Home Again

Hi everyone,

Lee again after quite a silence. Mike reckoned there were no new PBs. I felt it is all one great PB, so here's my interpretation of last week's progress:

Each event was small in itself but each builds into a lot more independence and interaction. I think the major difference is that Mike has so much more energy now. He can last longer in activity and it doesn't seem to take so long to rebuild his energy. That enables him to work at things a bit longer. Also, as he does manage a new challenge, it seems to build his confidence that he can cope with the next one.

One bit of progress was that Mike got a new wheelchair - one that he can wheel himself and that is easier for us to manage too. He doesn't have enough energy to wheel very far, but it is a great feeling of independence. With it, the walking frame and the trolley he can organise his day to suit himself without having to wait for anyone else.

Now that Mike is up for longer, he needs more clothes so Bryce and I wheeled him into Lambton Quay. We bought some more clothes and even met some friends of Mike's in the shop. Of course Bryce so loves shopping it was a real thrill for him!

Yesterday Mike and I wheeled our way into the World Press Photo exhibition. It was very crowded but we discovered that everyone makes way for us to be able to see the photos. The only time I've parted the crowds before was when I was with a nun friend who wears the full nun regalia. We'd recommend the exhibition,if it comes your way - the photos I mean, not the nuns.

All the domestic activity has a good effect on Mike's skills. Its like second time around of training up your kids! I've been putting him to work washing dishes and peeling vegetables. Tracy started a new job last week. She and Andrew moved out of our apartment and into a place within walking distance. Phil, Bryce and I were helping them move into their flat and Mike got caught up in that too. It all requires a lot of work from Mike, to prop himself up against things, manoeuvre around furniture, and to develop small scale movements such as usng a vegetable peeler.

Plus of course last weekend required the crucial cultural skills connected with watching the All Black Lions Test. Mike lasted the whole game with just a half time rest.

Plus Bryce has even got Mike working on that blasted addictive Sudoku maths puzzle stuff.

On a smaller scale, Mike can now eat unsupervised, so we're expecting further weight gains. He can also shower when he wants to. Sounds trivial but it means he doesn't need to wait until the nurses are free to keep an eye on him. His swimming is progressing. Mostly the hydrotherapy focuses on trunk flexibility and walking action, but in his short attempts at freestyle, his legs are sinking less. Plus on Sunday night he discovered that he can still do press ups! He did two easily. I had a go and struggled with one. The walking is going okay and Mike is now walking with one crutch with someone to help. The physio expects that in another three weeks he will be able to walk entirely on his own. Mike's non-physical project this week is to carry out a bit of work/economics analysis and he is really looking forward to getting into that.

Cavit are now talking about Mike coming home to live within the next couple of months, so things are falling into place. Now Tracy and Andrew have moved out we will be able to set up the spare bedroom for Mike to be there for a while. I presume he will continue to go out to Cavit for therapy some days and gradually start to integrate into ordinary life.

You can see that Mike's life each day makes further progress towards normal living. The amazing thing is how normal it is becoming when we were facing disaster such a short time ago.

Back to Mike again next time.

Lee