The last photo is the script that written by Xav the second week he has been tansfered back to France in June...he wrote it to christine in the music day...Christine thought it's "TEL...FRAN(ces)", so she asked him "do you want to call Frances?" he said "yes"....

Quelques visiteurs

Xav called me "bao bei"...

I went to Bordeaux on Sept. 27...Xav's face with big happiness and sorrow when he saw me really broke my heart....I gave him his ring, he was upset when he looked at his ring and main...I told him ' this is not easy.'he said 'yes', i said ' but we have to fight, and you will recover and come back to us, you promise?!" he said very firmly "yes"...I told him about Bacchus Wine and showed him the photo of the staff, he laughed and said "bravo"....addition to weakness, not balance, and the logic thinking, he is very normal...we took a walk together in the garden, he hold me, looked at me in the eyes and kiss me like before...he took photo for me, opened the bottle of water for me and when i said "cold", he wanted to share his scarf with me...he even joke with me...one morning, Wally brought a bottle of bear, he asked Xav if he wanted some, he said 'yes'. i told Xav, no, not to drink bear in the morning...then i went to room to get my camera, when i came back, i could smell his mouth with bear, then i asked him ' did you drink bear?' he said ' no' , then looked at me and laughed...

It's more and more difficult for Xav along his recovery..we have to fight very hard with the center in order to take him back to his room, instead of leaving him in the patients room together with others at night according to the center's regulation...i can see he really hate being there.. Xav's spirit locked in the weak body, he has a will, but can not control...i couldn't sleep at night for all the suffering he has only being there for 2 weeks ...i have to give my best regards to Christine for her great mother's love being with Xav everyday for all these months...

But we are so lucky to have so many great friends and family being with us and support...during this two weeks, we had been invited to the friends Babeth & Guy,and Alex's , and the family Patric& Sylvie etc..Alex Willam and his wife Maryline with their 6 weeks baby drove from Paris to Bordeaux, HK friends Terry and his wife Jenny came...these love from friends and family really give me great support, every time when i feel I'm going to collapse, i think of these and full of hope again...many many thanks from my bottom heart!

The day before i left France, Xav was not in a good condition, he had a fever after the operation and very very weak...i told him I would go ..he keep on asking me "why"...I gave him a pen and asked him to write to me...I said to him "you can write, write my name, you remember my name, right?" he said "no" with a "you are stupid" look on his face...then he took the pen and write on the paper very difficultly two letter " L O "....


Frances Yu

Visiteurs pour Xavier

Cet été, Xavier a été gâté par les nombreuses visites qu'il a reçues.
Frances est venue passer 2 semaines auprès de lui.

Xavier au 14 octobre 2008

Xavier se trouve actuellement à l'hôpital Pellegrin à Bordeaux. Jeudi 2 octobre, il a été hospitalisé pour recevoir le volet en résine destiné à reconstituer son crâne.
L'opération s'est bien passée, et une semaine après, Xavier était de retour à Cénac, dans son centre de rééducation.
Un oedeme étant apparu quelques jours plus tard, Xavier a été reconduit à l'hôpital où il est actuellement en surveillance.
Selon le chirurgien qui l'a opéré, il n'y a pas lieu de s'alarmer, tout est normal.

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Xavier is currently at Pellegrin Hospital, in Bordeaux. On Oct.2, he had an operation
to receive a resin flap intended to rebuild his skull. The operation went well, and one week later, Xavier was back in Cénac, in his reeducation center.
Last Sunday, because of an oedema outbreak, Xavier was returned to the hospital where he is now closely monitored.
However, the surgeon who is taking care of him states that we don't need to worry, everything is normal.

Xavier au 16 septembre

Bonjour à tous les amis de Xavier.

Cette photo date du 31 juillet, lors d'une sortie char à voile, organisée à Montalivet par le centre de L'ADAPT, où se trouve actuellement Xavier.

A cette occasion, Christine était accompagnée de Greg et Emma, leurs enfants Océane et Malo, et Lili, leur cousine.

