Cheese tastes good

Cheese selection from the Arts Centre

Ron Mueck Exhibition at The Christchurch Art Gallery

Sept 19th Update

Hard work, exercising my posterior deltoids - new triceps.

Some things never change!!

Hey Everyone,

Things are going smoothly and time is going quickly at Burwood. Tomorrow my wise and intelligent physios will allow me the right to bend my arms to 75 degrees, leaving only one week until I can take my braces off during the day. This will allow me to regain some independence - yum.

The earthquake was pretty wild, with being stuck in bed leaving me no option but to wait and hope nothing would fall on me. Luckily there was no damage or falling debris to take like a champ. I'm pretty used to the after shocks now, but the odd decent one still gives a moving experience.

Its been good seeing cousin Nix and brother Robert and other cuz Libs in recent times.

Stay classy San Diego,

Tim

Tim meets John Key

John Key visited Burwood Spinal Unit on Fri 27th August.

Tim and his room mate Guy Irwin

Click the link below to access the National Party photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nznationalparty/sets/72157624846487802/

And also Alan Bean

Troids Surgery

Trip from recovery back to the spinal unit 10.2.10

Can't fit in the door, so we went outside (9pm!) and through the larger door from the courtyard.

9 days like this

Over 3 days his arms are lowered to his sides

Tims loving spinal unit cat Alfie on his bed!

Day 10 post op, last dressings are removed, arms washed and

physio picks up pace.

Hi Everyone,

I arrived at Burwood on the 8th ready to have surgery on the 10th of this month. I enjoyed socialising with Chris and Kate (Gilmore-ish) in my last moments of freedom before my surgery.

I've been here for 14 days and everythings going well. For my surgery they surgically separated my posterior deltoid and tied it to my paralysed tricep with part of my hamstring. I was in the crucifix position for 9 days. Now my arms are still completely straight, but are by my side, meaning I can mobilise in my motorchair.

Its hard getting reused to being SO dependent on everyone elses help, for things such as scratching, eating, grooming and all computer work. I now know what it must be like to be paralysed from the neck down (C2) - not cool. Its been pretty painful so far but the longterm rewards are going to be awesome.

On Monday they will bend my arms by 15 degrees and will continue to do so weekly for the following 7 weeks up until 90 degrees, at which point the splints will be taken off. I've already briefly felt the effects of my triceps and being able to extend my elbow again is beyond incredible.

I will continue to rehab here for another 4 weeks till the start of November to make full use of my arms. My end goals will be to relieve pressure from my bum independently and transfer myself from chair to bed / car / rugby chair as independently as possible. This troid surgery will also be very beneficial for things like reaching, dressing and punching. I still need more tendon transfer surgery early next year, to develop my right wrist and thumbs.

I'm in here with another C5 friend Guy, with the same surgery a month down the track. Its motivating seeing the improvements he's making.

Its been awesome having Rettykins and Georgyina visit two days after my surgery, Cassinova and Rosco with chocolate fish flowers and thai. I appreciate their diligence holding a bowl under my chin, while I was trying to chuck - from pain relief side effects.

Thanks for all your messages. Sorry I haven't been able to reply to many. Good to receive them anyway.

Bye for now

Tim

Wheelchair Rugby

July 2010 Update

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd give you an update on how things have been going

just ahead of surgery. A short time after the last post I celebrated my 21st

for the 4th time. It was pretty sweet because this time I wasn't left out of the drinking. Also apparently some of my friends have morals and decided speaking ill of the dead has some similarity to speaking ill of a person on a ventilator in ICU. So this time there were a few more ruthless tales that surfaced.

Since then I've been to every home game on my season pass, and I've completed another 300 level psych paper. I got the mark I was looking for which has opened up the possibility of future study.

In May the olds and Robert flew to Dunaz for my graduation. I made the front page of the ODT (Otago Daily Times) and as a result found myself

involved in conversations with more strangers than I'm used to.

On Tuesday 10th August I'm going back to Burwood in order to receive surgery that will hopefully give me triceps function in both arms. I will be in for 10 weeks, heading back to Hamilton late October. So wish me luck and see you on the other side.

Tim

Funds raised from Golf Tournament

Hi Everyone,

We now have the news you've been waiting for - the total funds raised from the Golf Tournament on the 31st January was $9925.99. Just soooo fantastic. The money has been banked into Tims Trust account and will be used for sports activities such as wheelchair rugby, as ACC doesn't cover sport related costs.



Once again massive thanks to Mark and Lorena and their team at Anglesea Motel, Gary and Michelle Dillistone, and Julian and Michelle Barnsdale for making it all happen and succeeding in creating a very fun day for about 100 family, friends and supporters. Thanks too to all the sponsors and participants. The raffle was won by Ben, a keen 15 yr old golfer from Kerikeri.



Love to all

Viv and Tim

Tournament Moments

The Day After the Tournament

H Everyone,

Many happy thoughts of yesterday, albeit for the weather. My last blog had stated clearly gentle clouds and rain banned - but someone was not listening! Nevertheless an incredibly successful event for all. Tim was confined to the clubhouse due the rain, with a small group of special friends for company, and a jug or two to await the return of the masses. He caught sight of the players in nearby bunkers!

The hours and hours of preparation by Mark, Lorena, Gary and Michelle Dillistone and Julian and Michelle Barnsdale paid off big time. We called it a day half way through due the thunderclouds competing for attention with Parachute music in the next field. Then it cleared for a bit. The 'real golfers' were feeling abit shortchanged and would have happily continued. The other 50% were feeling like drowned rats and the word "one more hole to go" bought happy faces to many. By the time we'd all settled in the club house, with a complimentary drink and platter of food, Marks secret raindance (for more rain so no one would feel sad), had paid off and it was nothing short of torrential. No doubt in anyones mind the timing was right.

