Since my last blog Steve has visited the surgeon who has been looking after his left elbow. Steve will have to have further surgery on his left elbow in an attempt to increase its mobility.  To be honest Steve is not thrilled at the idea of having to have yet another operation but is going to approach this task like always head on.

 

Steve has been visited by family and friends this week and always gets a lot from conversations and laughs he has with the people who come along to see him. On Saturday Steve was visited by Emma Hughes the daughter of Graham Hughes who was a fire fighter at Bolton North fire station and Colin Price from Fire Service Headquarters. Emma and Colin have been putting a lot of hard work into arranging a Cabaret night in honour of our Steve which is being held at the Reebok Stadium on the evening of the 4th June. Steve was very interested to hear about what was being planned. He really made all of our days when he agreed to attend the function along with Pauline. This will be the first function he has attended in the Manchester area and he is pleased its at the football ground of the team he supports. Steve told us all it is an opportunity to say thank you personally to a lot of people who attend the night. He is really looking forward to seeing many of you there and in true Steve Morris style has chosen a table near the Bar! If you want to come long please ring emma on 07931729199 or Colin on 07979708476 or 608 4022 you can also contact Gail Price who works on C Watch in Fire Control. Steve and his family will see you on the night.

 

Overall putting the elbow operation to one side Steve is carrying on with managing his recovery and is keeping positive. He talks more of the future now especially his future with Pauline and what that means to him. Steve wanted me to thank everyone who has been nominating him for the Pride of Britain Awards. I have told him of the messages I have received from family and friends supporting him still and he is very grateful to you all.

 

Gary

Steve had a busy week following the Spirit of Fire awards and meeting the Prime Minister. He continues to visit Wythenshawe Hospital for treatment and physio. He has had new pressure garments fitted to his legs to provide further support and to promote further healing in the grafted areas. He has been allowed to leave his pressure gloves off for a period of time to assist with obtaining more flexibility in what remains of his fingers and thumbs.

 

This week Steve continues with the Hospital visits both at Preston Hospital and Wythenshawe Burns outreach centre. At Preston he will be having his hearing checked and at Wythenshawe he will be meeting with the Surgeon who carried out the work on his broken left elbow. At this meeting Steve may learn that he needs further surgery to this elbow to allow him to have more movement than he has currently.

 

His walking is still improving and his right ankle has slightly more movement in it so it is a positive sign. He is able now to spend time on his stepping machine and treadmill which again is all positive for Steve. He is now able to hold a fork or spoon between two fingers of his left hand and he has an electric razor and toothbrush which are fitted in cradles which he can use himself so he is able to be a little more independent which is great for him.

 

Steve as most of you will know made the decision to speak to the Press at the end of last week. It wasn't easy for Steve to do this and he thought long and hard before agreeing to do it. In the family we thought he was tremendous and did a good job. Thanks to everyone who has spoke to family members to say how well they thought he did and how brave he was for doing it. Hopefully now the media interest will fade a little and Steve can concentrate on the job in hand of getting better.

 

Gary

Wednesday saw Steve Pauline Sharon and myself travelling down to London for the Spirit of Fire Awards being held at Wembley Arena. We left Manchester Piccadilly train station at 16:55 and arrived at Euston Train Station at 18:10. We then took a taxi to the Wembley Plaza Hotel. 

On arrival Steve was feeling tired from the journey down so we went to our rooms to get a good rest before the day and night activities on Thursday.

 

Thursday saw the rest of the party arriving from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service including members from Bolton Fire Station, Bolton Borough, Fire Authority Members and the Deputy Chief Fire Officer.

 

At 13:30 The 

nominees their families and invited guests all travelled to 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister.Steve put his undress uniform on for the first time since the incident last June to meet the Prime Minister. Steve told us how proud he felt when he saw himself in the mirror, and he thought that once again he was a Fire Fighter. Also at No 10 on our arrival was the Footballer David Ginola. We were shown into the staterooms at No 10 and the nominees including our Steve and FF Alex Sugden were taken through to meet with Mr Brown and have their picture taken with him. We all enjoyed the experience with the PM and he addressed the group as a whole with words of praise for the nominees and the Fire Fighters as a whole. Steve and Pauline had a nice chat with David Ginola and David was full of praise for Steve and all firefighters generally. We obviously took lots of pictures outside No10 to keep as mementoes of our trip to Downing Street. 

 

We then made our way back to the hotel at Wembley to prepare for the awards evening being held in the Bobby Moore suite at the Arena. This evening commenced at 19:30 and was a reception then Dinner followed by the presenting of the awards to the nominees. The Fire fighters Charity events Team did an excellent job to ensure the night ran smoothly. The event was attended by a number of Celebs including Bruce Forsyth, Tony Hadley, Carol McGiffen and David Ginola to name but a few. All these people were presenting the awards in each catergory. During the evening Steve was asked who if any one would he want to have presenting him an award if he was fortunate to be awarded one. Steve said straight away Simon Weston who I know is one of Steve's own inspirational Heroes.