La météo particulièrement favorable leur a permis de passer un bon moment au bord de l'océan, et même de mettre les pieds dans l'eau comme vous le montre la vidéo.

D'autres photos suivront, mais vous pouvez tous constater que Xavier a fait d'énormes progrès. Hier, cela faisait 6 mois que Xavier a eu son accident à Pékin. Désormais il marche, de mieux en mieux avec l'aide d'un soutien, il dit quelques mots, tant en français qu'en anglais ou en chinois, il reconnaît ses visiteurs et comprend tout ce que l'on lui dit.

Il a retrouvé du caractère puisqu'il est hors de question de lui faire faire ce qu'il ne veut pas. Si l'on insiste, il peut même hausser le ton, voire parfois montrer son poing...

Il semble qu'il essaye de retrouver "du nez" puisqu'il sent le vin dans son verre et s'intéresse aux étiquettes des bouteilles. Les souvenirs reviennent certainement de cette manière.
Nous sommes maintenant dans l’attente de son opération imminente destinée à lui mettre en place le volet manquant dans son crâne. Aux dires des médecins, ses facultés de récupération n’en seront alors que meilleures.

*****************************************************************
This photo was taken on July 31, during a trip to the sea side. By this time, Greg and Emma, their children Oceane and Malo, Lili their cousin, were along with Christine.The weather was very nice, allowing them to have a good time.

I’ll post other photos soon, but you can see that Xavier is progressing well. Yesterday, it was 6 months since Xavier had his accident in Beijing. Now, he walks better and better, with our help, he can say a few words, in French, English or Chinese, he recognizes peoples, and understands all what we tell him.

He still has is personality since there is no way to see him doing what he doesn’t want to do. If we insist, he can talk louder and even show his fist…

It seems that he’s trying to get his nose back. He smells the wine in the glass and is interested by the labels on the bottles. Possibly his memory is coming back this way.
We are now waiting for his impending operation intended to install the missing flap in his skull. According to the doctors, this should improve his recovery.

Photo Xav in France

Hello Everybody,

I don't know how to start,...we are in France with Olivier and went to see Xav few times. Here is the castle were mister Xav is staying, ...not bad? Below is his room.

Obvioulsy the first time we saw him was a bit difficult, since we haven't seen Xav after his accident but, I have to say, the 2nd and 3rd times were really nice. The good things is that he recognises everyone, and even if he does not talk much, he understands everything.

We showed him a lot of photos of people of Shanghai and his reaction was great. Most of the photos were from Greg and Emma's wedding, and he remembered HFZ, James, Vincent, OlivierP, Yann and most of us!! We talked to him about Bacchus Wine, and the fact that Pierre-Henri has started in Shanghai, ...the only word he said was "apprendre" (=learn). We told him we were training him, and kicking his ass to sale more, that actually made him laugh!!

The following day, we came with some wine reviews and we "talked" about wine, naming some famous appelation, and clearly we could telll he can not wait to dipp his lips in a good glass of wine, ...hopefully! Funny thing is when we asked "tu te rappelles cette teuf a Shanghai" (you remember this party in Shanghai), his anwser was "putain ouais!!" I'm not kidding!!

The great thing is as soon as you start talking about party, wine, good times he totally connected with us, and it was like he couldn't wait to go back to it!!!

We also gave him our wedding invitation and he seems to be quite touched, as his mum tried to put it away from him to have his dinner, but no way, he started to "argue", and after few minutes Emma heard him said "extraordinaire"...we didn't know what he wanted to say till we ask him "was is extraordinaire? The food, ...naa, the fact that we are all here, ..yes, but naa, ...the invitation, the wedding? ...ouais!! Last time we saw Xav was at our place in Shanghai and told him we were getting married in October!

What else to say, so many things...when we went to see him with greg and Emma's kids, the girls had prepare a small bunch of flowers, home made, ...when Oceane gave it to him, ..."ouaaaah, merci"; he sounded so touched!!

