On 13th Jan 2008, Brendan Stout wrote …Hi everyone,
This is Brendan. Today is the 12 January. Its been 7 weeks since my accident in the bridge to bridge. I am spending the weekend at home from the hospital, however I go back tonight. Last week I was transferred from Westmead Hospital to Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Centre where I will probably be for 6 – 8 weeks for further recovery. I am getting stronger everyday. My memory is improving and is almost back to normal. It will still take some time before further recovery as I have several severed nerves in my face and forehead which have affected my vision and facial movements. The doctors say it could be 4 – 6 months before they are fully regrown. I am also trying to put on weight as I lost 13 kilograms at Westmead which has made me quite weak and fatigued however I’ve started to put weight back on again and am getting stronger by the day. I would like to thank everybody for their support and get well wishes as I’m sure this has helped me recover already as far as I have. I just could not believe how many of these messages kept coming in from skiers and school mates and their families from all over the world. The time in hospital has been very tough but I was never on my own as usually mum was there or if not, dad was there sitting by my bedside when I woke up.
My Girlfriend Maddy Brien has spent many hours next to me in the hospital helping me to recover. I would just like to say a special thankyou to her. She’s been a great support to me and mum.
Hopefully in the coming months I will be able to spend time with my many ski racing and school friends as my life comes back together.
Thanks again everybody for all your support – It is a wonderful feeling to know I have so many friends in a time of need.
Brendan Stout
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As we all know, Brendan Stout suffered an awful accident on 25 Nov on the Hawkesbury River in Australia when he fell at the Bridge to Bridge water ski race. Hundreds of people from all over the world have been sending get well wishes and praying for his recovery. Read the Xmas update on Brendan at www.skiracingnsw.com.au
On 25th Dec – Linda Keys wrote
Hi Robbie,
Just a quick note to thank you very much for all of Brendan’s beautiful messages, this wouldn’t be possible without your site. I would also like to thank all, both in and out of ski racing who have, and continue to send there best wishes to him
Brendan turns 18 on the 29th Dec, and hopefully he will have some friends with him and his family to celebrate this milestone. He has spent Christmas day at home with his family, and all going well will be able to be there a few more days before returning to rehab at Westmead where the hard work will begin.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas, and best wishes for 2008.
God Bless ….
Regards
Linda
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On 14th Dec – Wendy Stout wrote a touching note to Brendan here
Updates on Brendan’s condition are being posted at www.skiracingnsw.com.au
Leave your messages for Brendan at the bottom of this page
On 2nd Dec – Rudi, Wendy, Chris and Trudi Stout wrote:
We have been overwhelmed with the prayers for Brendan’s recovery and support and best wishes offered to us by the worldwide ski racing fraternity during this difficult last week. We have tried to reply to all of the 300 odd emails, phone messages and text messages sent, however we are sure to have missed some people so please take this message as our personal reply to those we have missed.
It is times like these one needs all the support you can get as it has been a hearbreaking experience for us as a family to see Brendan in his current state of health. It is also a time when you realize what a caring, supportive group of people the skirace participants are from all around the world and it makes us proud to be part of this awsesome group of people.
It has been 7 days since the that heartbreaking accident and we are indeed lucky to still have Brendan with us given the extent of his injuries. Shane Earl has been kind enough to forward on daily updates on Brendan’s recovery and initially the recovery was looking somehat more positive that it turned out to be. Brendan made remarkable progress the first few days in his physcal recovery ie breathing, blood pressure, pulse and body movement however the full extent of his head injuries were not realised and it now appears Brendan will be hospitalised for some time in the neurological rehabilation unit at Westmead Hospital where he will hopefuilly make a full on near full recovery over the coming weeks or months.
We will from this point on only issue a weekly/fortnightly update on his condition due to the time factors involved in his recovery. We urge Brendan’s many friends to continue sending their “get well†wishes via this email site, direct email or get well cards as the doctors say will have positive impact in lifting his spirits and hopefully speed up his recovery.
Again Wendy,Chris, Trudi and I thank each and every one of you once more for your kind words and well wishes and will see that Brendan receives them all. Also a special mention of thanks to Robbie Llewellyn for providing this facility on this website, Shane Earl for his help and Linda Keys for her kind efforts.
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On 2nd Dec Linda Keys wrote …
“Well we have just arrived home after spending some time with Brendan. He is awake, and looks far better than I expected. He has a long way to go though, and it will take time and lots of work.
Wendy said to help him with his memory, we need to get as many photo’s together as possible so we can put them in an album to see what Brendan recognises ( he recognised all of us and the photo’s we showed him ) he has a lot of confusion, and the more recognition the better. The photos do not have to have him in them, but they need to be of people he knows and a clear picture probably with not too many people in each photo. If they could also actually let me know who is in the photo as well that would be great so Rudi and Wendy know if he is getting it correct. Boats are fine also so long as it is a boat he would know.
So far he now has in a book all of the messages people have left on the web site, and Wendy and Rudi will read them all to him when he is up to it, so please keep leaving the messages for him.”
PLEASE HELP BRENDAN RECOVER
Email photos to Linda at: lindakeys@bigpond.com
Or send printed photos to Linda at :16 Culverston Ave, DENHAM COURT, NSW 2565 AUSTRALIA.
Leave your messages for Brendan at the bottom of this page
They can sometimes take a few hours to appear
Updates on Brendan’s condition are being posted at www.skiracingnsw.com.au
Photo of Brendan and Trent in action – courtesy of Ultimate Imagecapture
Thanks to Linda keys for this photo of Brendan before the Bridge to Bridge with his team of Trent Larkin, Brett Luhrmann & Brett Armstrong
I wish Brendan a good recovery from this very unfortunate accident. I’m sure it’s a tough ordeal for the Stout family right now and my thoughts are with you all – Robbie.
Updates on Brendan’s condition are being posted at www.skiracingnsw.com.au