Our favourite auctioneer Andrew (Tims high school friend) relished in his temporary role persuading us to take advantage of great bargains. I will bring you the final results when we've had a tally up. Amazing prizes followed, some for golfing achievements, and most drawn out of a box for each team. A list of sponsors will follow. No one missed out and the prizes were incredible.

The raffle was last - we shook a container of balls and Tim read out three numbers 077. It was Ben Luke from Kerikeri who won the Golf Cart. He was at Parachute and his phone was flat, so he doesnt know yet! The Luke family are close friends of my sister Janet. Their sons are very keen golfers. So exciting.

I asked Lorena, Mark, Julian, Michelle, Gary and Michelle up the front at the end of the prize giving to say thankyou. However i lost the plot emotionally (whats new) and couldn't find any words. From Tim and all our family, heartfelt thanks for your scheming and plotting last year "what can we do for Tim" while he was in ICU and then rehab. And for actually making it happen. Many hours freely given, for enlisting support from local businesses, family and friends, for setting up and selling raffle tickets, transporting BBQ's onto the course, cooking BBQ's, organising registrations and teams, for collating the sponsors names and logos, and auction list, generally excellent management. And for every raffle buyer, volunteer to help onthe day, those who registered and turned up and played in such horrible conditions and every sponsor.

Finally special thanks to Anglesea Motel for the use of their resources and staff along the way.

Now as Tim would say THE END. Photos and sponsors names will follow.

Cheers Viv

2 days to go till Tims Tournament

Hi Everyone,
How exciting. Not long now till the big day. The registrations and prizes continue to come in . Such creative and generous ideas.
And everyone is posting raffle butts back to Anglesea Motel in time for the big draw on Sunday.
Thanks massively to you all for the hard work.
All we need is the sun shining - or maybe gentle clouds, but rain is banned.
See you all there at 1pm to tee off. And still alittle room left if you still want to play.
Love Viv, Tim and family, And the team at Anglesea - Mark, Lorena, and Nicole.

Intensity to Come

Hi Everyone,
Things back in Hamilton started pretty well and I settled into my new routine quickly. I've been seeing friends and family heaps, going home for meals and reestablishing my social lifestyle pronto. All my equipment such as bed, tilt table, arm bike and wheelchairs have slowly been filtering through the door. My teams of carers are getting sorted with some leaving and some being asked to leave. My motel unit is really nice, and the interior decorator (motel owner Mark), put up my massive Chiefs banner and an oil painting Sally painted and gave me for Xmas. I managed to get a sound system and TV sorted too. I found an adaptive X box controller on an American website, so have enjoyed some gaming.

Unfortunately an incident falling out of my wheelchair landed me on bedrest for a few weeks. If that wasnt frustrating enough, towards the end of the duration of my bedrest, my knee started swelling up, causing me to sweat with every turn. We didn't know the cause and neither did my GP, until about 5 days later when my thigh became swollen as well. So I called Mum (who was holidaying in Kerikeri with her sister Janet), called my GP and went to A & E, where Dad kept me company for the four hours I was there. The next afternoon during an ultrasound, they diagnosed what we all predicted - two clots (DVT deep vein thrombosis) behind my knee. So my left hip and thigh remain extremely swollen (9cms larger than right side).

New Years was surprisingly successful for bedrest. Having friends camp in the lounge before and after New Years, and getting up to party on the night. I've watched heaps of DVD's, and highly recommend Freedom Writers, Babel, and The Great Debaters.

In the next couple of weeks I'm looking forward to the Charity Golf Tournament on the 31st January, ACDC on the 4th Feb and on the 6th Feb, a party with some of my friends for my 21st last year. Being on a ventilator makes it hard to seriously party.

(Something to finish)
Tim

Only 9 days to go till the Tim Young Charity Golf Tournament

Hi Everyone,
There's much excitement brewing at Anglesea Motel and everyone is working hard to make Tim's day a great success. The support is rolling in and we are blown away by everyones generosity.

There are a variety of ways people are supporting the tournament and further support is welcome:
Register to play in the tournament
Sponsor a player @ $50 per player
Purchase raffle tickets for $10 each or a book for $100
Donate prizes for spot prizes and for the auction.

Every team member will receive a drink, platter of food and prize after the event. And the prizes are so awesome. So how can you lose. Come and have a great day of golf. Lochiel is a lovely course and there will be refreshments to sustain you along the way. Love to have you with us. There's still time to register though its filling up fast.

Huge thanks to Sponsors to date:

• Anglesea Motel
• Bay Radiology
• Beautiful You
• Brian Perry Foundation
• Collins Footwear, Hamilton
• Colonial Lodge, Taupo
• Convex Plastics
• Daytona Raceway
• East Side Foods
• Gilmours
• Golf Pacifer
• Hamilton 400
• Hamilton Squash & Tennis Pro Sho
• Highway Supplies
• Hose Supplies
• Lochiel Pro Shop
• Liquor King
• Pro Drive
• Radio Networks
• Progressive Accountants
• Solid Energy
• Speights Ale House
• Smith Family, Australia
• St Andrews Pro Shop
• The Cut (golf magazine)
• The Dunn Family - The Boatshed Studio, Kerikeri
• ''The Gunit'' (Tims grandparents), Mt Mauganui
• The Mill Liquor Save
• Urban Seating
• Vivien Young Psychotherapy Ltd

We will update you at the conclusion of the event, about the total proceeds we have successfully raised for T J Young Family Trust, from the Raffle and Tournament.

Once again thankyou for your kind support.

Warm regards, Viv