What else, ah, yes, the great news is that he went to do some "char a voile" (in english, i guess it must be sand sailing ???) with Greg and Emma, and they walked him to the sea so he could dipp his feet, ...I leave it to Emma and Greg to show you the photos and videos they took last thursday...as you can see Xav is doing great progress every day, and it does make a difference for him to see his familly, friends...When we showed him the cars, we saw his eyes, we asked him "hey what are youdoing mister, you want to run away, ..he looked at us witha big smile!!!

I have only one thing to say, if you are in France, go an visit him, if you are not in France send him photos or DVD/films of you. We just bought a DVD player, so he should be able to watch it all!!

Xav is making progress every day

Emma called me just now from France, Geregory and her went to BD for holiday, so they can visit Xav....she was so exiting and told me that "i couldn't believe it, he made such a progress, it's like a miracle...I'm sure he can understand everything we say, he can recognize, he can smile to us, he stand up when we walked in the room...."...she said that Christine talked to the Doctor today, and they are all very amazed by the progress that Xav made...they believe that all the optimistic recovery for Xav's is possible...

I have the same feeling every time when I talked to Xav...every time, he can speak one more words...I couldn't help to cry when he first called me "Baobei" the day before yesterday....he understand everything i said even though he couldn't speak clearly, but he can express his feeling smartly....when i told him things about his company, he listened very carefully, when I said to him " i miss you so much, would you come back soon, ok?" he said "hao de"....when I told him " you are the best and strongest." he said "shi ah"...when i told him "i love you" and cried, he gave me many many bisous over the phone...

yes, he is making miracle...and I believe the spiritual power are coming from all the loves around him...the MOM, Christine, great great mother, she is so thine and small, but she is also so strong....! she stand so many things and tired, but still keep up strong for Xav...
of course the father, an always optimistic fighter! and the friends! as Emma said Gregory and Lore will come, many other friends will come, "the China come to Xav"...

Frances

Xav reading comment

This photo was taken one week ago. Xavier is in the Cenac centre garden, in the middle of the forest. He is quite, interested by the brochure offered by his "Parrain, Michel". He is making progress everyday.
If you call him, he doesn't stop talking...

Xav reading

From friends

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Our younger son Olivier moved to China from Canada in February to join Bacchus Wines as Sales Manager, and was just getting to know and coming to like his new, young boss, Xavier Tondusson, when the dreadful accident occurred.

We were in Italy on holiday at the time of the tragedy and we were shocked and deeply saddened when Olivier telephoned us with the news. He had accompanied Xavier through that fateful previous night, in the ambulance and then at the hospitals, and our son will never forget the trauma and grief of that awful night.

That Sunday, we had lunch in the countryside between Lucca and Pisa, and then walked up a country road into the village of Coselli. Although neither of us is formally religious, we went into the ancient, tiny church in the village and lit candles for Xavier, and prayed for him with a heaviness of heart that only parents can feel for other parents who are suffering on behalf of their children in the face of random tragedy.

Our hearts go out to Marie-Christine and François—and of course to Frances, who is, as can be seen from the blog, such a devoted and loving companion to Xavier.
We have been back home in Canada since late April, and have continued, from Montréal, to follow the evolution of Xavier’s condition. Currently, things would appear to be miraculously more optimistic and we hope and pray that these favourable developments may continue and that things will develop further in the right direction.

We think of Frances and the Tondusson family often—indeed, we have probably never been so deeply concerned with the lives of people whom we have not even met.

We salute the courage and resilience of all of you, and pray that the miracles will continue and that Xavier may arise again, to fulfill his dreams and his potential.
Cordiales salutations à vous tous, bonne chance à Xavier, et beaucoup de bon courage pour la suite des évènements. Nous sommes pleinement solidaires avec vous.


Martin & Celia Baenninger
Westmount, Québec (Canada)

From friend

xavier,

you may not remember me but we spent several dinners and many drinks together in groups of close friends.

I have seen this blog for some time that your lovely Francis helped to bring to life, and have regularly read of your progress.

All I can say is that you have lived through an amazing story, and watching the power of your bonne ami and family around you has been an inspiration. You are so blessed in your life to have the love of your close friends and family create this healing light around you and I am certain that every person who knows this story believes that a miracle has happened, something magical.

