Lee here this time. Mike did better today and as a result we're feeling a bit happier. The antibiotics seem to be working, so we're hoping we've avoided the medics having to sample syringe his lungs etc. Today was a relatively more positive day.
We're learning a lot about the pitfalls of the system and can see why friends with children with chronic conditions have to become so expert on the condition and their child's patterns. Mike is so vulnerable, each time he has to shift to a new situation his condition is under threat. We have to know how he needs to be handled to make sure it happens. The nurses are marvellous, but they have to learn how to handle his condition.
The other problem, that we only properly realised last night, is that because our brain runs so much of the body's systems, if it isn't working well, there's a lot of interrelated things that can stuff him up. The chest infection could have been caused by him breathing in some of his food. Apparently we all do that, but coughing fixes it and Mike can't do that all the time. It could be due to the tracheostomy. It could be due to the transfer to Wellington upsetting him. Becuase of the transfer, there were quite a few days this week where he wasn't sat up and that might have caused the lungs to malfunction....... The list goes on.
On the bright side, though Mike's still classified as seriously ill, but he's inching forward in other ways. His eyes are open longer. They usually look fairly vacant, but he can sometimes respond to directions such as 'Turn your head towards Dad, Mike.' He's also moving limbs on the right side a little more. Mike's school friend Kent sent him a lovely little MD player (I hope I've got the term right!) and the first of a series personalised mini discs. I'd get it going for him and at the end of each section say: 'Mike, squeeze my hand if you want some more.' Immediately there'd be a strong squeeze. His reaction has caused me to wonder if its possible to be bored even when you're in a coma.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Friday, March 18, 2005
18 March - Not out of the woods yet
Mike was admitted into Hutt Hospital today with an infected lung. This was necessary in order to give him what our kids used to call antidiabolics directy into his bloodstream.
We were enormously impressed by the efforts of Cavit ABI staff today in making sure that he got access to the services that only the hospital itself could provide. They spared no effort in putting Michael's interests first.
Our role now is to wait to see if the antibiotics do the job without the need for further medical intervention.
With apologies to all those of you in Wellington who are wanting to visit him, please hang back at least until his condition has improved and stablised. In the normal course of things, there are months of visiting oportunities in store.
Thanks again for all the support that keeps pouring in.
Mike's Dad
We were enormously impressed by the efforts of Cavit ABI staff today in making sure that he got access to the services that only the hospital itself could provide. They spared no effort in putting Michael's interests first.
Our role now is to wait to see if the antibiotics do the job without the need for further medical intervention.
With apologies to all those of you in Wellington who are wanting to visit him, please hang back at least until his condition has improved and stablised. In the normal course of things, there are months of visiting oportunities in store.
Thanks again for all the support that keeps pouring in.
Mike's Dad
Thursday, March 17, 2005
First full day in the Hutt
Hi all, Tracy here again. Mike is very tired, but when he is awake he seems a bit more alert today than he was previously. He's back to being very sweaty again. I spent the night at Hutt Hospital and the staff were very attentive to Mike, including setting up a fan to help him keep cool. They are also very good at introducing themselves to us and answering our questions, and there is a more relaxed atmosphere than there was at the Auckland hospital.
Mike has apparently settled on a goal for himself. He has to wear splints on his arms and legs for 2 out of every 4 hours to stop the muscles in his limbs from lengthening or shortening in the wrong ways. Mike evidently does not approve of the splints and is determined to get them off. So far he's been unsuccessful, but his focus and lack of interest in giving up bodes well once he's conscious enough to have some better goals.
Mike has apparently settled on a goal for himself. He has to wear splints on his arms and legs for 2 out of every 4 hours to stop the muscles in his limbs from lengthening or shortening in the wrong ways. Mike evidently does not approve of the splints and is determined to get them off. So far he's been unsuccessful, but his focus and lack of interest in giving up bodes well once he's conscious enough to have some better goals.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
16 March Transition South Completed
Michael is sleeping tonight in Cavit ABI Rehabilitation, Lower Hutt. The unit is part of Hutt Hospital.
The transition from Auckland was without drama, until around Vivian Street, Wellington when a second ambulance was required to clear Mike's tracheotomy. It was a stark lesson to us theoreticians of the importance of practical knowledge. It might be a short trip to Lower Hutt, but it was long enough to turn Lee from a recent septuagenaium into an octogenariam. No problem, she says, that hair colouring can't fix.
