it seemed as if it would do little good after all. But a few alterations and the difference was amazing.
The day also saw a proposal from the rehab facility he is working with that will allow him to be part of an inspirational new project to help others facing similar challenges. Something my son has always said he wants to be able to do.
And it saw Nick looking forward with increased delight to the new adventure he is planning… and which I can’t wait to share here!
It also, to round things off nicely, saw me collect the PC on the way home… duly recovered and ready for work… and now, finally reinstated with its nice, new monitor.
So, although the day was pretty much fuelled by adrenaline, it wasn’t all bad and could have been much worse. Which just reinforces the idea that you can just never know what the day has up its sleeve, or even how things will turn out in the end if you let them unfold. The fish seemed fine by the time we finally made it home… and eleven hours after I’d left, what with one thing and another, I finally got that coffee…
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Sturgeon are really tough. They’ll be fine. I’ve caught and released many from Idaho’s Snake River.
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They do seem to be. Almost a year ago tot the day we found them in a similar state… and they are fine. I suppose after such a long evolution, they would have to be 🙂
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There’s always something just busting a gut to destroy the mighty plans of mice and men. Your sturgeon sound fantastic. Worth saving!
Wish Nick all the best from a fellow traveller. Last Friday night, we all went of to a talk by Kurt Fearnely the Australian paraolympian who has won more Gold medals than he probably knows what to do with. His talk was amazing and I’m going to do a post once I fnish his book, although perhaps the book should be separate. His book is called “Pushing the Limits”. He was born with a disability but was also in a few car accidents while trqaining and his ability too bounce back was incredible. He talks about how community support got him where is now and his family and you can see the serendipitous good luck he encountered along the way.l Those “meant to be” experiences. I have read a lot of survivor stories qand this one is very fast paced and thrilling. Highly recommend it as a motivational boost xx Rowena
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I’ll pass that on to Nick 🙂 Thanks, Rowena. Support makes a huge difference… even just a comment on a blog post can boost Nick’s day… it can’t be overstated! x
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The neuro journey is so loing and slow and can be very isolating…especially when you’re down the track a bit ands the progress slows down. takes longer and you’re not so conscious that you’re still making gains. Don’t know if he’s had setbacks but from the peo-ple I’ve met the setback hit very hard…unexpectedly so…just so you know. Forewarned is forarmed!!
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Yes, there have been innumerable setbacks and they do indeed hit hard. I agree, when progress slows to a point where it is hard to see on a daily basis, it gets very difficult to maintain hope and determination. It is useful, we found, to look back at the worst moments and see how far you’ve come. On a scale of 1-100… , with one being where you began and 100 being where you want to be…where were you a year ago.. six months… a month… and whare are you now in relation? It does help put it in perspective x
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What a day!
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Just a bit 🙂
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I’m tired from READING your day!
I’m so glad you were able to help the animals – they can’t help themselves.
I’m happier that your son’s walking is improving – and that he’s already thinking about how to give back. With the CFS, my possibilities for giving back are limited to money and words – I can’t help: by the time I got somewhere to do something, I’d have to turn around and come home. It is irritating.
I use AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses) on both legs. They help me walk, but it isn’t a natural walk, and I still use walking sticks or a walker, and I get tired and in pain quickly. What kind of doctors are supervising your son’s rehab? I’m sure I need to strengthen some particular back muscles somewhere.
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Nick’s aim has always been to be able to give others what he himself lacked in the early days… someone who had ‘been there’ and really understood some of the battles they were facing. I am hopeful that the Royal Bucks Hospital can help him achieve that.
The AFO Nick had originally, years ago, didn’t help him much. This one is a custom made, hinged affair thatallows him to achieve a proper heelstike and flex the foot while combatting the spasticity and inversion. By doing so it also helps the hyperextension of the knee and yesterday his gait and posture were instantly improved… so it is looking good.
Nick has done most of his rehab himself without supervision, just input from the research we have done, observation and common sense. He is now having private rehab at the Royal Bucks Hospital close to home. Traditional physiotherapy, conductive therapy, hydrotherapy and the use of the Ekso exoskeleton, in combination with all the things he does at home make his recovery a full time job… and worth every second!
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You both humble and inspire me with your glass-half-full take on life.
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Well you know, it’s only ever half empty because we drank the other half 😉 x
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Yay for you, getting all gussied up but not hesitating for a minute when the fish needed help. And I know it’s not the cleanest job in the world. I’m glad you were able to save them. I’m thrilled also to learn of Nick’s progress but also that he’ll be able to help others suffering the same way. Help? I meant inspire with all that he’s managed to do in a relatively short time. I’m sure he’s aware as I am that he has a lot to thank his mother for. Her grit and determination for one thing and encouragement for another as well as all the care given during the worst times after the accident.
You’ve been an absolute Star Sue and it looks like nothing will change that.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The fish are fne this morning, David, and tomorrow I get to get all done up again for lunch with a friend from the other side of the world.
Nick, meanwhile, is talking with the people at the private rehab place he has been working with and it looks as if he will get his wish of being able to be of use. And that’s wonderful 🙂 xxx
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Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
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You ability to rise above everything inspires me, Sue
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It probably has somethingto do with being so short… I’m used to standing on tiptoe to see anything 😉 x
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You have an indomitable spirit, Sue… you make me look for all the good bits in my own life, and I thank you for that!
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Stubborn genes, you see 😉
Thank you though. That matters x
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Great news about Nick and I’m pleased you managed to save the sturgeon. Bet that coffee tasted pretty good when you finally got it.
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The sturgeon are fine today and enjoying the sunshine… and I left Nick sunbathing, so all is well 🙂
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Congratulations to Nick! And…..maybe try to get the coffee first….ALWAYS. 🙂
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I like at least two before I move as a rule 🙂
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It’s good that you know your requirements. 🙂
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At least where coffee is concerned 🙂
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Just a day in the life….❤️
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I’d rather not make a habit of it 😉
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Phew! What a day! And all’s well that ends well… except that it sounds rather better than that, it sounds great! Your son will be fabulous on that project, I feel. And great news about the walking! 😊
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You can appreciate what a relief it was to see the AFO actually making a difference 🙂 x
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I surely can! I’d have cried to see it!
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Saying nothing… 😉
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You dont need to. 😙
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😀
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Wow, amazing how you manage to taking it all in stride (is there any choice, I hear you say). Glad the fish revived, quick work there. So happy that Nick is going to get the work that he has been desiring, I’m sure he will be awesome!
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It all came together in the end 🙂 Somehow, it usually does…
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Gosh Sue, you never stop! I am exhausted by the time I get to the end of your posts! How wonderful that Nick is progressing so well, and even more so that he is going to be involved in helping others too, I am thrilled that your fish have survived and impressed that you knew how to sort them out!!
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A year ago, almost to the day, we had the same scenario with the fish. This time was a lot less panic stricken 🙂 Excellent news for Nick though 🙂
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Well it is wonderful that they were all saved, and it must warm your heart to see Nick’s continued progress. 🙂
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Oh it does 🙂 And I can’t wait to share what he’s up to next 🙂
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I look forward to hearing it 🙂
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Oh I can’t wait … 🙂
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Okay, I’m now completely exhausted reading about your lovely day! The best part must have been that there were no Ani shenanigans!
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Well it was nice to find her pretty much where I’d left her 🙂
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