Never give up and always believe in your own talents' ability to bring you back to full health. I know you have your passion of wine, and i remember it is infectious to all around you, but you are even more lucky than this talent because you now have been through an experience that has opened the "palette" of life to you. Maybe that sounds funny in French, but in english it is the only way to express it, I hope it translates well to you.

I can not comment as a close friend,and I do not pretend to be a close friend in any way, but from a distance your experiences have made me realise how much we must savour today, and how things that we believe are important to us, often are actually just follies and that the most important thing in the world is the love of those around you and how we treat them in return.

Every blessing and warmth to you for a return to this world... and for Francis, your love for Xavier is what every man dreams he will find one day,your never ending support for xavier has been a blessing. Your parents efforts to make sure your english speaking friends could also understand the blog was amazing and greatly appreciated i am sure.

This experience in your life is just a 2nd fermentation in the bottle, the correct methode before a fantastic vintage will mature....you will be fine.

Buonna fortuna, ci veddiamo

Converstation with Xav

Xav left China at Thursday, June 12...I tried to stay with his more before he left...Xav was still weak, .....eating by the cube through stomach..not make any voice...not awake long time....I brought many many photo of us to show to him...and the Carton book he liked a lot...he looked at them carefully...

On Saturday, June 14, I sent Francois to airport, not long time get back home...he called me and said ' can you call france now? please call, Xav can speak!"....I was too shock to believe it...then I called Christine...she gave me Xav....I can hear he tried to talk....then I tried to talk to him slowly, very simple....I asked him " can you hear me?" in English, I hear he said very clearly "yes" in English....

On Wednesday, June 18, I talked to Xav...he can answer to me in Chinese "shi" "hao De", I asked him "do you love me?" he said "no"....(typical Xav...always say no to me...:-) I said " you should say "ai", then he said "ai"....in the end of the conversation, he gave me clearly bisou over the phone.....

On Tursday, Alex visited Xav in the hospital, he asked Xav "can you recognize me?" Xav answer in Franch "of course"... Tibo called Christine and talked to Xav...he said clearlly French words to him.....

On Friday, Christine called me, said Xav wrote three letter on the paper - "TEL", christine asked him, do you want to call? he said "yes"....then Christine asked him "do you want to call Frances?" he said "yes"....then I talked to him....I felt it's like a real "conversation".....in the end of the conversation, he said "Bao Bei", then bisou....

On Saturday, I called xav....I asked him "do you miss me", he said "dui ya".....he gave me bisou in the beginning and many bisou in the end....

It's not easy......life is never easy....but the "yes, shi, haode, ai...." which represent the "hope, love" give the full meaning of life...

So, in three month now, he can start talk several words in French, English and chinese, he eat and drink by himself...he joined the activities.....Xav is running towards the recovery.......recalled what the Doctor told us...this is a real mirocal already....!.....Alle! Xav! we will make it!


Frances

Message à l’attention de Yannick Guerlin et de tous les autres amis de Xavier

Ce blog n’est pas uniquement destiné aux rapports de santé de Xavier, provenant de sa famille.

Comme vous l’avez fait, et beaucoup d’autres avant vous, il est ouvert à l’expression libre de chacun. Il est un condensé de toutes vos pensées attentionnées et comme vous le dites parfaitement, il apporte encore un peu plus de réconfort, de courage et de patience à chacun d’entre nous qui aimons Xavier.

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This blog is not only open to report Xavier’s condition, but it is open to your friendly words or thoughts to share our friendship or our love towards Xavier. To all of us it brings spirit, patience and relief.

Francois.

Xavier a célébré la Fête de la Musique

Ces photos ont été prises par Tom, de passage à Cénac ce jour là, le jeudi 19 juin, soit une semaine exactement après l'arrivée de Xavier dans le centre de Cénac.
Ce 19 juin, soit avec quelques jours d'avance sur le calendrier, tous les pensionnaires du centre célébraient la journée de la fête de la musique.
Vous pouvez-constater les énormes progrès réalisés par Xavier qui participe désormais à toutes les activités du centre.
Les infirmières constatent que Xavier progresse très vite, peut être trop car il faudrait qu'il assimile parfaitement ce qui lui est enseigné, mais qui dit qu'il n'assimile pas...

