Mike set some new achievement benchmarks today.
(1) He walked about 4 paces from his bed to his wheelchair. Sure he had a nurse holding each arm to keep him balanced and ready to take the weight. But he lifted each leg up forward and down all by himself.
(2) He communicated his first full sentence, letter by letter picked out of a sheet of A4 with all the letters of the alphabet on it that the speech therapist had left with us.
(3) He showed self-awareness by laughing at himself.
(4) He smiled and did thumbs-up and high fives on demand.
(5) He affirmed that he could smell rosemary and basil.
How did (2) and (3) happen? We wheeled him into an outside courtyard above the street and he pointed decisively ahead, apparently urging his to run his wheelchair straight forward into the wall of the courtyard. We were puzzled and produced a pencil, sheet of paper, backing board and the sheet of paper with the alphabet. Pointing at the alphabet he spelt out G-O-D. Really? But no, there was more. He got to GO DOWN THE ROAD and we all burst out laughing - he was ready to roll. Have wheelchair and pyjamas, will travel. Mike joined in the laughter. But, again there was more. He added TO DA before he ran out of steam. We asked "to the dairy?" and he nodded. We asked if he wanted to buy something. He nodded. It wasn't ice cream. We asked him to point to the first letter. He pointed to C and then O. We asked if it was Coke. It was. He joined in the laughter again. What a commercial for Coke.
We took the chance to ask him what he meant by that arm signal that had baffled us yesterday. He spelt out B-E. We asked: "BELIEVE"? He nodded. Perhaps he was signalling that we should believe in his recovery. Why not?
Bryce
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24 comments:
Lynn Gerrard here. Wow! TThis seems like great progress. Fantastic.Lots of hugs lee and Bryce.
Gail and Mark here.
Just have to say what great progress Mike. I say give the guy a Coke.
Love to all
Hey mike!!!! Sheree and Reuben here. Kylie's friends. Just like to say awesome progress!!!! Great to hear you are doing so well!!!! Looking forward to coming and visiting when Kylies is thru. Well done again mike!!! Awesome!!!!!!
Hi everyone, what fantastic news on Mikes progress. He's got one thing in mind. Recovery, YES.
Lots o luv Ben and Anne
Mike, we are impressed that you are recovering leaps and bounds and the day before it even happens in BC, Canada! We are so behind here, it takes us a day longer to catch up on your improvements! 'Way to go' all the Wilkinson's! You are really an amazing team. Keep up the great work. We're cheering for you.
Doug,Suzanne,Rae and Shannon are rooting for you all.
The Carter's, Nelson,C.Canada
Lesley M here. Fantastic news! I am up in Tauranga for a few days and Judith [my sister whom you know, Lee]-sends her best wishes too.
I am so heartened for you by the progress.
Keep up the good work!!
Aroha
Wow! thumbs & high fives indeed!!!and a few hip hoorays. Congratulations to you all. Each day is like a yellow jersey day...winning another stage. The domestiques are supporting the team leader 100%... (Yes, the library did get hold of a copy of Lance Armstong for me!!)
Mike - don't worry if you don't remember us, we've only met once or twice!
Love to you all
Carolyn, Grant & kids.
Positively brilliant!! You must all be over the moon as this is just so encouraging.
K & J
i believe in you mike!!!!You guys just made my day-sounds like mike is doing great!keep it up.Thinking of you all.
"believing, its 90% of doing"
luv rach broadmore
Mike ,
Fantastic .Agree give the guy a coke !!!! Another stifler in Abu dhabi May be you can find another patient and go drag racing Can see Lee and Bryce struggling to keep up !!!Susi
Mike,
AWESOME! Brillant work! We're so stoked to hear your news!! Make sure someone takes you to the dairy and shouts you that coke!!
We BELIEVE in you 110%
Love you lots,
Kent and Amanda xxx
What a grand weekend Mike! Hope you weren't too weary after all that effort. Not only exciting, but a real reward for all the family's input ... Lee, Bryce, Tracy, Andrew and Phil, hugs all round! Gran.
Well done Mike!! Amazing result, I now have goose bumps.
Planning on seeing you soon, and I remember that I owe you a powerade. But by your desperation for coke, I will change the order.
Nicky
Mike, that is a massive effort mate. Forget about the coke , that man deserves a DB.
Mat Bartholomew
Good stuff Mike, and family! I am amazed daily by your progress - just make sure you give yourself some rest too with all the new found activity! Min Jin (who you met at Ohope at New Year) sends her love too.
Take care, Sarah Elliot
Couldnt have had a better start to a Monday morning than reading the latest blog. Keep it up Mike and rellies!
Look out Wilkinsons - he's on the mend & will be breaking out of hospital as soon as. What fantastic news to hear Mike is improving. Well done, Mike - keep it up.
I love it! That's fantastic news, thanks so much for keeping us all posted. And Mike, don't worry - you've got a whole lot of believers!
Libby
That is truely great stuff Mike! Next you'll be asking for some rum to go with that coke ... he he he!!
Looking forward to seeing you in two to three weeks time.
You're a star!
Kylie
Hi Mike,
That is a great start to the week to hear of your progress over the weekend, you definitely deserve that coke!
Lee, Bryce, TJ, Andrew and Phil - thinking of you all.
Kim :)
Just read the latest on Mike. This is so great; bravo to you great team of medics. Was talking to Navina (of Peter and Navina whom I think you have met) and she said how important the constancy of physio is for head injury patients. I think your approaches are fantastic, albeit financial pages of The Independent may not be an obvious physio track to go down. But who cares! It's working. And the coke story is fantastic. Another example of fantastic progress. Go Mike, go Wilkinson family!!!
Barbara and Don
Great news!
He will finish that triathalon yet. Hope all his stuff arrived safe and sound. Looks like the paper has been cancelled, or they can't b arsed delivering anymore! Big hugs from Auckland.
Brian
Hi! Sally here (with the rest of the Patus shouting out things in the background). Just back from a day at Helena Bay picking pipis and even caught a snapper! We have been pretty quiet on the blog front however have been faithfully reading the blog every day and felt suddenly inspired to write after Mikes first steps! Rene is reading the blog from Düsseldorf as he remembers chatting with Mike about the ironman at Jo and Grants wedding. Kia kaha! from the Patus way up North.
Hi! Sally here (with the rest of the Patus shouting out things in the background). Just back from a day at Helena Bay picking pipis and even caught a snapper! We have been pretty quiet on the blog front however have been faithfully reading the blog every day and felt suddenly inspired to write after Mikes first steps! Rene is reading the blog from Düsseldorf as he remembers chatting with Mike about the ironman at Jo and Grants wedding. Kia kaha! from the Patus way up North.
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