In my last post I wanted to include this picture of Herb Kim talking about me at Thinking Digital 2010. Still not heard what he actually said (could have been slagging me off or something *joke*) but I’m thankful for what he did do, as I was due to close down BBC Backstage on stage.
RT @Jas: Tribute to Ian Forrester @CubicGarden #TDC10 http://twitpic.com/1r6b2j [Keep fighting Ian.]
— (((Ant Miller))) (@meeware) May 26, 2010
It of course never happened till much later of course.
Looking at the work/BBC angle was quite interesting. I have always said my work, personal and play lives are intermixed, and I like/prefer it that way. What happened while I was gaining consciousness says it all…
I saw this blog a long while later after I came out of hospital. I hadn’t realised the open and close battle (best word I can think of) which was kind of happening.
serious msg – please can anyone who has had contact with @cubicgarden in last 48 hrs let me know – i am worried – please DM me
— Adrian Woolard (@adew) May 12, 2010
My parents once they received the call from Adrian came straight up to be with me. But my dad kept returning to Bristol for a house move was being finalised. So my mum reached out to Sarah (ex-wife) who recently moved near Manchester. She helped setup the carringbridge site after using it with her brother when he had fallen off something in 2009. Sarah was so supportive and contacted all of my old friends she still had emails for to tell them what had happened.
Thoughts and prayers are with @cubicgarden and his family. He is in the hospital and in an induced coma. No more info atm
— v1.0.0.betta.2 (@cbetta) May 18, 2010
While this was happening Adrian, Tim and others were trying to keep things quiet by only telling people that needed to know. To be fair I would have done the same and they had no idea about Sarah and my mum spreading the word. The hodge also setup a form to collect responses from friends which was lovely and I thank him for doing so…
Enjoyed a barcamp or other geek event in the UK? You probably ultimately have @cubicgarden to thank. Send well wishes: http://bit.ly/a4MdIE
— Jonathan Markwell (@jot) May 18, 2010
but this was trumped by the Carringbridge site Sarah and my parents setup.
.@cubicgarden's family have set up a CaringBridge website for progress updates and messages of support: http://bit.ly/daS24M
— sheilaellen (@sheilaellen) May 20, 2010
I gather looking at the Twitter responses, there was a lot of wonder and doubt about what had happened. With information circulating from my mum and Sarah. I guess it became clear that the BBC needed to say something more official than tweets. I gather this isn’t normal but hey nothing about me and what happened is business as usual.
BBC Backstage blog post regarding Ian- http://ow.ly/1N16G – We'll share what news we can regarding @cubicgarden's recovery.
— (((Ant Miller))) (@meeware) May 19, 2010
Adrian/Ant wrote…
This is just to let you know that unfortunately Ian Forrester, Senior Development Producer of BBC Backstage was taken ill last week and is now recuperating in Hope Hospital in Salford.
At the moment he is in a serious but stable condition and is being well cared for by the staff at Hope and his family.
For those who want to pass on their messages the Message for Ian Google form is here.
[Edit 04/06/10] Now that Ian’s family have set up the Caring Bridge site we’re recommending that people wanting to drop him a line use that channel instead.
Flowers aren’t allowed in ICU, but cards are, and can be sent to:
Ian Forrester
c/o Intensive Care Unit
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Stott Avenue
Salford
M6 8HDWe will keep you updated when we hear anything more but until then we hope that you can have Ian in your thoughts and let his other close friends know.
Dr Adrian Woolard
[In Ian’s hopefully short absence I’ll be looking after this blog- Ant Miller]