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These pictures were taken by Tom who came to visit Xavier, on June 19. It was exactly one week further to Xavier’s arrival in the center of Cénac.

That day, June 19, a few days before the right date, all of the patients participated to celebrate the music day.

You can easily see the huge progress that Xavier has made, since he is now participating to every activity organized by the center.

The nurses state that Xavier is quickly improving, may be too fast, since it would be better if he could absorb all what he is taught. But who says that he doesn’t…?

Last day in Puhua Hospital

Xavier is getting much better, days after days.
On the photo, he is with Ai and Chuchu who took a very good care of him, days and nights for 2 months.
Sam and the Chef, M. Xu Jian Guo made a very good food for all of us, and the cafeteria atmosphere was great.
Frances and Xavier will miss each other for some time, but nice days are still to come.
Don't you think Xavier is quickly recovering, making bisous, bisous as always... Frances will not say the contrary!
Thanks a lot to Puhua 's team for their good care and their professionnalism.

We will never forget you, and we will never forget TianTian Hospital's team and surgeons either.

Together you SAVED HIS LIFE!

Marie Christine et Francois Tondusson.

Dernier jour au Tiantan Puhua Hospital

Xavier va mieux.
Il est ici entouré de Ai et Chuchu qui ont veillé sur lui nuit et jour pendant 2 mois et l'on entouré de beaucoup d'affection.
Sam et le cuisinier M. Xu Jian Guo nous ont régalé de leurs bons plats.
Frances et Xavier vont se manquer pendant quelque temps, mais d'autres beaux jours sont à venir.
Vous ne trouvez pas qu'il revient vite? Ce n'est pas Frances qui dira le contraire...
Merci à toute l'équipe de Puhua pour leurs bons soins et leur professionnalisme.

Nous ne vous oublierons jamais, pas plus que nous n'oublierons l'équipe et les chirurgiens de l'hôpital Tiantan où Xavier fut admis le samedi 15 mars.

Par vos efforts conjugués, vous lui avez SAUVE LA VIE!

Marie Christine et Francois Tondusson.

de Yannick Guerlin

Bonjour,

J'ai passé près de 7 ans à Shanghai et j'ai bien sûr croisé Xavier à plusieurs reprises, sur un terrain de foot ou autour du vin. 

Cela étant, nous nous connaissons peu et pourtant l'annonce de son accident m'a profondément touché, comme une injustice, une brutalité de la vie. Depuis que je connais l'existence du blog, je m'y rends régulièrement pour prendre des nouvelles, en espérer de meilleures au fil du temps. Ce blog, c'est évidemment beaucoup d'émotion. 

J'y ai également découvert une famille extraordinaire. J'ai longuement hésité avant de poster un quelconque message, ne sachant que dire sans doute, au risque d'être maladroit ou encore de paraître m'immiscer dans l'intimité de votre famille. 

En même temps, comment rester passif devant la force de vos écrits ? Alors, ces quelques lignes pour vous dire qu'en France, à Orléans, ma femme Béatrice et moi-même pensons très fort à Xavier. Nous espérons que ce message vous apporte réconfort, courage et patience.
  
Bien à Vous,
 
Yannick

Katja & Oliver: Greetings from Paris

Dear Xav,

Best regards from your Shanghai friends Charles, Angela, Cyrille, Vince, Julie, Katja & Oliver. We had a small reunion in Paris, had a great time a Japanese dinner with Chinese staff and a lot of Tsing tao beer. We all have been thinking of you a lot....and wish you all the best! Hugs & kisses, Katja & Oliver

News du 05 mai

Hier, on a retiré à Xavier son système de respiration artificielle. Celui-ci lui a été remis pour la nuit, puis de nouveau retiré ce matin.
Christine a passé un moment avec lui ce matin, et quand elle l'a quitté, il a soulevé sa main pour la secouer et lui dire "au revoir...".
Il semblerait de nouveau que l'accès aux blogs soit interdit en Chine...

