Hi everyone, Lee again
We are inching forward. Mike was a little more alert today, awake longer and his eyes were a bit more open. The physio and speech therapy is still focusing on developing more swallowing and coughing, so the trachy can be removed. The effort Mike has to put in to lift his head up is immense, but he is getting it further. When we are talking in terms of 'awake', this is only his eyes being open and him registering familiar voices. The sad thing is that I keep hoping he will start frowning, because then we'd know he was trying to make sense of his situation.
Bryce and I have decided we have to rapidly learn a great deal about the long term treatment of severe brain injury. Mike seems on a conveyor belt where the hospital's focus is on the next step. While this is obviously sensible, we have no idea what could be happening now that could have a long term positive impact. Would music help him right now, or merely confuse him? Should we work more on developing his movement? ..etc etc. There doesn't seem to be any particular person looking at his case from the broad and long term view. We plan to start investigating, but don't really have any clear starting point to track down in depth unbiased advice. Any suggestions of people to talk to or books to read are very welcome
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19 comments:
Lee, Bryce, Tracy and all the Wilkinson family, having only just heard of Michael's accident and this site from Carol Stigley, we are cheered by Tracy report. All our thoughts and prayers are with you as you work with such admirable determination and imagination on Michael's healing. May progress be rapid from here and the transfer to Wellington go smoothly and be of help to you all and Michael.
Much love,
Sally & Pat
Dear Mike and all the Wilkinson family, I am so sad to hear of Mike's accident. Although I cannot visit Mike, (as I am working vintage in Western Australia), I am thinking of him and wishing him well. I hope that Mike continues to make good progress - as I am sure he will with the wonderful family support. Thinking of you, Lots of Love, Anna Ritchie.
To Mike, Lee, Bryce, Tracy and Phil,
Our thoughts have been with with you and Mike over the last two weeks. We just cant imagine what you have been going through! Thank you so much for the web blog. Amanda and I read it every day, its so awesome to hear about Mikes every progress, it brightens our day! Good luck with the move back to the Hutt. It will be good for Mike and you to be in a familiar environment. Amanda and I will be back in New Zealand in August and cant wait to witness some of Mikes progress ourselves.
Our thoughts are with you all.
Kent Stead & Amanda Bird.
Dear Lee, Bryce, Tracy, Phillip and (of course) Mike -
Yvonne told me about this blog site and I have just caught up on the situation. I was terribly sad to hear of Mike's accident and hope that all the positive thoughts that have been aimed in your direction will translate into the kind of energy that will pull Mike through to a full recovery and enable you all to cope with the challenges that lie ahead. My thoughts will be with you all the way.
Noeline Arnott
Mikey - happy b'day for the 10th, keep on fighting!
To the whole Wilkinson family - thinking of you all at this difficult time. Mike is an amazing person and I'm sure with all the love he is surrounded by he will continue improving every day.
Lots of love,
Lucy Martin
London
Mikey - happy b'day for the 10th, keep on fighting!
To the whole Wilkinson family - thinking of you all at this difficult time. Mike is an amazing person and I'm sure with all the love he is surrounded by he will continue improving every day.
Lots of love,
Lucy Martin
London
Dear Mike and the Wilkinson Family,
Am thinking of and praying for you at this time. It is so special to see the huge amount of support that Mike has had around him. A true credit to his friendly and personable nature.To the Wilkinson family - you are all doing such a incredible job at supporting Mike through this.A real inspiration to us all.It is encouraging to hear of the steps he is taking forward.
Thankyou for keeping us updated on Mike's progress.
God bless,
Sarah Pascoe.
I had a brief chat with a friend of mine who is familiar with Cavit House which is in the grounds of the Hutt Hospital. Once Mike is there, I think you will find that long term focus is their goal. She spoke very positively about the environment there and also about the comprehensive range of services offered.
