|
We all owe Ryan so
very much
JUST a few months ago tall, handsome 18-year-old soldier Ryan Hewitt was thrust into the limelight.
He had his picture taken with David Beckham, who was on a morale-boosting visit to troops in Afghanistan.
Now Ryan has made headlines again — but under altogether more tragic circumstances.
The sporty teenager was on patrol in Sangin when he and his fellow troops were caught in a Taliban ambush. Ryan stepped on an IED and was so badly injured both his legs had to be amputated on the battlefield.
Ryan served with the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, and is now recovering from his wounds.
Injuries
As well as losing his legs, he also suffered fractures to his spine and jaw and shrapnel injuries to his face and hands. His whole life has changed for ever. As you’d imagine his family are devastated.
Ryan’s mum, Angela, broke down when she was told how badly hurt her precious son was, but both she and Ryan’s dad, Graham, are just glad he survived.
There will now be a really tough recovery and rehabilitation period for this brave young man.
He has to come to terms with his injuries and rebuild his life.
It’s encouraging that he’s already showing real grit and determination and he has told his parents he wants to get out of bed and start working on his rehab.
Sacrifices
It’s so important we don’t forget the sacrifices being made on a daily basis by young men like Ryan.
Like all our wounded servicemen and women he needs the best possible care money can buy.
As a nation we owe it to him and his family to make sure he is well looked after and not forgotten.
I was impressed that David Beckham, often dismissed as a celebrity bubblehead, gave Ryan a get-well message from the heart as soon as he heard the news.
Ryan is now in the wing of Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital dedicated to members of our armed forces.
I wish him all the best as he fights the biggest battle of his life there.
I also thank him and all our troops for their service.
I’M astounded — and more than a bit appalled — that more than half of us have apparently started our Christmas shopping already.
One of those mad surveys conducted by people who have too much time on their hands has discovered that 55 per cent of Brits have bought at least one pressie.
Staggeringly, 20 per cent have smugly finished their Christmas shopping altogether, even though there are
still 139 days to go until the big day.
I don’t believe we should even be thinking about Christmas until after Guy Fawkes.
Detest
I really detest the way shops are stocking Christmas decorations and playing Jingle Bells over the
Tannoy when holiday tans still haven’t faded.
It’s just become one big, overblown consumer fest where we all eat too much and have to pretend to be having a good time.
I reckon we should get back to basics and return to a time when you received one or two lovely, thoughtful presents and enjoyed a roast dinner with people you actually like.
Also, you shouldn’t be forced into spending too much money and you certainly shouldn’t have to think about it all year round.
THREE cheers for the scientists and medics who gave a little boy his life back with stem cell surgery.
Eleven-year-old Ciaran Finn-Lynch will soon be on his way home to Belfast after he was given treatment that allowed him to “grow” a new windpipe. He was born with Long
Segment Tracheal Stenosis, which made his windpipe too narrow.
Surgeons used a donor windpipe and stripped it of its cells. They then injected Ciaran’s own stem cells into this windpipe, which reduced the risk of infection and rejection.
The transplant was a success and Ciaran is breathing on his own. He’s the first child to have this treatment and it’s hoped many more children and adults will be saved.
Good work by the team at London’s Great Ormond Street. I hope they’re not among the thousands of NHS jobs and services at risk from cuts.
AS we pull slowly out of recession, do we really need shoes that are made from gold and encrusted with thousands of diamonds?
Astonishingly the answer seems to be yes, at least for the Birmingham-based designer who created these blingy objects and has already sold five pairs to people with more money than sense.
Apart from the sheer vulgarity, who in their right mind would want to fork out £100,000 on footwear that would be so blinking uncomfortable?
I’VE been on holiday in Spain where there are still posters of Madeleine McCann on display.
The search never stops for Maddie’s parents, Kate and Gerry.
They recently met Home Secretary Theresa May. Before he became prime minister David Cameron assured them he would do all he could. Now he has to make good on that promise.
The McCanns are convinced new evidence would come to light if there was a review.
It’s more than three years since Madeleine went missing in Portugal and her family are more determined than ever to find her.
 THANKS for all your comments about my STV series
Missing Mums. I’m indebted to all who spoke so openly about their hopes and fears for their mothers. I’ll keep you posted on developments.
|
Lorraine
Kelly
