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Great idea Cougar, this shows how good a forum we can have at times.
Couldn't find a dinasaur postcard and I'm too far south in Scotland for a nessie one (was my second idea) so I'm afraid the closest I could get is a dragon card which I'll send off this weekend
Will pop a few quid donation in too.
George
Thread of the week, if ever I saw one.....
Hope it all works out for them. Donation made.
be in no doubt that a big part of why people have done something good is down to you.
🙀
I don't quite know what to do with that. Thank you.
At the end of the day it's not about me, I just thought the STW forum denizens might be able to - might want to - send a couple of missives to a young lad with tubes up his nose.
Again again again, thank you all.
The Skipperlets have made a small card which is in the post as per my earlier err, post! Suffice to say that while I give to charity etc, apart from buskers I don't normally give money to strangers. Mostly because I (rightly or wrongly) generally assume they'll just spend it on alcohol/drugs and I'd rather donate to the charities that help them. In this case however, even though that nice lady and her child are completely unknown to me, for some reason I felt compelled to help out. Seems like I am in the majority too so that's nice. Good on ya @Cougar.
Bump too 😉
So anyway, I’m currently sat in the pub trying not to look like I’m crying about this thread.
This place is absolutely magnificent sometimes, as are you Cougar.
Expect a postcard from The Black Country soon, we don’t have dinosaurs but we do have coal which is kind of the same but squashed and aged. Donation to be sent too.
Mostly because I (rightly or wrongly) generally assume they’ll just spend it on alcohol/drugs and I’d rather donate to the charities that help them.
They might as well have it, that's all I was going to spend it on.
Look what just fell into a Jiffy bag to be posted tomorrow.
I thought Mum and Sis might want cheering up to. I selected three that are hopefully not overtly feminine for Ren but will still appeal to the females.
They can each wear one and be connected by their matching jewellery. I will let decide who gets what.
Donated a few quid, I'd only have spent it on chocolate and booze.
OOps Donation made.
Good luck to them.
A small donation but hopefully it adds up.
Postcard will be sent this weekend.
Life is hard enough without being thrown curveballs like that.
Donation made. We’re in the middle of a bonkers week moving house but will try and get my girls to make a card and send it off. Best if luck to them.
I'm going to stop opening this thread, I don't think I can cope.
Nick, you $%^&ing legend.
Dino mug sent 😊
Get better soon Ren 🐉
Cried twice this morning, firstly Owain Wynn Evans's fantastic 24 hour drumathon for children in need.
Also this fabulous thread for a child in need.
Happy tears for once :0)
Dinosaur artwork and fossil tooth heading his way from my youngest.
Oooh. Do you think he would like some fossils?
Done picture postcard sent of silly picture of us mtb'ing in Wales last week
Do you think he would like some fossils?
"Definitely!"
On its way as soon as I can get to the post office
[img] 
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Everyone...ace
WCA...once again you are the man
Cougar...Good on you.
Donation/prehistoric something incoming.
Apologies Cougar, forgot to update.
All boxed up and posted, should arrive with them by Tuesday. Mrs H1ghland3r and I packed it all up as well as we could so hopefully it arrives undamaged. I think everything is in the box that they need to get going, cables etc.
The only thing I didn't want to do was create a PS account for him so that games could be updated (potential confusion with passwords and obviously I didn't have all the information required to create an account for him). I hope that won't be a problem.
Hope it cheers him up/distracts him for a bit.
#EDIT: Forgot to mention, not knowing what games he likes I tried to stick to the dino theme, so there's a copy of Horizon Zero Dawn (robot dinosaurs but still) and Lego Jurassic Park in there along with a few others.
Ren's had some colour return and is feeling a little brighter.
Granted, that colour appears to be ginger, but... (-:
Jo's effectively living at the hospital, but she's nipped home and things are starting to arrive now.
You lot.
Thanks for the update. Good to see him smiling.
Jo:
"The gifts are all amazing, even the cards have had thought put into them and lovely words😊you guys just rock! Oh and we got the dinosaur and letter from the 9 year old🤗 [this is the Renosaurus pictured earlier] sooo cute😊"
I thought you'd like to see this.
"9 Sept (11 days before admission when we didn't even know he was poorly) and today 14 Nov, 17 days post his second surgery)..."
Ace, good to see and hope the improvement is sustained.
Wow what a difference! made a small donation, you're a top man @Cougar for doing this.
Timely bump.
I was told by Jo yesterday that they were hoping to discharge Ren tomorrow - ie, today. I haven't had a further update so don't know whether that's happened, but either way I didn't think it appropriate to chase right at this moment.
Earlier this week she had a message from her next-door neighbour who is taking in deliveries for her in her absence. She wanted to know if Jo had had her credit card stolen. (-:
Home as of about an hour ago. Wobbly but walking.
