Mike’s activities yesterday must have tired him out, so he spent most of today just dozing. The physio got him up for a while, but he didn’t seem to enjoy it as much and didn’t last long. After any activity, he seems to take a long time to recover and we understand that this need for heaps of sleep will continue for a very long time.
His muscles are getting going more so that he can shift around to get a bit more comfortable. The nurses try to position him on one side or the other to help drain his lungs, but he now always just wriggles over on to his back.
We’ve nearly finished the second Lance Armstrong book. I wonder if Armstrong realizes how much inspiration his story provides for people in difficult situations besides cancer. A friend has given us another cycling book, this time about Armstrong’s record sixth Tour win. Mike seemed to indicate that he wants to hear it next. Meanwhile his big sister Tracy tried him out on some articles in The Economist and reports that he wanted more of them too. Some of us find that a bit hard to believe.
Mike is still on antibiotics, but he seems to be getting more comfortable and better at clearing his throat. We still expect him to be discharged from the hospital on Tuesday.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Friday, March 25, 2005
Good Friday - Mike shows his dangerous side
To Mike's cousins out there - be afraid, be very afraid. Mike is now nodding his head for yes and shaking for no. Mike's cousin Jo, and her new husband Grant, came to see Mike today. Jo and Grant were married only in January. Some mysterious entity, known as the Stunts Committee, decorated the newly-weds house for them. Unfortunately Jo and Grant decided this visit was the perfect time to interrogate Mike about who was responsible. And Mike, in his poor, defenseless state, happily spilled the beans.
On the positive side it's quite possible Mike's taking the opportunity to have a laugh at our expense to make up for all the questions he hasn't been able to answer up till now. Earlier in the day Mike's brother Phil came in to visit and said Bryce was trying to decide whether to iron his shirts or go in to work. So we decided to ask Mike what he thought Bryce would do. Now Mike, possibly keeping in mind how fashion conscious Bryce is, indicated Bryce would iron his shirts rather than go in to work. So your secrets may still be safe. For total security though, if Mike's keeping any secrets for you, I suggest a 24-hr bedside vigil until we're sure that Mike's discretion has returned.
Otherwise Mike seems to be in a better mood than yesterday, including smiling and laughing and kicking at his various visitors. Katy has decided that kicking is his form of saying hello to her, while Grant was getting concerned as Mike kicked closer and closer to his head.
The hospital is planning to move him back to the Cavitt rehab centre on Tuesday. Hopefully another of the patients there is into Zendo Kai.
On the positive side it's quite possible Mike's taking the opportunity to have a laugh at our expense to make up for all the questions he hasn't been able to answer up till now. Earlier in the day Mike's brother Phil came in to visit and said Bryce was trying to decide whether to iron his shirts or go in to work. So we decided to ask Mike what he thought Bryce would do. Now Mike, possibly keeping in mind how fashion conscious Bryce is, indicated Bryce would iron his shirts rather than go in to work. So your secrets may still be safe. For total security though, if Mike's keeping any secrets for you, I suggest a 24-hr bedside vigil until we're sure that Mike's discretion has returned.
Otherwise Mike seems to be in a better mood than yesterday, including smiling and laughing and kicking at his various visitors. Katy has decided that kicking is his form of saying hello to her, while Grant was getting concerned as Mike kicked closer and closer to his head.
The hospital is planning to move him back to the Cavitt rehab centre on Tuesday. Hopefully another of the patients there is into Zendo Kai.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
24 March - Not much to report
I suspect we'll have a lot of days with this title. Not much to report. Mike's still good at wriggling around, throwing away pillows and getting various aids off himself. Despite this activity, he seemed a bit tired and withdrawn into himself today compared to previous days. Apparently Dad spent most of the evening singing songs to him. Fortunately Dad also did this a lot in Mike's early childhood, so Mike should have some protections against long-term damage.
The dietician is increasing Mike's feeding schedule as they're worried he's getting a bit thin - I guess it's the Ironman metabolism that is still burning through food ultra-fast. And it's not like Mike has much fat to fall back on.