Natasha
To Bryce, Lee, Tracy, and Phillip
Each of Bryce's fellow LEANZ committee members has been keeping up with news on Mike's condition and think that the Wilkinson family is putting in an absolutely amazing effort to try to assist with Mike's recovery.
As colleagues/friends of both Bryce and Mike, we wanted to let you know we are thinking of you all and have our (collective) fingers crossed for Mike's recovery.
Lee and Bryce
i will try and track down a number for Graeme Fogelberg, i know he and mary have an appt here now in wgtn - you may recall his son, Christo, had a car accident with his mum and her partner; he was very severely damaged and it's been a long haul, but he is now well and back at uni and just married! Graeme is exactly the sort of person you would find it helpful to talk with.
it is great to hear of the progress each day, and i hope you can get him 'home' to wgtn soon.
with best wishes
carol and paul s
Hey Mikey and fellow Wilkonsons!
Just to say im thinking of you all the time and bugging my lecturers for any useful info, but as you say prognosis is rather unpredictable so ive decided hoping for the best is a better option (and brushing up on my rehab physio skills). Keep up the good work on the site-its so nice to feel updated. Take care of yourselves!! And for Mikey-tomorrow is our big day, thats right our bday!hope to see you tomorrow until then keep cracking out those smiles, cough and swallow!! thinking of u,
love rach
Lee, Bryce and family,
Have just heard of Mike's accident from Linda. Terrible. Such rotten luck.He is obviously moving in the right direction but so slowly. i am sure anybody with the tenacity/willpower to run Ironmans will recover well especially with such huge family/friends support, common sense and love. Incidently, our nephew Nathan Tuuta is normally a nurse in the ward but is on leave at the moment.
All our thoughts and love are with you all.
Ian and Wendy
HI Lee & Bryce
Elaine said not to forget to speak to Jim & Joan Doyle who may have some experiences for consideration that are helpful. Contact me if this isn't clear.
I think that you are both incredible and know that you have a huge number of supporters cheering for your and Mike's success.
Love
Lesley M
Lee, Bryce and family,
We're finding your latest reports very encouraging - it's wonderful to see that progress really is being made. Colum's idea of a one line joke was 'Barbara' - great support he is!!! Just hang on in there - we wish we could come and see you but hope we can do that soon!!!
Lots and lots of love and thinking of you lots
Barbara and Colum
Dear Lee and Bryce and all the Wilkinson family.
We have also just been alerted to the situation with Michael and to this site by Carol Stigley. Reading through the entries for the last two weeks it is really clear that Michael is making steady progress. Michael being an Ironman athlete with all the drive and tenacity that entails, will have heaps of determination as he progresses to recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you continue with the wonderful support for Michael. Best wishes for a smooth transfer down to Wellington and to Cavit House.
With love from Howard and Kay
Mike and the Wilkinson family, my thoughts are with you and was on Mike for a lot of the race, and although no constellation, know that Mike would of easily made his goal of 11 hours!
Speedy recovery!
Fellow training mate
Ryan
Hey Mike!
Were thinking about you everyday and cheering for your recovery! Fight hard mate!
We love ya lots,
Kent and Amanda.
To the Wilkinson Fam, thank you so much for this blog! We feel so far away in Japan, its awesome to read about Happys progress and be a little bit closer! Thank you!
Hey Mike!
Were thinking about you everyday and cheering for your recovery! Fight hard mate!
We love ya lots,
Kent and Amanda.
To the Wilkinson Fam, thank you so much for this blog! We feel so far away in Japan, its awesome to read about Happys progress and be a little bit closer! Thank you!
Dear Mike,Lee, Bryce, Tracy, Phil and everyone else,
Monique and Keith here. We have been in touch with Tracy (Lee's sister) but only just realized that we could send you a comment via the blog....we have been reading news of Mike's progress daily and always rejoice with all of you when we read it. We feel very close to you in our thoughts and send lots of positive vibes your way.
We wish all of you all the very best - wondering when you will be back in Wellington.
Lots of love - we keep you in the light
Love, Monique and Keith
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