Greetings all the many people who have asked to be kept in touch with what is going on in Scott Harding's life. This month's update is written by none other than Scott, himself.
Just believe in the big guy and say the following:
Scotty Hard Will Walk Again.
Just believe in the big guy and say the following:
Scotty Hard Will Walk Again.
Here is the August update from Scott himself:
Well, it's about time for one of these things to be written by yours truly, so here we go.This month has a very intense one, to say the least.On July 17th, I received a call from my brother Mike, telling me that my mother was in the hospital.She remained there for 2 nights with dangerously high potassium levels. They were able to bring her levels down,and keep them down, so she was allowed to leave the hospital on Saturday, the 19th. She had been battling cancer on and off for 16 years, and had been diagnosed again in 2005 when spots appeared on her liver. She subsequently received chemo that winter, and had been fighting it ever since. After spending the weekend talking to my Mom and Dad and brothers, I decided I needed to get out and see her. I spent the next week negotiating with the Beth Abraham administration and my therapists for a leave of absence. It was decided I could go for a week, and I scheduled my trip for the following Friday. It was the soonest all this could be organized, given all the particulars that needed to be sorted out. Christina Campanella offered to escort me out to Vancouver, and my dear friend Susan Fiedler got us tickets with her air miles. We were set to go. I spoke to Mom on Tuesday night (the 30th) while my Dad was at the airport picking up Brian, who was returning from Europe after having just done his first cruise. She sounded very weak, and was only able to say a few words at a time. I had a bad feeling that night before falling asleep that I might not make it to Vancouver in time. My fears were confirmed the next morning, when Mike called at 10am telling me Mom was dead. She had passed that night peacefully in her sleep. I was of course devastated by this news. My mother and I are very close, and she meant the world to me. It would take pages and pages to describe her and her wonderful life. Suffice to say that she will be missed greatly by me and my brothers and father, and to countless other people around the world. Heesok came up to the Bronx shortly after my call to him, and Sebastian and Leif came later than evening with some chicken and a few beers. So glad I had some good friends who could come and be by my side that day.On Friday morning, Christina arrived and we set out on this long journey. I wasn't feeling ready to make a trip like this at this point of my recovery, but I didn't really have much choice. It wouldn't be the first time I've jumped into the deep end. The trip started out poorly, as the limo company we had schedule days before didn't show up. They are called Lincoln Limousine, if you care to boycott them. Put them right up there with Metro Line car service in Brooklyn. After calling the local Bronx car service (2 minutes!!), a black Town Car arrived. I quickly abandoned my aversion to riding in said vehicles, and after a sliding board transfer, we were on our way to JFK.We checked in for our Air Canada flight at the United Airlines check in and were informed that all we needed to do was go to the gate. OK, seems normal. Next thing we know, we're standing at the top of a long staircase that leads to our gate, and after much inquiry, find out there is no elevator to this gate. So, back through security I go (Christaina's not allowed to come with me), through several back doors and corridors, and wind up at good old Gate 11. At which point the gate agent gives US shit for not telling them that I was in a wheelchair!!! OK, now we know. Make a very obvious point of telling EVERYONE along the way that I'm in a wheelchair. Even when I right in front of them. In a wheelchair. The rest of the trip was fairly smooth, and next thing ya know we're in rainy Vancouver, greeted at the airport by Chris and Clara and my brother Mike. Needless to say we were very glad to get there.The funeral was scheduled the following Thursday, so the rest of the time was spent seeing a few friends, making arrangements and putting together a collage for the memorial. As well as getting a feel for life back in the real world. I was given a wheelchair accessible apartment across the courtyard from Mom and Dad's place by their good friend Pat O'Rourke. A lift was installed at their place by Mike, Pauline and Simon Kendall, and their son in law Vince. And a ramp was built for the steps leading up to the front door by Simon and his buddy John. Many thanks to all those good folks. Couldn't have made it up to the apartment without those things.My Uncle Mike and our cousin David came out from Paris, Ontario, my Mom's hometown, for the funeral. Mike made a very emotional and touching speech and Brian wrote and performed a song with Finn Manniche (from our old band the JD's) on cello, Simon on piano, Randy Murray on bass and Willie Miles singing. My Mom had a big hand in preparing the service, and many of her friends participated by reading, giving communion, preaching and celebrating the service, as well as providing refreshments at the reception. There was a large turnout, and I saw many people from the past to the present, all of whom gave great tribute to my Mom's life. Mom's friend Linda St. Claire presided and Peter Elliot, the dean of the Cathedral, preached. They both did an excellent job that would have made her very happy. And Barry Cooke, her oldest friend from Paris, gave a speech and told a few story's of their early years.We returned the following day to New York. The return trip was far easier, as we had a much better idea of what to expect, and my old friend Ray Tseng hooked us up with passes to the first class lounge at the Vancouver airport, as well as seats in executive class. Nice. Thanks, Ray.I can't say I was glad to be returning to Beth Abraham after a taste of freedom, but there seemed to be unfinished business in terms of my rehab. The next week I finally made it to my Access-A-Ride evaluation with the help of Marc Berg, and went and picked up my new glasses from the optician here in the Bronx. That's another long story I won't get into. After returning to the Physical Therapy that afternoon, I learned that I needed to be re-admitted to the program. The next day I found out I had maxed out in PT (graduated??), but that I would continue doing Occupational Therapy till I leave. That led to the inevitable question of "When?". Well, it looks like that could be as soon as the first week of September, so there's some good news!That's about it as we head towards September. I hope this finds you all well and healthy.
