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News from 2002

Jan 2002 - New Year Message from Clarence

Mar 2002 - More treatment in Miami

Aug 2002 - BBC TV Documentary

 

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News 2000

News 2001

 

August 2002

BBC TV documentary screened nationwide

The BBC has made a TV documentary about Clarence, called The Trumpet Man. It was originally broadcast in the North in March, but was seen by the rest of the country in August. An extract from the appropriate part of the BBC website is reproduced here with permission.

 

Mar 2002

Clarence visits Miami for more treatment

Clarence has spent another 2 weeks gaining specialist bio-feedback treatment in Miami. He reports that physical healing is taking place. Some feeling is returning to the top of his chest and back. He can lift his left arm off his arm rest and his fingers are still twitching, but not yet under his control.

The medical report shows encouraging signs of improvement. Clarence has authorised reproduction of part of the report here. It is a bit technical, but you'll get the gist of it.

...Overall, response to treatment was quite good, with the anterior deltoids on the right being able to be increased to 12% of normal, which is significantly higher than previous and the middle deltoids to 14% of normal.

On the left, the EMG biofeedback procedures were successful in gaining increases to the left anterior deltoids to 70% of normal and to the middle deltoids to near 40% of normal, which is significantly greater than what was achieve previously.

The right biceps are still showing only a few percent of normal. However, the left biceps were able to be increased to 35% of normal. The triceps were able to be increased to 12% of normal on the left and are still showing a trace on the right. The wrist extensors were able to be increased to about 5% of normal on the left and still show a trace on the right. The wrist flexors were able to be increased to about 4% of normal on the left, which is higher than previous and still show no voluntary control on the right. The finger extensors are just showing a trace of voluntary motor recruitment.

The paraspinal muscles at T2 to T4 made major gains to 70% of normal, which is higher than previous and at T4 to T6 also to 70% of normal. At T6 to T8 increases to 70% of normal were also able to be obtained. At T8 to T1O increases to 50% on the right and 35% on the left were able to be obtained, which is significantly greater than previous. At TlO to T12 increases to 14% of normal were able to be obtained. At T12 to L2 increases to about 5% were obtained. At L2 to L4 increases to about 3% of normal were obtained.

Overall, it is apparent that Mr. Adoo has an incomplete spinal cord injury at C4 and continues to experience some long term motor neuron recovery. He has responded to the EMG biofeedback procedures extremely well, gaining significant increases in voluntary motor neuron recruitment, greater than what was obtained previously. At this time an aggressive exercise and therapy program to strengthen the anterior and middle deltoids, biceps and triceps, as well as the upper paraspinal muscles, should result in greater strength and function. It is important for Mr. Adoo to return for another series of EMG biofeedback treatments.

 

Bernard S. Brucker PhD., ABPP
Diplomate Rehabilitation Psychology
Associate Professor
Director, Biofeedback Laboratory

 

 

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January 2002

A Clarence Adoo update on the year 2001

First allow me to sincerely wish you the very best for a happy and blessed 2002. I trust for more peace and happiness in this crazy world of ours.

Flicking back through my diary it is not too surprising that time seems to have vanished when an appointment of some sort appears almost daily.

My job at Northern Sinfonia (Orchestra Animateur) involves creating and taking part in new projects as well as writing monthly lectures based on different composers. The projects, accompanied by numerous meetings have naturally eaten up a fair chunk of time.

Early on in the year I was given a project that I would happily repeat every week of this year. This involved contacting local schools offering them the opportunity to attend a workshop with American trumpeter Wynton Marsalis during his visit to Newcastle. This led to the press wanting a photo of Wynton and myself both chatting about music and life, followed by a day of workshops where I had to follow Wynton and the New York Lincoln centre jazz orchestra around all day, ending up with a fantastic evening concert concluded by a lock in with a few friends and Wynton for a meal in one of my favourite restaurants.

2001 gave me several trips to London. These included some Trust concerts which were as always enjoyable, humbling and motivating.

The Trust is still receiving donations from all over the world, however there is a natural decline in fund raising events which is expected, making the balancing of the books for the future a matter of trust for the Trust.

A Swedish magazine editor met me on a London trip last year and produced a couple of pages for a Swedish National paper, which has led to a trust concert being held this year in Sweden.

Arts council meetings have made up the majority of trips to London, with an interesting afternoon in particular spent at the House of Lords, Westminster. Another highlight of the year was a trip to New York, during thankfully the first week of September. A small part of the trip was business but I got a taste of the buzz over there and I eagerly look forward to the next excuse to get back.

Moving on to the subject of health, with the North having its problems with foot and mouth, my computer recently getting the most serious virus ever in its life (resulting in the last 18 months worth of emails disappearing), all's well with myself. I have, to date, avoided all the other bugs and diseases that have been common to man.

My chest and back, roughly a quarter down (or in Euros. 25%) seem to be getting more and more feeling and movement returning. The left arm is also noticeably stronger than last year, lifting higher and starting to move backwards and forwards. My fingers are still twitching but not necessarily under my commands.

Among some of the other exciting things I have to look forward to this current year, is a return third trip for the third time to the Miami clinic for further treatment.

Watch this space.

I thank God for looking after me and giving me another good year, and my older brother Harry also for cooking my Christmas dinner (Maybe they should be in two different sentences).

Happy New Year

Love Clarence

 

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