topic Re: My Mums update thread in Community Spirit

My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:05:50 GMT

This thread is dedicated to my Mother and her recovery.

On Monday the 4th June 2007, while holidaying in the UK with my Father, my Mother was struck by a van while crossing the road.

Mum spent 88 days in various UK hospitals before finally being brought home back to Australia on the 30th August 2007.

She is currently in The John Whittle Nursing Facility with brain damage

I have set up this thread to keep you all updated on her condition and her improvements and hopefully one day, Mum will be able to read it.

Re: My Mums update thread

mrs**b — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:07:33 GMT

I love that photo Amy, it's beautiful..

It's great that you're keeping your thread alive..

I don't post a lot at all but I always check in here ♥

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:07:44 GMT

I am going to copy some posts over to the thread from the original thread that was started on 18th June 2007.
They are important improvements.

Re: My Mums update thread

*silver*lining* — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:08:43 GMT

Hi Amy - so glad you have started up another thread ♥

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:11:04 GMT

Mum went into the coma herself so we have no idea when or if she will wake.
Her brain has been shakin a lot. They managed to control the swelling but we really dont know if she will ever wake or, if she does wake, what state she will be in.
The small reactions she is having are what the Doctors call involuntary reflexes. But my family over there really believe she reacts to things they say and do.

She is rated as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 is the worse.
They have a test they call the Glasgow Coma Score.

My Mum is scoring a 3.

We were informed on 13th June 2007 that Mum has got pneumonia for the second time.

17th June- moved to another hospital . One better equiped for her.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:14:20 GMT

20th June 2007- The pneumonia is still on her lungs so they have taken a swab of the infection. They will fight the infection in the swab and then once they find the antibiotics that attack it best, they will give them to Mum.

Dad is bad again. He is having nightmares and waking up screaming.
Yesterday the policeman who assisted on the scene went to visit Mum and when Dad saw him (in his uniform and looking the same as the day of the accident) he lost it.
He has gone to stay back with his Mum and Dad for a few days (back in the town 3 hours from Mum). He needs rest

------------------------
23rd June 2007- The nurse has told Dad that Mum opened an eye.
She opened it and then closed it again but.....

SHE OPENED AN EYE.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:17:30 GMT

25 th June 2007- I talked to Mum's nurse on saturday night and she also informed me that Mum had opened an eye slightly. However it was when they were turning her so they couldnt be sure if she had done it on her own or whether the turn had done it.

This morning however i talked to my Uncle who had been with her all day. He said that while his wife was moving Mum's arms, her eye opened a little bit for a few seconds and then closed again.
So thats three times now in 3 days.
-----------------

28th June 2007- I received the most adorable delivery today. It means so much to me to know that I have such support and love from an amazing group of online friends.
On behalf of myself, my family and especially my Mum and Dad....we thankyou♥

Grumps, jbk, Bluebird, Bernie, Michele, fiesta, Dame, cavoodle, Nicki, l*o*u*i*s*e, Siggeth, Heidi, Sharon, Troy, Carly, bacardi, Janelle and Lissy

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:18:35 GMT

Mothers are special angels...

Mothers are special angels who share your hopes and dreams and believe they will come true...

All mothers are working mothers...

You're never too old to be tucked in with a lullaby at night...

A mother's dictionary has "maybe", "we'll see", and "later" instead of just plain NO...

Moms are special angels with laugh lines not wrinkles...

When in doubt, angel mothers know how to wing it...

You can always bring your laundry home...

Moms teach you left from right, right from wrong, and to send a thank you note the next day...

Mothers are special angels who never get tired of saying "Who's there?" when you say "Knock Knock"...

One moment of love every day adds up to a happy childhood...

Moms are special angels who keep the door wide open even after you leave home...

Angel moms give their children roots of tradition, love and wings of their own to fly...

Angels cant be everywhere so God created mothers.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:21:09 GMT

1st July 2007- Theres a problem. Mum is bleeding

the bleeding is coming from her behind. they are trying to find why, whats causing it and stop it.
my dad said when he left the hospital yesterday they felt really positive. Mum had opened both eyes durimg the day for a short time.
then he got the call at 4am telling him to go to the hosptal.
we just seem to start to feel positive and then get kicked so far back again

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:22:03 GMT

:_|

ohhh geez this is hard reading back on the old thread

Hope
'Tis better to hope, though clouds hang low,
And keep the eyes uplifted,
For the sweet blue sky will soon peep through,
When the ominous clouds are lifted

There was never a night without a day
Or an evening without a morning,
And the darkest hour, as the proverb goes,
Is the hour before the dawning

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:22:42 GMT

MOM I PRAY YOU CAN HEAR ME"

Mom I pray you can hear me!
Because I want you back
With all your brain waves back on track

I love you more than you will ever know
I want to give you a great big hug to show you so