Mike does have physios set up for over the Easter period - a different one each day. Foster, the normal physio on the ward, has been giving them some training so it will be interesting to see any differences in technique they bring. Good to know that Mike will be getting some movement to help shift any fluid in his lungs, though he's doing the best to provide that by himself too.
The dietician is increasing Mike's feeding schedule as they're worried he's getting a bit thin - I guess it's the Ironman metabolism that is still burning through food ultra-fast. And it's not like Mike has much fat to fall back on.
Mike does have physios set up for over the Easter period - a different one each day. Foster, the normal physio on the ward, has been giving them some training so it will be interesting to see any differences in technique they bring. Good to know that Mike will be getting some movement to help shift any fluid in his lungs, though he's doing the best to provide that by himself too.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Update 23 March - Getting increasingly mobile
Mike is getting more active every day. While this pleases us, it is creating no end of problems for his nurses. First, if they leave either of his hands untied, in no time at all he seizes the opportunity to grab one of the various tubes going into his body, to the great alarm of the first to notice what he is up to. Second, it is becoming very difficult to keep him rotated from one side to another in order to help drain fluid from his lungs. In what seems like no time at all, he turns his head to the wrong side, uncrosses his legs, moves his hips and, hey presto, he is lying on his back again. Third, he is getting increasingly adroit at lifting his left knee to put his left foot close enough to his bound left hand to enable a finger to lever down the special stockings he is meant to wear in order to reduce the risk of blood clots. He is now good enough to get all of the stocking down to the ankle and much of it below the ankle. Just watching his eyes intently focusing on getting his fingers and leg in the right place dispels all the earlier concerns that he might not be capable of determined purposeful action.
The physiotherapists put him in a wheelchair today and wheeled him to a lounge attached to his ward so that he could get a good view of out-of-doors. This is probably the first decent view he has had since the accident.
All in all his progress is encouraging – but we do need to see the end of this fluid on the lung problem. By the look of it he will remain in the hospital over Easter.
The physiotherapists put him in a wheelchair today and wheeled him to a lounge attached to his ward so that he could get a good view of out-of-doors. This is probably the first decent view he has had since the accident.
All in all his progress is encouraging – but we do need to see the end of this fluid on the lung problem. By the look of it he will remain in the hospital over Easter.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
22 March - Tongues and Grins
Tracy here again. Mike is definitely being awake and alert for longer, and responding more. When I came in to see him, he was sticking out his tongue slightly, so I stuck my tongue out at him, which resulted in a broad grin. Then the physios had Mike sitting up, and one of the physios asked Mike if he would like to sit up for longer. Not only did Mike blink his eyes for yes, but he nodded his head as well. And when Judy, one of his nurses who we all like, came in at the start of her shift, Mike gave her a big grin. He also copied my thumbs up, and tried to copy the peace sign but separation of fingers seems to be a bit hard at the moment.
And when the physios shifted Mike back to bed, he assisted them in helping them move him up the bed by taking some of his weight on his legs and off his torso.
Plus, although he had two sessions of physio today, instead of falling asleep immediately afterwards he stayed awake, through a couple of sections of Lance Armstrong's book, and then through Pete and Dave, old friends from high school, visiting, and then awake for more Lance Armstrong. A week ago he would have been fast asleep after one physio session.
So he's definitely improving, despite the knock-back of the chest infection. No news on when the medical staff think they might be able to remove the trachectomy. This is currently preventing Mike from talking since no air passes up from his chest to his mouth (although of course we don't know if any brain damage might also be stopping him from talking). If that's removed, it opens up a lot more options for communication, assuming Dad doesn't manage to teach Mike morse code first.
Unfortunately last night Mike achieved one of his primary goals - he managed to get the left foot splint off. I hope that when he recovers full consciousness he doesn't remember that after all his hard work his sister promptly put it back on again. It seemed quite cruel after all the effort he put in. I wonder how medical staff, lacking the normal sisterly impulses to torture their brothers, cope.
And when the physios shifted Mike back to bed, he assisted them in helping them move him up the bed by taking some of his weight on his legs and off his torso.