Well, it's about time for one of these things to be written by yours truly, so here we go.This month has a very intense one, to say the least.On July 17th, I received a call from my brother Mike, telling me that my mother was in the hospital.She remained there for 2 nights with dangerously high potassium levels. They were able to bring her levels down,and keep them down, so she was allowed to leave the hospital on Saturday, the 19th. She had been battling cancer on and off for 16 years, and had been diagnosed again in 2005 when spots appeared on her liver. She subsequently received chemo that winter, and had been fighting it ever since. After spending the weekend talking to my Mom and Dad and brothers, I decided I needed to get out and see her. I spent the next week negotiating with the Beth Abraham administration and my therapists for a leave of absence. It was decided I could go for a week, and I scheduled my trip for the following Friday. It was the soonest all this could be organized, given all the particulars that needed to be sorted out. Christina Campanella offered to escort me out to Vancouver, and my dear friend Susan Fiedler got us tickets with her air miles. We were set to go. I spoke to Mom on Tuesday night (the 30th) while my Dad was at the airport picking up Brian, who was returning from Europe after having just done his first cruise. She sounded very weak, and was only able to say a few words at a time. I had a bad feeling that night before falling asleep that I might not make it to Vancouver in time. My fears were confirmed the next morning, when Mike called at 10am telling me Mom was dead. She had passed that night peacefully in her sleep. I was of course devastated by this news. My mother and I are very close, and she meant the world to me. It would take pages and pages to describe her and her wonderful life. Suffice to say that she will be missed greatly by me and my brothers and father, and to countless other people around the world. Heesok came up to the Bronx shortly after my call to him, and Sebastian and Leif came later than evening with some chicken and a few beers. So glad I had some good friends who could come and be by my side that day.On Friday morning, Christina arrived and we set out on this long journey. I wasn't feeling ready to make a trip like this at this point of my recovery, but I didn't really have much choice. It wouldn't be the first time I've jumped into the deep end. The trip started out poorly, as the limo company we had schedule days before didn't show up. They are called Lincoln Limousine, if you care to boycott them. Put them right up there with Metro Line car service in Brooklyn. After calling the local Bronx car service (2 minutes!!), a black Town Car arrived. I quickly abandoned my aversion to riding in said vehicles, and after a sliding board transfer, we were on our way to JFK.We checked in for our Air Canada flight at the United Airlines check in and were informed that all we needed to do was go to the gate. OK, seems normal. Next thing we know, we're standing at the top of a long staircase that leads to our gate, and after much inquiry, find out there is no elevator to this gate. So, back through security I go (Christaina's not allowed to come with me), through several back doors and corridors, and wind up at good old Gate 11. At which point the gate agent gives US shit for not telling them that I was in a wheelchair!!! OK, now we know. Make a very obvious point of telling EVERYONE along the way that I'm in a wheelchair. Even when I right in front of them. In a wheelchair. The rest of the trip was fairly smooth, and next thing ya know we're in rainy Vancouver, greeted at the airport by Chris and Clara and my brother Mike. Needless to say we were very glad to get there.The funeral was scheduled the following Thursday, so the rest of the time was spent seeing a few friends, making arrangements and putting together a collage for the memorial. As well as getting a feel for life back in the real world. I was given a wheelchair accessible apartment across the courtyard from Mom and Dad's place by their good friend Pat O'Rourke. A lift was installed at their place by Mike, Pauline and Simon Kendall, and their son in law Vince. And a ramp was built for the steps leading up to the front door by Simon and his buddy John. Many thanks to all those good folks. Couldn't have made it up to the apartment without those things.My Uncle Mike and our cousin David came out from Paris, Ontario, my Mom's hometown, for the funeral. Mike made a very emotional and touching speech and Brian wrote and performed a song with Finn Manniche (from our old band the JD's) on cello, Simon on piano, Randy Murray on bass and Willie Miles singing. My Mom had a big hand in preparing the service, and many of her friends participated by reading, giving communion, preaching and celebrating the service, as well as providing refreshments at the reception. There was a large turnout, and I saw many people from the past to the present, all of whom gave great tribute to my Mom's life. Mom's friend Linda St. Claire presided and Peter Elliot, the dean of the Cathedral, preached. They both did an excellent job that would have made her very happy. And Barry Cooke, her oldest friend from Paris, gave a speech and told a few story's of their early years.We returned the following day to New York. The return trip was far easier, as we had a much better idea of what to expect, and my old friend Ray Tseng hooked us up with passes to the first class lounge at the Vancouver airport, as well as seats in executive class. Nice. Thanks, Ray.I can't say I was glad to be returning to Beth Abraham after a taste of freedom, but there seemed to be unfinished business in terms of my rehab. The next week I finally made it to my Access-A-Ride evaluation with the help of Marc Berg, and went and picked up my new glasses from the optician here in the Bronx. That's another long story I won't get into. After returning to the Physical Therapy that afternoon, I learned that I needed to be re-admitted to the program. The next day I found out I had maxed out in PT (graduated??), but that I would continue doing Occupational Therapy till I leave. That led to the inevitable question of "When?". Well, it looks like that could be as soon as the first week of September, so there's some good news!That's about it as we head towards September. I hope this finds you all well and healthy.
Bests,
sh
0 comments:
Post a Comment