 

When it came to the Beneficiary of Courage award in which Steve had been nominated it was a great surprise for all of us but mostly Steve when Simon Weston came onto the stage with Jane Moore from the Sun newspaper to present the award. As Simon and Jane read out all the worthy nominees a silence came across the audience as they got to the part where the winner was to be announced. All of us held our breaths in anticipation that our Steves name was going to come out of the envelope.

 

Has Simon read out the name of the winner the two tables occupied by Manchester Fire went up in uproar and cheers as Steve's name was on the card. Steve got up from his wheel chair and then he made his way slowly towards the stage. Everyone in the audience gave him a standing ovation as he walked through them. Carl Haslam and I then helped Steve up onto the stage to receive his award. On the stage Simon and Steve embraced for a moment and it was emotional to see two amazing yet ordinary Guys congratulating each other.  Steve had his picture taken on the stage after receiving his award with Jane and Simon. Carl and I then helped him off the stage. At the bottom of the steps he again received a standing ovation and he was met by Pauline who gave him a huge hug and a kiss this was followed by another large hug from his sister Shaz.

 

Steve made his way back to the table and was greeted by the people on the Manchester Fire tables. He was cheered to his wheel chair with lots of handshakes and back slaps. After sitting back down Steve Pauline Shaz and I then went up to the Green room to meet again Simon and Jane and the other celebs who were up there. Steve had more pictures taken and then spent some time taking to Simon Weston about his recovery and Simon wanted to know all about Steve's incident and how Steve was progressing with his recovery. All the family got to meet Simon and Jane and a number of other celebs which made the experience all that more special. All of them wanted to meet Steve and Bruce Forsyth wanted to shake his hand. From the start of the evening Steve had many people over at his table wanting to meet him and give him their best wishes and The night continued until Steve was feeling tired and suggested that his bed was calling.

 

When we left the event Pauline suggested we should call a family meeting in the bar back at the hotel. This we did and celebrated Steve's success as a family. We toasted Steve with a Baileys each and he said he was really pleased with receiving the award and that he was pleased that we and the guy's from Manchester Fire were there with him.Then he went up to bed for a well earned rest.

 

Next day following a full English Breakfast we made our way back up to God's Country from the smoke. Even at Breakfast Steve had people coming over and congratulating him on receiving his award and to wish him all the best for his continued recovery. He felt quite humbled by the attention he had received but was very thankful for everyone's kind comments.

 

We want to thank the Fire Fighters Charity for their kindness and support whilst at the event and for organising the event. Jo and the Event Team did a fantastic Job. Thanks to everyone who came down from Manchester it was fantastic to be amongst you at such a prestigious event, Thanks to all the celebs who were there giving their time to support the event and coming over to see Steve and the other nominees. A big thank you to Simon Weston for taking time to chat with Steve and inspire him on the greater things. Thanks to everyone from Manchester Fire who supported Steve in his nomination.

 

The award which is glass and in the shape of a flame with the details engraved on it is now sat in pride of place along with the Tower FM Bolton Radio awards in Steve and Pauline's rear living room over looking their garden.

 

Gary

After two weeks of physical activities including gym work, fitness room exercises,swimming pool work outs and various therapy meetings Steve is back home with Pauline.

 

Steve has had a great two weeks at Jubilee House. In his strength, fitness and mobility has come on a great deal. He has been in one to one sessions and he has been very much in group sessions where he has carried out the same exercises as the rest of the group.

 

Steve is now walking better and his balance has improved. He has worked on his strength both upper and lower body and has seen a marked increase in his lower body strength. Watching him push himself in the gym, pool or fitness room brings it home to you how much effort he is putting into getting himself back into shape.

 

Steve has met some wonderful people in the last two weeks at Jubilee House both Staff and Clients. They have been great with Steve, Pauline and me. Steve has made lots of new friends and has had lots of praise for the efforts he has put into his activities.

 

Steve enjoyed the group activities very much especially the banter during the morning warm up's and in the pool. He also enjoyed the evenings in the lounge area where he could sit and talk to everyone and relax.

 

On our last day at Jubilee House during lunch a retired Station Officer from London Fire Brigade spoke to Steve. He told Steve he would like to shake his hand because he thought Steve was a hero and he had never been in the presence of a true hero before. He praised Steve for his efforts at Jubilee and told him that he was an inspiration to not only everyone at the house but to everyone right across the fire service community. Steve thanked him for his kind words. Before leaving for home Steve was wished well by all the clients and Staff and Steve said he would return in the near future.

 

Gary