The Cavit staff were very welcoming and soon had him comfortable. Lee's brother Stuart visited and got two good smiles out of Michael very quickly, relaying stories of Greg. Michael was showing signs of stress later in the evening, reminding us of his limited ability to handle too much action. His sister Tracy is going to sleep in the ward overnight to keep an eye on him.
Cavit ask that we limit visits to Michael to immediate family for the next few days beecause he is very tired. They ask if anyone wanting to visit Michael would call first on (04) 570 9284 to check his condition.
Mike's Dad
The transition from Auckland was without drama, until around Vivian Street, Wellington when a second ambulance was required to clear Mike's tracheotomy. It was a stark lesson to us theoreticians of the importance of practical knowledge. It might be a short trip to Lower Hutt, but it was long enough to turn Lee from a recent septuagenaium into an octogenariam. No problem, she says, that hair colouring can't fix.
The Cavit staff were very welcoming and soon had him comfortable. Lee's brother Stuart visited and got two good smiles out of Michael very quickly, relaying stories of Greg. Michael was showing signs of stress later in the evening, reminding us of his limited ability to handle too much action. His sister Tracy is going to sleep in the ward overnight to keep an eye on him.
Cavit ask that we limit visits to Michael to immediate family for the next few days beecause he is very tired. They ask if anyone wanting to visit Michael would call first on (04) 570 9284 to check his condition.
Mike's Dad
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Last full day in Auckland
Tracy here on Tuesday, 15 March. If everything works out tomorrow, this will have been Mike's last day in Auckland for a while. Mike had a good day. He's added another response to the thumbs-up and grinning - when his mate Craig was telling him about Craig's uni courses, Mike's eyebrows went up skeptically when Craig mentioned an accounting paper. Nice to know the economist is still in there. He still gets tired very easily and sometimes responds, and then a short time later seems to be deeply asleep.
The plan is to fly Mike down to Wellington tomorrow. This isn't guaranteed to happen, aside from the risk of the hospital having to change its plans due to some emergency, Wellington airport is closed tonight due to the weather and it may still be closed tomorrow. Mum's flying with Mike and we hope that she'll remember to note down the details of the plane for when he asks for this very important information. Andrew and I drove down today in Mike's car and Dad was meant to fly down, but is now back in Auckland. We left Auckland in glorious sunshine - Wellington had better get its act together before Mike's Auckland mates start heading down south.
Mike still tires very easily, and we expect that he will be tired for the next couple of days after the flight down. If you want to visit Mike in Wellington, please call Dad on 027-445-5326 or Mum on 021-455-326 beforehand to see how things are going. We are very sorry about having to keep on limiting Mike's visitors like this, but everything we've read on head injuries says that if the patient gets over-tired one day, it will take several days for them to recover, and this reduces the benefits that they get from their therapy. It's the downside of Mike having so many good friends and a big family.
Big thanks to all the Auckland hospital staff who have taken such good care of Mike over the last three weeks and have put up with the hordes of visitors, truckloads of cards, helium balloons and Lance Armstrong readings.
Mike is going to have a shock when he realises that not only has he been moved from Auckland to Wellington, but his bike is broken, his CD collection has suddenly got a lot mellower, and his sister has stolen his car.
The plan is to fly Mike down to Wellington tomorrow. This isn't guaranteed to happen, aside from the risk of the hospital having to change its plans due to some emergency, Wellington airport is closed tonight due to the weather and it may still be closed tomorrow. Mum's flying with Mike and we hope that she'll remember to note down the details of the plane for when he asks for this very important information. Andrew and I drove down today in Mike's car and Dad was meant to fly down, but is now back in Auckland. We left Auckland in glorious sunshine - Wellington had better get its act together before Mike's Auckland mates start heading down south.
Mike still tires very easily, and we expect that he will be tired for the next couple of days after the flight down. If you want to visit Mike in Wellington, please call Dad on 027-445-5326 or Mum on 021-455-326 beforehand to see how things are going. We are very sorry about having to keep on limiting Mike's visitors like this, but everything we've read on head injuries says that if the patient gets over-tired one day, it will take several days for them to recover, and this reduces the benefits that they get from their therapy. It's the downside of Mike having so many good friends and a big family.
