Thursday, May 26, 2005

A Day In My Life At CAVIT

Firstly, I have some news. On Tuesday, I had my first walk with a cane. Admittedly I was supported by my Physio Sue, but it was (literally) a step in the right direction. We had another family meeting with the Cavit staff. It was weird to sit there while everyone talked about you. As I said before though, things are headed in the right direction, so the meeting went well.
A day in my life at CAVIT centres around therapy. I get up around 7.30 and generally have a shower first. Mum normally makes me breakfast after that.
Then we move into therapy for the day. Given my circumstances, I spend more time in Physiotherapy than Speech or Occupational Therapy. Normally, I have two sessions of Physiotherapy and one of either Speech or Occupational Therapy. Usually, one of the Physiotherapy sessions is on Sue's machine and the other is practicing walking somewhere. The name of the game is to get my muscles to listen to commands from the brain. While there are only a few main muscles for walking there are a lot of muscles through our trunks involved in balance. These represent the central focus of my Physiotherapy.
Stuck in there somewhere are lunch and dinner. After dinner I have a bit more control over my time and can wear myself down reading or working on my next blog post.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,
So great to be able to hear directly from you! You are doing awesome, keep up the good work.

All is going well in london, saw miles and richard last w'end for a league game, something different to do!
love lucy

Anonymous said...

This is SO impressive. And - as a lapsed teacher, I congratulate you on your spelling and stuff like that.

In Tai Chi there is a form which uses the cane as a weapon (in a Tai Chi sort of way) so using one could serve many purposes!

Natasha

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike, we are late comers to the blog but your progress has been impressive mate. I'm sure there will be tough days ahead but nothing you can't overcome. You might be interested to know that now we are in London I've finally managed to get out of law and into corporate finance (www.cit.com if and when you feel like a look!). Pretty exciting really.

You are in our thoughts - keep up the good work. Hi to all around the world and back in NZ!

Nick & Rozy Winstone

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike,
Wonderul news. You must look very 'dapper' with your cane! You may start a trend. Great to hear from you. Take it slow and literally one step at a time. Thinking of you and your family. (a big hello to your breakfast cook).
Love and thinking of you,
Suzanne and Doug, Nelson, Canada

Anonymous said...

Good news about the meeting, Mike.It amuses me to think of one of us at each end of the time scale (in years!)tapping along with our canes! And both praying we can get rid of them a.s.a.p.! You don't mention time for resting ... hope it's in there somewhere? Love, Gran.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Fantastic!!!
That is Mike writing!!!!!!
I've been following your progress Mike till we went on a great holiday to Rockies and Alaska most of May .Your dad and mum were writing when we left. Now you!!And walking too!!!FAbulous improvement in such a short time[even though you might not think it's short!]
Gerald Townsend's twin, Lynn from Main Beach,Gold Coast.
Give my love to your mum and dad.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike,

Good news all round.
Sounds like you're doing more exercise than me at the moment!!!
I hope they havent resticted your caffne intake too much.
Keep up the good work mate.
Alex says a big hello.

Olly

Anonymous said...

Mike, I still can't believe how incredibly well you are recovering.

I knew you'd set the bar for patients with brain trauma but I didn't realise it would be so high! I was planning on visiting Queens Birthday but my family are out of Wellington that weekend so I'll book in another weekend.

Enjoy your swim

Dave

Anonymous said...

Hey Big Mikey, cousin James here, chuggin away at Vic and work and all that jazz.

It's so encouraging to hear your actual thoughts and insights on this sight each day when I come into work.

When (as in this weekend) I have 3 essays to complete of around 8-9,000 words in total, I take my daily peek at your site and know that if YOU can be persistant enough to do one-finger-typing to let us all know whats up, then I certainly can be persistant enough to get myself outta bed on Saturday, drink my much loved morning coffee, and rip into my work with the same dedication.

Watch out Tony Robbins is all I can say. Will hopefully be out to catch up and share some laughs soon.

Handshakes and back-pats,
James.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,

It's so good to hear from you, I was blown away when I read your first blog - your progress has really been quite inspirational!!

London is lovely right now, we are going through a bit of a heat wave, makes me miss NZ a bit more though, swimming in the Thames just doesn't cut it I'm afraid!

Keep up the good work.

Love
Davinia

Anonymous said...

Hi there Mike,
Just checked in again after a week or so away from computer access. Just amazing to see the progress you are making and especially to read your own impressions of your experience since the accident. You must be setting a New Zealand record for recovery. Very best wishes and hope I can catch up with you soon.
Regards
John

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike, its wonderful to hear from you directly. Keep going mate you are doing great. Went to a Chemical Brothers concert last night with Miles and am off to Europe with Andrew Barlass in three weeks.
Richard

Anonymous said...

Awesome work Mike!

If youre reading Mind Power, read the chapter titled Visualization and Healing ourselves. These are both really powerful chapters!

Good luck with the swimming! Weve started swimming with the kids, its welcome relief from the heat thats getting thicker by the day!

Take it easy and sneak in some rest!
Lots of love,
Kent and Amanda

Anonymous said...

So proud of all that you and the Wilkinson clan have achieved thus far.
Tight lines
Arohanui
Barb and Mita Patu

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,

It's so great to hear from you directly, keep up all the hard work in therapy! I bet your therapists love you, you have such a great attitude and are so motivated!

See you soon,
love Kathryn Meredith

Anonymous said...

It is so wonderful to hear of the continued very good progress. And to read Mike's own blogs. What a great job everyone is doing in this amazing recovery.

Love
Barbara and Colum

Anonymous said...

Mikie,
Awesome to hear from you and learn of your incredible progress, your definately an inspiration Pops!
Big hugs babee,
Lots o' love,
France xxx

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,

I've been playing golf for nearly 50 years and my muscles have NEVER listened to my brain! Your progress fills us with admiration.

David and Patricia, Otaki

Anonymous said...

"you should always keep on pushing" - Hang on didn't you crib that one from the Black Seed's lyrics?

Must say though it has been inspirational hearing about how you are pushing through your dayly challenges... so keep on pushing..

I'm still over in London - up to no good - will be back before Christmas.... Lets go down to the beach - I'll shout you as many expressos as you want..

Plus - big thanks to the family for sending out all this info day in day out.. Its great what you've done.

Cheers all,
Greg Lowe.