Plus, although he had two sessions of physio today, instead of falling asleep immediately afterwards he stayed awake, through a couple of sections of Lance Armstrong's book, and then through Pete and Dave, old friends from high school, visiting, and then awake for more Lance Armstrong. A week ago he would have been fast asleep after one physio session.
So he's definitely improving, despite the knock-back of the chest infection. No news on when the medical staff think they might be able to remove the trachectomy. This is currently preventing Mike from talking since no air passes up from his chest to his mouth (although of course we don't know if any brain damage might also be stopping him from talking). If that's removed, it opens up a lot more options for communication, assuming Dad doesn't manage to teach Mike morse code first.
Unfortunately last night Mike achieved one of his primary goals - he managed to get the left foot splint off. I hope that when he recovers full consciousness he doesn't remember that after all his hard work his sister promptly put it back on again. It seemed quite cruel after all the effort he put in. I wonder how medical staff, lacking the normal sisterly impulses to torture their brothers, cope.
Monday, March 21, 2005
21 March:Tracking upwards
A good morning today. Mike was the most alert he has been and for the longest time. He seemed to listen to my conversation and even managed the occasional nod. I asked him if he understood about the accident and he nodded. I checked up on his people memory occasionally and he at least blinked 'yes' in the right places. A chest specialist came by and cracked a joke and Mike grinned. (Very sensible to laugh at the specialist's jokes!) Uncle Stuart turned up and Mike continued to respond to family stories etc. He's also moving more each day and it will soon be a real challenge to keep Mike in the bed and all the tubes in him.
I started doing the face stimulation massage that you showed me,Kim - just working from memory - and he seemed to like it. Tonight Bryce brought home the notes so I will get it more consistent with those.
By the afternoon though he was worn out and was either asleep or fairly vacant. The fatigue he will experience will take us all a long time to get used to. He will be in the medical ward for several days yet, so we can't really get into a routine for visitors but I guess that will all sort itself out gradually.
I started doing the face stimulation massage that you showed me,Kim - just working from memory - and he seemed to like it. Tonight Bryce brought home the notes so I will get it more consistent with those.
By the afternoon though he was worn out and was either asleep or fairly vacant. The fatigue he will experience will take us all a long time to get used to. He will be in the medical ward for several days yet, so we can't really get into a routine for visitors but I guess that will all sort itself out gradually.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
20 March: One month since the light went out
We were amazed to realise that today is exactly one month since our disaster. The whole period is just a nightmare blur, but words can never express our gratitude for the fantastic support we've had from family, friends, friends of friends and indeed total strangers.
We have to be grateful that Mike is still with us and,looking back, he's made real progress. He's now chugging along in the medical ward. The nurses are superb and his chest infection is still improving. Each day he gets a little bit more responsive. He's now trying to remove the various tubes into him, is a good sign of soem awareness. He's also lifting his torso slightly and turning his head a bit more. His face is showing a bit more expression and his grandmother got a proper laugh out of him, using humour at his Uncle Stuart's expense. Those of you who know both Mike's Gran and his Uncle will understand her success!
While it's easier for us having Mike close to home, we're missing all you Aucklanders. Don't think we've forgotten you. We're reading Mike Lance Armstrong's second book and he seems to be following quite big chunks of it. There's definitely a cyclist still there inside that injured brain of his.
Hugs to everyone
Lee
We have to be grateful that Mike is still with us and,looking back, he's made real progress. He's now chugging along in the medical ward. The nurses are superb and his chest infection is still improving. Each day he gets a little bit more responsive. He's now trying to remove the various tubes into him, is a good sign of soem awareness. He's also lifting his torso slightly and turning his head a bit more. His face is showing a bit more expression and his grandmother got a proper laugh out of him, using humour at his Uncle Stuart's expense. Those of you who know both Mike's Gran and his Uncle will understand her success!
While it's easier for us having Mike close to home, we're missing all you Aucklanders. Don't think we've forgotten you. We're reading Mike Lance Armstrong's second book and he seems to be following quite big chunks of it. There's definitely a cyclist still there inside that injured brain of his.
Hugs to everyone
Lee
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