Big thanks to all the Auckland hospital staff who have taken such good care of Mike over the last three weeks and have put up with the hordes of visitors, truckloads of cards, helium balloons and Lance Armstrong readings.
Mike is going to have a shock when he realises that not only has he been moved from Auckland to Wellington, but his bike is broken, his CD collection has suddenly got a lot mellower, and his sister has stolen his car.
Monday, March 14, 2005
14 March: Thumbs up for Nix
A better day for MIke. This afternoon we felt really pleased when he seemed to come up a few higher levels of consciousness. I was reading him Lance Armstrong's second book . I wasn't sure if he was even listening until I came to a passage where Armstrong said that the cancer cured him of laziness. Mike's eyebrows suddenly rose with astonishment. I read on a bit and when I checked if he wanted me to keep reading, I got a couple of very strong 'yes' responses.
Then Mike's cycling friend Nicky came in, full of vim and vigour. She said to Mike that her first day in her new job had gone really well. Mike immediately gave her two thumbs up. Nix and I were so thrilled.
To TJ's disgust, by the time she got there, he was sound asleep, but the communication had definitely been there. Plus it must mean that there's a bit of recent memory there. He quite clearly knew who Nicky was, even though she is one of his more recent friends.
So tomorrow is our last day in Auckland for now. I fly down with Mike on Wednesday morning and it's on with the next stage of Mike's recovery.
I said a few days ago how much support all the Aucklanders have been. We feel that Mike's friends have become ours. We will never be able to repay you for your true friendship with Mike and your fantastic support for us all. You have been such a terrific support to Mike that it is hard to take him away from here. Your visits will mean a great deal tohim so do come down and visit. Mike has a large and lively extended family in Wellington. It is no problem to accommodate you on your own or in groups. We'd love to have you to stay. And of course you will be aware that Wellington had more sunshine hours than Auckland last year... or in February....or something like that!
Lee and Bryce
Then Mike's cycling friend Nicky came in, full of vim and vigour. She said to Mike that her first day in her new job had gone really well. Mike immediately gave her two thumbs up. Nix and I were so thrilled.
To TJ's disgust, by the time she got there, he was sound asleep, but the communication had definitely been there. Plus it must mean that there's a bit of recent memory there. He quite clearly knew who Nicky was, even though she is one of his more recent friends.
So tomorrow is our last day in Auckland for now. I fly down with Mike on Wednesday morning and it's on with the next stage of Mike's recovery.
I said a few days ago how much support all the Aucklanders have been. We feel that Mike's friends have become ours. We will never be able to repay you for your true friendship with Mike and your fantastic support for us all. You have been such a terrific support to Mike that it is hard to take him away from here. Your visits will mean a great deal tohim so do come down and visit. Mike has a large and lively extended family in Wellington. It is no problem to accommodate you on your own or in groups. We'd love to have you to stay. And of course you will be aware that Wellington had more sunshine hours than Auckland last year... or in February....or something like that!
Lee and Bryce
Sunday, March 13, 2005
13 March Update
Mike had a much better day today, much to his parents' relief. For much of the day his breathing was relaxed, ie normal.
A friend told us today that the 'storming' of the last couple of days is a common part of the process of recovery and should not be read as a sign of anything going wrong. It could be stress related. We aim to check this out with the professional staff tomorrow.
He was at his most alert today listenening to Mary reminding him of pre-high school holidays at Totaranui. He also responded to Lou's voice telling him that she was leaving on her OE, but would see him in a year.
We still expect him to be shifted down to Lower Hutt around 8.30-9.00 am this Wednesday.
Thanks to you all for the messages of support and all the useful ideas for helping that just keep pouring in.
Mike's Dad
A friend told us today that the 'storming' of the last couple of days is a common part of the process of recovery and should not be read as a sign of anything going wrong. It could be stress related. We aim to check this out with the professional staff tomorrow.
He was at his most alert today listenening to Mary reminding him of pre-high school holidays at Totaranui. He also responded to Lou's voice telling him that she was leaving on her OE, but would see him in a year.
We still expect him to be shifted down to Lower Hutt around 8.30-9.00 am this Wednesday.
Thanks to you all for the messages of support and all the useful ideas for helping that just keep pouring in.
Mike's Dad
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