toby kerr - injured

[Andy W]

Great to see Toby making such fantastic progress – the man’s made of Iron!

Thanks to Maya and Keith for keeping us updated.

Andy

[Andy E]

Fantastic stuff, keep it coming Toby !

[Maria David]

That is really impressive - so pleased to see you back on a bike Toby. Keep up the great work

Thanks to Keith and Maya for the updates.

[Keith]

A week ago a few of us went to St George's to present Toby with the Road Race Trophy in advance of last night's Annual Dinner.
[img]http://i52.tinypic.com/2qdqr0z.jpg[/img]

[Keith]

I realise that I haven't given any updates recently - I'd best put that right.

Toby continues to improve each time I call in see him at The Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre in Wimbledon. His speech has improved considerably, he's more self aware and last week, with the assistance of a couple of the physios he stood and took a few tentative steps around the room.

[Amy]

Thanks, Keith - it's not that we forget... just that life keeps getting in the way...

It's good to hear Toby is making such good progress - the brain is such an amazing thing and the scientists/doctors still don't understand it completely - it keeps doing things that otherwise seem impossible

Come on, Toby!

[joyce]

More good news.Thanks Keith for once again giving us an update.I'm always being asked for news about Toby,so I can now give some more good news. He will slowly keep improving I'm sure.Yippee
Joyce

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Remarkable progress! Great news!

[Brian Robinson]

Toby,

Keep up the good work!

Brian

[JamesM]

Hi All,

I'm a London Dynamo rider that raced a few times with Toby last year. I just wanted to let all of you who are close to Toby know that we have been checking on this forum for updates on his progress and are so pleased to see that some forward steps are being taken.

I hope that our message of support makes its way to Toby's family, we can only imagine how difficult it has been.

We'll check again for updates and hope to see the other Addiscombe CC riders at the races this year.

Many thanks

James Mickelburgh
London Dynamo

[Keith]

[quote]
Hello all,

Toby was very keen for me to post something thanking you all for the messages of support. They have meant a lot to him and have been great for boosting his moral. I know Keith gets a lot of requests for updates, so I thought I should write a small summary of Toby's injuries and progress so far.

Toby sustained a massive right sided brain haemorrhage and multiple smaller bleeds in both brain hemispheres. He also has diffuse axonal injury, which is where there is shearing of the white and grey matter in the brain, common in a high velocity injury. He spent 4 weeks in a coma and a further difficult 4 weeks with intermittent eye opening, but little responsiveness (lights on but nobody home). During this time, he required breathing support and was fed through a tube in his stomach. He had significant left sided paralysis including the facial muscles.

Real progress started on the 26th Dec, when he gave us the best Christmas present ever, uttering his first word- Hello. At the beginning of January, Toby was transferred to the Wolfson Neuro rehab unit in Wimbledon, where he continues to make great progress. He no longer needs any breathing support and now eats a normal diet. His speech (and sense of humour!) are intact and he can read and write. He does however slur his words due to the left facial muscle weakness, but the muscles are returning and he is receiving a lot of speech and language therapy to help with this. He now can sit completely unaided, stands with slight support and now is even walking a few steps with the physios help. His left arm is still non functioning, but I'm thrilled to say that as of 2 weeks ago, he has been gradually getting more and more movement in his left leg with activity in both the quads and hamstrings.

There are still a lot of hurdles to get over, and, as I am sure you can appreciate, as a sports person he struggles with the fact that the only healing factor is time (he was never known for his patience!) And, yes, he did get quite a shock with the new baby, particularly as his short term memory has been affected and he still struggles remembering me pregnant before the crash!

Toby says to warn you that he is determined to get back on his bike and hopes that none of you are slacking off, as he will need some decent competition!

Thank you all for your well wishes and support through what has been a very difficult time. There is no question that Toby is frustrated at his lack of mobility in general and being unable to get back on his bike, but we are extremely grateful that he is alive and still very much "Toby",

Maya

[Dombo]

Great news, Keith. Thanks for posting.

[Amy]

Thanks to Maya for the lowdown on Toby - yep, impatience is the hardest thing to deal with...

[kieran]

Maya, thanks for the details, the human body is really amazing and sounds like his brain is busy repairing itself. Good to hear he is up and can read and write, and communicate ok now. When is he going to post here? Best wishes to the 2 of you.

[Keith]

From Maya:
[img]http://i55.tinypic.com/fn7aip.jpg[/img]