Update from Anthony, going back to hospital for some more operations

[govanblue 16,847]

Anthony (Ant to his pals) is a 14 year old lad from Dumfries – a diehard bluenose, who along with his mum (an even dieharder bluenose!) are regulars on the Dumfries supporters’ bus.

On Christmas Eve, Anthony had a horrific accident with a firework, and his hand suffered horrendous damage. (I’ve seen the photos, and horrendous doesn’t even begin to describe the damage!)

He was rushed to his local Casualty, and immediately transferred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where the specialist surgeons have been fighting to save his hand for the last few days. He’s had several long and difficult operations, and they’ve managed to save his hand, but it’s still in a real mess, and he and they will have a long and difficult time ahead of them to try to reconstruct his hand, and allow him to still have some function in it.

Jim Hannah heard about this, and sent a message of support out and asked all Bears to show their support.

RM Member Swally spotted Jim’s message on Christmas morning, and brought it to our attention in one of the Sponsors’ threads (here’s the post). There weren’t many members around on Christmas morning, but those that were immediately decided that we needed to do something for Ant.

IanB1547, Jack1690, The Mongoose, Tango, LiverpoolBlue, AlBear85, Swally and myself (apologies if I’ve missed anyone) immediately donated some money, and we agreed that I would go to visit Ant on Boxing day.

So I got him a couple of wee presents from the Megastore. I wasn’t sure what to get him, because I guessed (correctly) that Rangers would no doubt make sure he was well supplied with Rangers goodies. When I saw all the presents that Rangers had given him, I suggested he should open his own Megastore!

I ended up getting him a Get Well card on behalf of everyone at RM, a Rangers Megastore gift voucher, The Rangers Christmas annual, a signed Annan programme, and a signed Clyde programme (signed by Colin Jackson and Tom Forsyth – we just missed Willie Henderson unfortunately!) I chucked in my Rangers 140 Years DVD, and a couple of little bits and bobs.

Unfortunately when I went to visit him before and after the game, he wasn’t there…

It turns out he had been taken to Ibrox by Jim Hannah, where he and his mum were given the best seats in the house, and the full VIP treatment. He got a sackful of Rangers goodies, including a new Rangers shirt (he had been wearing his favourite Rangers shirt at the time of the accident, so it was completely destroyed) and an away shirt signed by Ally and every single player at Ibrox – it is absolutely stunning!

Jim also took tons of photographs of Ant, Ally, Jig and every single player, Broxi, even the match officials (boo!) After the game, Jim printed out all the photos so that they could take them away with them, and then he personally drove them back to the hospital.

That’s when I showed up, and I spent an hour or two chatting with Ant and his mum. Ant was still a bit shellshocked after what had been a traumatic couple of days, and after an exhausting day out at Ibrox, but he was in great spirits, and I was really impressed with how resolute he was (his attitude was along the lines of “Ach – shit happens”) - and how nice a guy he was.

I told him and his mum a little bit about who we are, and she has promised to pop online, once their lives return to some level of normalcy, and let us know how they’re getting on, and to thank you guys personally.

She was telling me about how blown away she had been by the response of the club and her fellow fans, and of how proud she was to be part of the greatest family on Earth!

Anyway, I’ve told them that we at RangersMedia want to buy them a couple of hospitality tickets (the best that money can buy!) for a game as soon as they’ve recovered enough to go back to Ibrox.

So in the meantime, if you want to contribute to those tickets, please make a PayPal donation to RangersMedia and in the “Add special instructions” box type “for Anthony from (Your RM Username)”

Also, his mum has added a message to Jim Hannah’s facebook page:

"Jim u are 1 in a million what u done today for ant n me u made a lad happy n he had a cry when he got bk but he came bk to more prezzies from rangersmedia as well n govanblue also came n seen him tonite, so from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU from me and anthony xxxx"

Ant will hopefully be allowed out of hospital today, but he will be spending a lot of time there in the future as they try to rebuild his hand – we should also say thanks a million to the wonderful surgeons and nursing staff who have looked after him so well over Christmas.