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Yesterday, Xavier's breathing machine was removed, but reinstalled for the night. This morning, again it was removed.
When Christine left the room, further to her visit, Xavier lifted his hand and gave her a wave goodbye...
Today, it appears that, again, the access to the blogs is denied in China...

De la part de Thomas

Un petit mot principalement pour vous, Frances, Marie-Christine et François.

Vous ne me connaissez surement pas. Je ne pense pas pouvoir être considéré comme un ami proche, juste une connaissance qui apprécie les moments qu’il passe avec Xavier, une personne qui à mes yeux est, plus que tous grands discours, comme dans ce refrain de la chanson de Enzo Enzo, quelqu’un de bien.

Il utilise d’ailleurs souvent un sobriquet pour ses amis qu’il surnomme « hombre » mais qui lui correspond en fait parfaitement car il est, pour moi, cet homme décrit maintes fois par Kipling dans ses différents écrits.

Vivant normalement à Shanghai, je suis actuellement en France et les hasards de la vie m’ont fait rencontrer il y a quelques jours une personne ayant vécu à peu près la même situation que celle que vit Xavier actuellement.

C’est un résumé rapide de son histoire que je voudrais vous narrer pour vous faire part de mon soutien dans ces moments difficiles. Non pas pour que vous gardiez espoir car je suis persuadé que celui-ci ne vous quittera jamais ; les chats ne font pas des chiens comme on dit et je n’ai jamais vu Xavier baisser les bras ; mais plutôt pour essayer, s’il se peut, de vous amener un peu de réconfort.

Cet homme était marié et père de 2 petites filles lorsqu’il y a quelques années lors d’une promenade en moto, sa passion, il fit une chute qui le plongea dans le coma. Les premiers diagnostiques furent défavorables quant à son évolution, tout comme ils l’ont été à plusieurs reprises pour Xavier. Il fut placé dans un coma artificiel et ses proches ; femme, enfants, parents et amis ; le visitèrent durant les 3 mois de celui-ci.

Il va très bien aujourd’hui et ne garde aucune séquelle de cet accident, hormis bien évidemment une petite appréhension lorsqu’il refait de la moto, bien plus prudemment qu’avant. Il est persuadé que la présence de ses proches a été primordiale dans sa rémission.

Je ne sais si cela sera aussi le cas pour Xavier, chaque histoire étant bien évidemment particulière, mais je l’espère tout comme vous.

Je vous transmets mon amitié sincère.

Thomas.

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A small letter mainly for you, Frances, Marie-Christine and Francis.

You probably do not know me. I do not think that I can be mentioned as a close friend, much more an acquaintance who just appreciates moments he spends with Xavier, a person who is, for my feeling, more than any rhetoric, as in the chorus of the song by Enzo Enzo, a good guy. Besides, he often uses a nickname for friends, "hombre", but in fact it is perfectly done for him cause, for me, he is this man repeatedly described by Kipling in his various writings.

Living normally in Shanghai, I am currently in France and the hazards of life made me to meet few days ago a person who lived in roughly the same situation than the one currently lives Xavier. It is a summary of his story that I would like to tell you to support you in these difficult times. Not to helping you to keep hope because I am convinced that it would never leave you; cats do not make dogs as saying and I've never seen Xavier throw in the towel, but rather to try, if possible, bringing little solace.

That man was married and the father of 2 girls when, few years ago during a motorcycle tour, his passion, he had a fall that plunged into a coma. The first diagnostic were negative about its evolution, just as they were several times for Xavier. He was placed in an artificial coma and his family; wife, children, parents and friends; had visited him during the 3 months thereof.

It goes very well today and do not care aftermath of the accident, except of course a little apprehensive when it resurfaced on the bike, though more cautiously than before. He is convinced that the presence of his family was paramount in his remission.

I do not know if it will be the case also for Xavier, each history is particular for sure, but I wish it as you.

I forward you my sincere friendship.

Thomas

Xav

Xav and friends