A little over five weeks ago, instead of being at Loftus Road as planned for the 2-2 draw with Leeds, I instead found myself in intensive care in Royal Bolton Hospital. Having vomited (sorry!) around 30-40 times in the space of 36 hours, initially putting it down to a bout of food poisoning, it was only later that I learned I had an infected gallbladder and blood, a feverishly high temperature, stomach bleeding, sepsis, and dangerously high blood sugar levels.

 

Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, coupled with the outstanding care from the doctors and nurses while in hospital, after 11 days I had improved sufficiently enough to be allowed home to continue my recovery. Since then, day by day, I have gradually got stronger and even managed the (for me) short trip to Deepdale on Good Friday, where the very best tonic I could have wished for came with our last-gasp 2-1 win!

 

While in hospital, and without me even knowing at the time, my very good friend and top home and away QPR supporter, Sindy Grewal, kindly set up a Go Fund Me page, with the initial aim of maybe raising a four-figure sum. It surely goes without saying that I am staggered and humbled in equal measure by the current total.

 

https://tinyurl.com/43kwptxa

 

The time, though, has nearly come for the fund to close. That will be this coming Tuesday, April 22nd. Naturally, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the fund, which will obviously help alleviate some of my financial worries over the coming weeks and months, including when I have surgery to remove my gallbladder, which I’m told is quite urgent. I intend to use the money wisely, and as far as possible towards things that will benefit my health, be that short-term or long-term. A small holiday somewhere might be a good place to start.

 

As well as Sinders, I must also thank Joe Hylton for his regular social media updates on my health issues. I also want to thank Mike Carty, Martin Beattie, Chris Beattie, Phil Kennedy & son Alex, as well as my usual sales team of Julie Evans & Eric Green, for their magnificent efforts in finally getting Issue 394 distributed in my absence, both at Stoke and at the successive home games against Cardiff & Bristol City. It had been printed before the Leeds game but remained sitting uncollected in Congleton while I was otherwise preoccupied in Royal Bolton.

 

Under strict instructions by doctors, and countless medically-unqualified-but-with-my-best-interests-at-heart fellow QPR fans, to rest and recuperate properly, I have decided not to go all out in having Issue 395 published for the final home game, against Burnley – and will instead hold over everything until the start of next season. Although my improvement from being in intensive care to where I am now - sitting at my desk in my office at home - is little short of a miracle, and producing Issue 395 for Burnley is well within my capabilities, I have decided that would be to ignore all the good advice given to me. Besides, the fund was set up so that I could make a sensible decision such as this, and not feel under pressure to get back to work too early.

 

Thank you, my fellow QPR supporters, for your support and generosity.

 

Best fans in the world.

 

Dave Thomas – Editor & Publisher