I was reading Michael the lead story on the business page this morning. It was about the issue of a single banking regulator for Australasia. Mike said, out of the blue, and with equanimity: "It doesn't really matter if I don't recover enough to be able to work as an economist again. If that happens, I will find something else to do." Knowing how much Mike has invested in economics, how much he likes it, how much he was enjoying CRA, and how seriously he was exploring (and saving for) the option of a US PhD in economics, I was enormously impressed by his insight, positive approach, fortitude and resilience. What a lesson in confronting a worst fear, and defanging it!
I was so stunned that I forgot to make the joke I had prepared for this contingency. It was "Don't worry if you find you can't think straight as an economist any more Mike, that is an essential requirement for a central planner in government."
So while Mike is working hard at overcoming real immediate problems, like learning how to swallow food again, he is also working out how to get control of his future -- and I don't think he's going to become a central planner!
I also get the impression that Mike has got his head around the issue Lee raised -- of the need to build a generous amount of time for rest into the optimal recovery plan. Now he happily reports on both his latest "PBs" and his degree of rest when asked how he is doing. He is also quick to say that he is tired, when asked.
Kent and Amanda, Mike sends his thanks for your 3rd minidisk. He was listening to your disks again early this morning, well before normal breakfast time.
Bryce
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
15th April:Still more food
Mike's food range is ever widening. Today he added to his eating range, soft thin toast and honey and later hash browns and tomato sauce (Of course it must be Watties, Uncle Gerald). Mike's grin when he saw the sauce would've been a good advert. The concentration required for these less liquid foods is really challenging and exhausting, but of course the rewards are great. The Speech Language Therapists think in two weeks Mike will be consuming all his food by mouth.
If you want a comparison, do a big swallow of your saliva three times in quick succession. The difficulty of that third swallow is kind of remotely like the concentration Mike needs for every swallow.
On that strange note - Good night!
Lee
If you want a comparison, do a big swallow of your saliva three times in quick succession. The difficulty of that third swallow is kind of remotely like the concentration Mike needs for every swallow.
On that strange note - Good night!
Lee
Thursday, April 14, 2005
14th April:Food, glorious food
More progress on the eating front today. Mike ate mushy weetbix in the morning and scrambled egg in the afternoon. Clearly both tasted like ambrosia but the concentration required is amazing. No surprise to all Mike's SP'TH friends (Speech Language Therapy),but astounding to us uninitiated mortals. After a one-egg scrambled egg, he was exhausted and needed a lengthy sleep.
The challenge for Mike currently is laying off the goal-oriented stuff and just focusing on the resting process. I've decided that our society places a huge emphasis generally on goal setting and persistence and Mike has focused on it much more than the average person would. This brain injury stuff needs the opposite behaviour. At this stage persistence and determination gets in the way of recovery. It's a balance because obviously he's needing to work hard to re-learn these skills. However, if he does slightly too much, the exhaustion really sets him back, he even forgets what he just learnt. For example in one session Mike will seem to have made good progress with learning to walk, in the next session if he's tired his walking will have greatly regressed.
You can see that it's an upside down process for all of us and we're having to learn different ways of helping him through the challenges.
Regards to you all
Lee
The challenge for Mike currently is laying off the goal-oriented stuff and just focusing on the resting process. I've decided that our society places a huge emphasis generally on goal setting and persistence and Mike has focused on it much more than the average person would. This brain injury stuff needs the opposite behaviour. At this stage persistence and determination gets in the way of recovery. It's a balance because obviously he's needing to work hard to re-learn these skills. However, if he does slightly too much, the exhaustion really sets him back, he even forgets what he just learnt. For example in one session Mike will seem to have made good progress with learning to walk, in the next session if he's tired his walking will have greatly regressed.
You can see that it's an upside down process for all of us and we're having to learn different ways of helping him through the challenges.
Regards to you all
Lee
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
13th April:A taste of the real world
A red letter day for Mike. Firstly he finally managed some caffeine intake - in the morning some Cyclops Coffee Yoghurt and in the afternoon 6 sips of flat white coffee (cooled) whilst hovered over by anxious nurses monitoring swallowing. So he's a big step closer to that goal of going to the Zoom cafe in the hospital and having a coffee.
Secondly Mike's boss visited and Mike was clearly really pleased to be in touch with the work team. He had lots of questions about what was happening in the firm. Each day his voice is getting closer to his old voice. I think once the trachy wound is healed over, it will be pretty much his old voice.
One on-going challenge for Mike at present is keeping still, so he can rest as much as possible. All his life Mike has always been either asleep or in full action. He doesn't seem bored, but those legs just keep fidgeting around. Apparently it's part of the brain recovery process to have to build awareness of what those extremities are doing.
So a good day in terms of progress and a good day for Mike's sense of well-being.
Regards
Lee
Addendum
It took two Cavit staff about 15 minutes to make it possible for Mike to have his coffee. I watched closely to see if he would remember to thank them, like the Mike of old. No worries. He gave them his full trademark smile and thanked them handsomely and graciously for the delicious coffee. Mike still seems to be the gentleman we all knew and loved, and the world somehow seems to be a better place.
