Hi Everyone,
Lee here again. TJ and Bryce are off at an economics talk, would you believe! As they say: Everyone copes in their own way!
Another quite tough day, but Andrew and I think a bit better. These sympathetic storm things seem more like a series of squalls. One arrives, there's a rough patch for about half an hour or so. We can be just constantly wiping him down with a cool damp cloth, rinsing it out and wiping him down again. Then suddenly it subsides and suddenly he's a normal temperature, breathing calmly, and relaxed in his face. Nerve-racking, but we're getting used to them.
In one of the calm periods, I dripped some coca cola on to his lips. The positive reaction would have been a poignant ad for coke.
Mike's old friends Kim and Paul came up from Tauranga. Kim (another of the Speech Language crew) explained a new system of lightly massaging the face muscles to build Mike's responsiveness. I'm looking forward to the right opportunity to try it out. Again some different communication. Meanwhile I've shifted on to retelling the stories of children's books he used to enjoy. You'd think having read them a thousand times I'd remember them better. It's really sketchy but at least another SUBJECT!
You've no idea what a wonderful support it is for us to see your comments on the blog. . To hear from friends, rellies, old friends we've lost touch with, Mike's friends and even people who have only met him briefly. It adds a lot to our courage.
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13 comments:
Aah - so please can I have "Old hat, new hat" when Mike gets back ....and also tell him I have something in mind that is FAR more interesting than coca-cola.
Natasha
Hi Lee
I sent some info via email - and backed it up by sending it to Tracy [Brown] to send on in case you didn't get it.
Keep your chin up - you are doing an amazing job. Old favourite stories are a great idea.
Aroha Lesley M
Hiya,
Have found an NZ website regarding serious head injury recovery specifically aimed at friends and family- well worth a read.
http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/rehabafterheadinjury.html
www.medic8.com/healthguide/
articles/rehabafterheadinjury.html
Last post cut end of address off, so here goes again.
laughed about the cococola susi
Hi All,
You guys are fantastic and an inspiration. I'm still dropping by regularly to see how you are going and just wanted to drop a line to let you know I'm still here rooting for you and Mike.
Old favourite stories of mine were The Very Hungry Caterpillar, In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are (both by Maurice Sendak), anything by Dr Seuss, A Tiger Came to Tea and The Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. In fact there were so many, but these are at the top of my mind.
Nicholas Kerr, Sydney
Tell Mike I've got a great book of poems Mum can inflict on him while he's at her mercy! Roll on Lower Hutt! I might even go so far as to write him a personal poem! Always, Gran.
There's also the book Mike wrote for Greg when he was about 2 - about Melvin, the Monkey - all about helpfulness with family and friends . . . and what about Walk Rabbit Walk - all 'rabbits' friends and realtions . . seem to recall that was a favourite in your household and you may have even passed it on to us.
Hoping for a slightly improved day for you all, Janne xx
Have just been talking to my ma Lee, and wanted to let you know I've picked up both the 'speed' AND the 'level', its strenuous stuff, but doing my absolute best...!
Thinking of you loads Mikie's family, and to you Pop's sending my biggest love.
Francie (in London)
Thanks to Fosters have caught up...and since been talking to Yvonne and visiting Blogspot. Great to hear of response to coke...definitely worth persisting with other favourites perhaps rekindling pathways, and response.Thinking about it... taste preference is learned, and so obviously remembered..OK...all very amateur perception, but I am sure, telling. Don't forget Bad Jelly the Witch etc... via walkman perhaps? Thinking of you, from even further north!
Bob,n,Mran
Here in Main beach Australia are Lynn gerrard and your cousin {lees cousin ben's daughter Katherine from Napier. We're all sending love and hugs and get better vibes. Katherine and a friend are here for 3 weeks in Australia.Love to all. Lynn
I have only just learned of Mike's accident. I did not know Mike well, but worked with him briefly at CRA. We got talking one day because I learned that he was doing Ironman and my partner was doing the same. Ironmen are a special breed! I looked out for him at Taupo and was shocked and saddened to learn of his accident.
I hope that Mike recovers well. My thoughts are with you.
Sharyn Jones
Hi Lee
Great to hear Mike will be in Wellington soon. Hopefully the package we sent will finally meet up with him! Retelling childhood stories is a good idea. The Pokey Little Puppy is a favourite here, also Peter and the Wolf - maybe on CD. Thinking of you all heaps. Big hug from our Michael to yours.
David, Bridget Etc.
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