Tonight Alex was on top form: laughing loads, dancing in his chair to tunes on the Music channel in the TV area. He particularly liked Hey Hey! We’re the Monkeys, and you could see how much he wanted to just get up and dance. The strength in his legs is really good, his upper body strength is improving as he can now shuffle himself into an upright sitting position in his chair. When John and I visit, we always try to encourage him to continue to try as hard as he does at his physio. We asked him what his favourite food and drink were – he said McDonald’s cheeseburger and beer – so this time we said his goal was beer, a cheeseburger and a night on the tiles!

When I told him his friends, Jamie and Nick, are doing a sponsored Surf Spot walk for him in France, he said – pretty clearly – “Yeah? That’s wicked! Good for them.” Company is what he craves – even earwigging other patients’ and visitors’ conversations. He is getting stronger, but there is still such a long way to go. Thank you for your continued support.