Bryce
Secondly Mike's boss visited and Mike was clearly really pleased to be in touch with the work team. He had lots of questions about what was happening in the firm. Each day his voice is getting closer to his old voice. I think once the trachy wound is healed over, it will be pretty much his old voice.
One on-going challenge for Mike at present is keeping still, so he can rest as much as possible. All his life Mike has always been either asleep or in full action. He doesn't seem bored, but those legs just keep fidgeting around. Apparently it's part of the brain recovery process to have to build awareness of what those extremities are doing.
So a good day in terms of progress and a good day for Mike's sense of well-being.
Regards
Lee
Addendum
It took two Cavit staff about 15 minutes to make it possible for Mike to have his coffee. I watched closely to see if he would remember to thank them, like the Mike of old. No worries. He gave them his full trademark smile and thanked them handsomely and graciously for the delicious coffee. Mike still seems to be the gentleman we all knew and loved, and the world somehow seems to be a better place.
Bryce
13 April Visitor Update - No Visitors Please Until Further Notice
Michael is still very easily tired. It will be great if his cousins, friends and colleagues can visit when he is feeling stronger.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
12th April: One step forward, one backwards
Yesterday we were so pleased that Mike had his trachy out. Onward and upward we thought, but really it's all such a fragile process. Last night Mike was very restless and agitated and the nurses think this was caused by fatigue resulting from the trachy removal. (Four injections in your neck aren't exactly nice!) Today as a result he was very tired and drawn. Mike was very pleased to start on food through his mouth. They started very carefully using pureed food, but this afternoon his temperature went up, so there was a possibility that he was aspirating some of the food risking another chest infection.
So it is just not even progress. However, Mike in good Ironman style is collecting PBs. One was that he talked to us via Tracy's cell phone - it's a sign of modern life for that to seem such a major step forward! The other PB was that he fed himself the pureed fruit. This would seem a tiny step, but the small motor skills involved are difficult. Yesterday he had a go at wiping his face with a flannel and found that required a huge input of energy and co-ordination.
Here's hoping he's settled down by tomorrow.
Lee
So it is just not even progress. However, Mike in good Ironman style is collecting PBs. One was that he talked to us via Tracy's cell phone - it's a sign of modern life for that to seem such a major step forward! The other PB was that he fed himself the pureed fruit. This would seem a tiny step, but the small motor skills involved are difficult. Yesterday he had a go at wiping his face with a flannel and found that required a huge input of energy and co-ordination.
Here's hoping he's settled down by tomorrow.
Lee
12 April Visitor Update - Still no visitors
Michael is tired after physiotherapy this morning, and Cavit advise that it would be best if he had no visitors today other than immediate family.
Monday, April 11, 2005
11 April Visiting Notice -- Still no visiting please
Excellent news. Michael had the "trachy" - the breathing tube inserted directly into his windpipe - removed this morning. Assuming he does not have any problems now in keeping his windpipe clear by himself, the next steps will presumably be for him to take food and then drink progressively through his mouth, rather than directly into the stomach through the peg. Mike is getting closer to his goal of coffee and coke. He also has his eye on a steak (further out) at Phillip's new restaurant -- Lonestar.
Still no visitors please, as Michael is still having to take things quietly.
Still no visitors please, as Michael is still having to take things quietly.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
10th April: Continuing peaceful progress
Mike felt he had a good day today. He walked about 4 metres taking all his own weight, just needing the nurses for support. That’s a big improvement from just a couple of days ago.
His voice is getting stronger too and if the trachy comes out tomorrow as planned, he should gradually sound a lot clearer. His right side that was so slow to get going is improving daily. Each day he can do increasing amounts of things for himself. With his improved sleep we’re hoping he’ll be strong enough soon for some more intensive rehabilitation.
The contrast with the over-hyped Mike of a week ago is quite marked. It’s a peaceful life at this stage. We’re visiting him just one person at a time, to simplify things for him and we read to him for long periods. All those cards and messages you sent are getting double value – each day I take in three or four from the pile to read to him. So many arrived while he was unconscious that they’re all new to him. We always talk for a bit about each person and I’m surprised at the detail he remembers about all of you.
When he can receive visitors, take care you’re feeling fit. He’s already persuaded his big sister and his Chilean nurse, Juan, that they should do a half marathon with him. It’s hard to imagine at this stage, but what a superb goal.
Thanks for all your messages, they are sustaining to us as well as Mike.
Lee
His voice is getting stronger too and if the trachy comes out tomorrow as planned, he should gradually sound a lot clearer. His right side that was so slow to get going is improving daily. Each day he can do increasing amounts of things for himself. With his improved sleep we’re hoping he’ll be strong enough soon for some more intensive rehabilitation.
The contrast with the over-hyped Mike of a week ago is quite marked. It’s a peaceful life at this stage. We’re visiting him just one person at a time, to simplify things for him and we read to him for long periods. All those cards and messages you sent are getting double value – each day I take in three or four from the pile to read to him. So many arrived while he was unconscious that they’re all new to him. We always talk for a bit about each person and I’m surprised at the detail he remembers about all of you.
When he can receive visitors, take care you’re feeling fit. He’s already persuaded his big sister and his Chilean nurse, Juan, that they should do a half marathon with him. It’s hard to imagine at this stage, but what a superb goal.
Thanks for all your messages, they are sustaining to us as well as Mike.
Lee
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