"Say huge huge thank you to everyone (especially ps4 man!! He loves the games too😊😊)xxx"
Family back together. Ren, Jo, Seryn.
I may be a little emo, sorry.
Excellent news! Well done to them!
Hey that’s great news.. hopefully smooth sailing now for recovery.
@Cougar, I was telling my 9 year old son about this at breakfast this morning. He looked thoughtful for a moment before getting up and disappearing off upstairs for a while.
He came back down with one of his beloved toy dinosaurs and a little note he’d written:
“To Ren, I am sorry to hear you are unwell and I hope you get well soon. And I like dinosaurs too and I thought that you would like the one that I will mail to you.”
That got me.....
Sorry, only just seen this thread now. Will ping some money over and search for a card for each of them.
@blitz - lovely.
@WCA - top stuff.
Great news, he looks a lot better 👍
You're a set of absolute legends and I cannot thank you enough.
Jo, via Facebook, reposted with permission and names redacted:
This is a long post and I make no apologies...
Sitting at home surrounded by a mountain of bags, boxes of medication, unopened post, calendars saying September, clocks not turned back and countless heartfelt messages being added to last night's fb post, I'm becoming very... Emotional? Reflective? Thankful? Shell shocked? All of them and more...
I've said this before and I will continue to say it. There are not enough words to express how eternally grateful I am to each and every single person I know, and to an awful lot who I don't actually know, that has been here for us over the last 9 weeks. We truly truly needed all of you. Thank you thank you thank you!
To Seryn - the 13 year old girl who went to school whilst her brother went to the gp with a tummy bug and who came out of school to a complete tornado to cope with. You have been utterly amazing. Mature, brave, kind, loving, selfless. You have been so worried about Ren but you have got up and gone to school every day, even though your life has been turned completely upside down. You have been put through the mill just as much as Ren and myself but you have not complained at all. And now we're home you're raring to take on any caring role needed to help your brother. I love you and could not be more proud of you Sezza.
To my parents who took on the full time parenting role at the drop of a hat, for ensuring Seryn was coping, for trying their best to keep our family functioning on a practical level and for trying to keep us all sane.
To the amazing surgeons, theatre staff, consultants, specialists, doctors, nurses and the countless other people who have crossed our paths at Sheffield children's hospital. They saved Ren's life. Not an exaggeration, a fact. I will never forget any of them. The way those nurses tapped into Ren and got him achieving things I didn't think he would post op is truly astounding. Heroes each and every one of them.
To my friends who have given me the most amazing support mentally.
I've been so thankful of all those lengthy conversations and the supportive advice, be it face to face, phone call or text. There are too many of you to name, you know who you are. But believe me every single message, virtual hug, text, fb 'like' or comment etc has been gratefully received and has given me a lot of strength. Cards flowers and gifts just added to the love that we found people had for us.
And whilst there wasn't a lot people could do to help practically, it was clear to see that apparently there was a lot you guys could do for us...who on earth would set up a go fund me page on our behalf? And who on earth would give anything to it? I could have died when I saw what [Steve] had done that night...toe curling embarrassment filled my mind. But, you know what, it was so needed. Losing my work and my income because of this situation has been a nightmare we could have done without. You guys have ensured it is a nightmare I have done without. You are all absolute legends and I love you all. #teamren is a real thing (copyright [Lee]!)
And whilst I'm talking about that, [Alan] decided to mention on a forum about Ren 'hey guys anyone want to send a postcard to a sick lad to cheer him up?'...so we come home to a glut of postcards, gifts and a ps4 gifted by his friends (not to mention a lot of money added to Ren's page). The actions of complete strangers is so humbling.
To Ren, yep my eyes are filling up now. What do I thank you for? For being you.
For being the most amazing, brave, mature, pragmatic, stoic person I know.
For being the most kind, thoughtful, loving person I know (are you OK? Have you eaten today? Have you taken your tablets today? Remind me again who is ill and who is the parent?!)
For taking everything that was thrown at you with the most unbelievable acceptance and a very 'come on, let's get it done then' positive attitude. Mature beyond most people's years let alone yours.
For the determination you have shown. This was never going to beat you. The doctors could not believe how ill you were on arrival and can not believe how quickly you've turned it round post 2 major operations (the second only being 3 and a half weeks ago!)
For making this journey eventful (and that's an understatement if ever I heard one!). We've laughed our heads off, made ridiculous jokes at our situation (who else watches a programme called 'critical condition' night after night on the run up to your operation ffs?!), had deep and meaningfuls, made plans for our 'new normal' and had very few criss words unbelievably!
For making my job easy. People say they don't know how I've coped through it all. I've coped because you've made it easy. You are the most inspirational person I will ever know Ren and I'm beyond proud you are my son.
Wow that was longer than I thought!
