Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Slow progress for healing of Ian's arm!

17th May
I thank everyone for their good wishes for my recovery after the fall that broke up my shoulder and had to have a replacement joint. I am trying hard to get back th euse of my right arm but it is slow progress. I can now move the arm quite well but there is not much strength there to actually do precise movements needed to do any dentistry. I am working on it with almost hourly excercises.. I do miss you all , patients , colleagues including many staff with whom I have owrked for nearly 40 years. Certainly the last few weeks especailly following the operation has been quite painful and has made sleep difficult.. I think that it is still going to need another month or two before I would be able to treat patients to the high standard that is essential.
I am now officially an OAP reaching my 65th birthday on 16th May. !
I have not been idle while away.. running a very successful local election campaign regaining 8 seats for my Labour group.! The Oak Tree trust which I run has been able to treat over 250 patients for cataracts in far norht in Pakistan and I have expanded the water well project in Niger where the wells we paid for have now already supported over 1000 large fields growing essential food supporting many vilalges and saving lots of lives in this very poor Country. This has now been expanded into schools in the Tibiri area of Niger and I hope ( when recovered) to go out and sort their dental health support programme ( there is no dentist there for 550,000 villagers.)
Regards
Ian