So I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing Ant a very speedy recovery, and wishing all the best to him, his mum and his brothers and sisters, and we hope to see him back in Ibrox soon, cheering on the boys in blue!

All the best Ant, from everyone at RangersMedia.

[govanblue 16,847]

And remember,

If you want to contribute to getting Ant some match tickets, please make a donation to RangersMedia, and we will ensure it gets to him.

Just remember to say in the special instructions that your donation is for Anthony.

[AlCapone 7,678]

well done everyone, never met Jim Hannah but he comes across as a true Ranger. All the best to Ant.

[Straight-Edge-Loyal 6,686]

Hope the wee guy makes a full recovery and well done to all on here who donated to help him out and give him a happy memory after going through that unfortunatly I'm not in a position to help the kid but It makes me so proud of our support that we rallied round him in his moment of need.

Oh and a special mention to Jim Hannah that is a fantastic thing to do take a bow sir.

[julescotia 11,407]

Well done all involved, fantastic gesture ... and makes me feel proud to be a bear.

Hope you make a speedy recovery Ant

[paisleyroad 894]

Well done everyone, hope the lad makes a full recovery.

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

Special well done to govanblue for all his running around

Take a bow

Then stick yer QP prog up yer arse

[govanblue 16,847]

Then stick yer QP prog up yer arse

What, another one?

It's getting pretty crowded up there!

[hugh_capet 341]

Get well soon lad

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

I can recall the smell in the lift from you as a baby......so what you let loose back then...will no problem getting a fair number in there

[govanblue 16,847]

I can recall the smell in the lift from you as a baby......so what you let loose back then...will no problem getting a fair number in there

Thanks Ed - the readers don't need to know that !!!!!

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

Thanks Ed - the readers don't need to know that !!!!!

Healthy sign in a baby

[govanblue 16,847]

Healthy sign in a baby

I would like to point out that I have now grown out of that

[bubblybear 258]

Oft you guys are just too good I am sure Ant and his mum were gobsmacked at the quick responce and generosity supplied by you all (GB ) Your good deeds will not go unoticed, accept all the praise you deserve

Best wishes to Ant, it may take a while, but sure he will get best treatment possible and the end result is

[eosmhdo 1,879]

A great read and what being a bear is all about.

Hopefully young Ant makes a full recovery.

Well done to all involved

[RFC Eagle 4,888]

Sounds like Ant is made from good Rangers stock and I'm sure he'll come through whats to follow. I spent some time in the Canniesburn Unit earlier this year and the nurses and doctors do an exceptional job. Special mention for Jim Hannah who does an awful lot of this sort of thing pretty much unnoticed and is also not long back from a short hospital stay and illness himself.

[govanblue 16,847]

Sounds like Ant is made from good Rangers stock and I'm sure he'll come through whats to follow. I spent some time in the Canniesburn Unit earlier this year and the nurses and doctors do an exceptional job. Special mention for Jim Hannah who does an awful lot of this sort of thing pretty much unnoticed and is also not long back from a short hospital stay and illness himself.

The man is an institution all on his own

[LiverpoolBlue 1,395]

Thanks for all your running around GB

[govanblue 16,847]

Thanks for all your running around GB

It was a pleasure. I was proud to represent you all

[Blumhoilann 6,712]

Hope the lad makes a full recovery.Well done GB,JH and Rangers,that's why WE ARE THE PEOPLE because we care for our own.

[govanblue 16,847]

So we're still looking for some small donations to make sure we can get Ant and his mum some top quality tickets. We don't want to have to stick them in with the BF1 rabble!

[bluenose_72 198]

Great work by GB and all involved

[AlBear. 8,499]

So we're still looking for some small donations to make sure we can get Ant and his mum some top quality tickets. We don't want to have to stick them in with the BF1 rabble!

Worthy cause, Donated. Terrible this wee Bear has to go through this, especially at this time of year.

Get well soon Anthony.

[govanblue 16,847]

Cheers Al, Very generous of you. By my count you've donated twice now

Just a couple more members, and we'll be there. Hint Hint.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

fantastic again !!