Thanks for the update. Happy days!
I think I might need to buy shares in Kleenex.
Someone, SOMEONE needs to sort out the dust in this house.
Random reply to Jo's FB post:
"Not surprised that the mountain bikers came through on this."
Obvs. We're the best.
Unprompted: "They are beautiful. Absolutely over the moon with them. Brought a tear to my eye xxx"
Nice work, sir.
DUST
Glad they liked them and happy to help
Donated; will sort some dino stuff over the next few days.
I only just saw this today. Made a donation and there will be a postcard from sunny Wellington, NZ on its way to Ren tonight.
Just saw this too ... I'll send a get well soon card from an Australian hospital 🙂
... it may arrive in January of course.
I think I've got some coprolite somewhere from when a museum colleague was clearing out his desk and collection before retiring. I'll dig that out and send on over. Who won't love a bit of Dino poop?!
Aw, thanks all.
I'm really keen to get cards from that there Abroad, so a card from NZ would be ace.
In case you missed it,
Even though I never asked for money, the fundraising page has broken £5,000. We estimate that well over half of that at least is from STW donations.
I don't need to say it again, do I? Give yourselves a pat on the back, you set of miserable argumentative grumpy old magnificent cockbag bastards. I love you all.
Thanks, George.
Bit late to the party and finding it hard to read it all but if there’s still room for a Nessie card let me know. I’m in Glencoe so
almost certainly able to get one locally!
I remember an American telling me in all seriousness that dinosaurs did not exist because it was against God but he fully believed in Nessie and wondered why the UK Government were continuing to cover it up.
What was even more weird was that other than that conversation he seemed and entirely rational person with whom I had met on a ride and chatted for the last 20 miles to a youth hostel in Ludlow talking about all sorts of stuff.
WCA - that's americans for you; normal on the surface but all sorts of weirdness under the surface.
Frank, exactly what the American thought about Loch Ness.
🤣
@tartanscarf That would be brilliant, thank you. Not late at all, he's back home but still in and out of hospital.
We should all take inspiration from Ren, his mum and sister; they're the ones putting in the hard yards.
Mrwhyte - very good!
Well done for getting this going Cougar, I put a little bit into the GFM page and will get something in the post this week 🙂
Cougar, any news about the little lad?
He's been back into hospital a couple of times since. His... feeding tube? keeps coming out. Other than that I think he's doing OK. I messaged Jo just tonight but haven't had a reply as yet.
Thanks for asking.
Just a brief update. Ren's put a stone in weight back on - he'd fallen down to just 5st before they properly realised what was going on.
I thought, however, you'd like to see this:
"seryn was in charge of putting the cards on his wall at the weekend. I'll take a photo when I get chance tomorrow...there's been a couple from Guernsey, one from pyrenees..another one from maybe Netherlands? I'll have a look again tomorrow x"
Cards are still dribbling in so thank you all once again. I'm told a helicopter kit arrived a couple of days ago which he is very excited about putting together.
Cheers for the update cougar, good to hear he’s putting some weight on and hopefully improving slowly 👍
I’m told a helicopter kit arrived a couple of days ago which he is very excited about putting together.
🙂
Probably Az
He was always a fan of hekiloptors, and caaaahs. And being banned. Repeatedly.
Waiting for an MRI. Six stone 5 now, the tubby bitch.
He certainly seems to be looking a bit healthier. Thanks for the updates @Cougar. Hope the MRI goes fine and has some good news for the family
👍 I think this is just routine rather than any cause for concern.
Cheers.
Are cards still welcome? I wasn't sure if his family was starting to get tired of mail yet?!
Blimey.. Get that boy on a diet, look at the size of him.!! 😀
Are cards still welcome?
Oh, hell yes. Please do.
Thank you, lovely people in County Durham. That's ace.
Merry Christmas.
A Christmas card arrived from Canada a couple of days ago, Ren was stoked. Thank you. You lot are ducking amazing.
Christmas is dusty, who knew.
Thanks for the pic, hopefully things just get better and better for them.
A Christmas card arrived from Canada a couple of days ago, Ren was stoked.
Fantastic!
Thanks for the thanks, I don't want to be spamming.
Things look to be heading in the right direction. Little bugger's been through the wringer and Jo's hanging on.
Merry Christmas, one and all. I cannot thank you enough. You're a bunch of argumentative shitheads, but you're our argumentative shitheads.
I've got some relatives in New Zealand on the case so hopefully that'll be on its way shortly too.
How's Ren and his family getting on? Hopefully some post from NZ has arrived now as well.
Very kind of you to ask, thank you.
His feeding tube thing was removed about 4 weeks ago. His appetite has returned and brought friends. He's on bi-monthly infusions (of what I don't know), last one was a couple of weeks ago. He's looking a lot better.
Dunno about post, I'll ask.