You have to wake up from your coma
So open those beautiful eyes and look around the room
To see all the people who love you are rooting for you
And want to see you fully alive

Please Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and Blessed Mother Mary
I pray that my Mother wakes up from her coma
Fully healed, active and alive
I promise to take care of her
And help get her settled in a happy place
That will help her to live a full healthy spiritual life

Please I pray for a Miracle
That my Mom and other Coma Patients
Will wake up soon, and become totally alive
With no brain damage to complicate their lives!
© 1999 by Susan Spector-Miano

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:23:58 GMT

"Waiting For A Loved One"

This prayer is to Our Lord in Heaven above
Please be with us,and help us
To have the Wisdom and Patience to wait,

And help with all aspects
Of our Coma Patient's
Recovery Process Dear Lord
With Your Guidance and Love.
© 1999 by Susan Spector-Miano

"God's Healing Love"
This prayer is for all the Coma Patients
That have awakened from their Coma
Trying to function and get on with their lives:

We pray to Our Lord in Heaven Above
That each one of you will be able
To fully function to your best abilities
With the Lord's Guidance and Healing Love
© 1999 by Susan Spector-Miano

MOM I PRAY YOU CAN HEAR ME"

Mom I pray you can hear me!
Because I want you back
With all your brain waves back on track

I love you more than you will ever know
I want to give you a great big hug to show you so

You have to wake up from your coma
So open those beautiful eyes and look around the room
To see all the people who love you are rooting for you
And want to see you fully alive

Please Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and Blessed Mother Mary
I pray that my Mother wakes up from her coma
Fully healed, active and alive
I promise to take care of her
And help get her settled in a happy place
That will help her to live a full healthy spiritual life

Please I pray for a Miracle
That my Mom and other Coma Patients
Will wake up soon, and become totally alive
With no brain damage to complicate their lives!
© 1999 by Susan Spector-Miano

Re: My Mums update thread

norti-who-me — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:27:07 GMT

.

I'm glad you kept the thread going Amy. I often pop in and read your updates.

Huggs to you, your Mum & family xox :-x

.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:28:58 GMT

2nd July 2007- This morning at 6:30am, my uncle rang me.
He says the bleeding has stopped. They did an ultrasound on Mum but still could not find where the bleeding was coming from. Then after a couple of hours, it stopped. She now has another chest infection (not pneumonia yet)which they are treating.

Also yesterday (Today their time) my Uncle says that Mum opened both her eyes wide. Totally open. At first she just stared then she started to move her eyes towards noises in the room. She did this for about 10 minutes.
-----------------------

4th July 2007- Last night (morning over there) i talked to my Dad. He sounded good and well rested. The bleeding has not come back and the chest infection is under control for the time being. Mum has been coughing up a lot of phlem all by herself which is good.
She has also been opening both her eyes quite a bit now.
I asked Dad if he wants me to come over yet and he told me to wait till she is moved to Leicester hospital.

This morning (night time over there), My uncle rang. He says when he got to the hospital, dad was asleep next to Mum and Mums eyes were open. So he went up to her and said hello etc.
He says it looked like she smiled slightly.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:30:22 GMT

5th July 2007- Last night i changed my way of thinking after getting more good news.

While the nurses were cleaning Mum yesterday and walking around her bed, Mums eyes were following them. Such an improvement in such a short time.
All going well (i know ive said that before), Mum will be moved to Leicester next week.

Also, a different bowls club in Dubbo (not the one Mum bowls for), has donated $1000 for Mum and Dad.

Also, i wrote to the Doctor involved in the coma awakenings trials and he replied back the same day. This is part of his reply
Dear Amy *******,
Thank you for your interest in our work on zolpidem. The drug may be effective in some patients with brain injury or with impaired consciousness or in those who are neurologically disabled and hence it may be helpful to your mum.
We usually apply the drug 6 months or later after the initial brain injury. This is so because a lot of spontaneous changes can take place before 6 months. Also we do not have much experience before this time and we do not have many patients who reacted to the drug before this time.
It is difficult to make predictions on outcome on any early reactions after brain damage and hence you are best to be guided by the team that is taking care of your mum at this stage. You are most welcome to contact me again when necessary.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:33:24 GMT

7th July 2007- They are just waiting on a bed at Leicester General then, all going well, no complications, she will be moved.
Once she's moved I go over there.

No changes overnight.
She is still opening her eyes through the day. Sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes for half an hour.
But she's not reacting to commands at all like squeeze my hand, blink your eyes etc.

I had a bad night last night. Cried myself to sleep.
You know, i've cried for different reasons in the past but this sadness that I feel actually hurts me so much inside.

---------------

8th July 2007- Today in Dubbo is the Bowls Charity Day for Mum. At Dubbo City Bowling Club. Anyone is welcome to go and join in on the day. They are doing a sausage sizzle for lunch.
Spoke to dad tonight.
For the first time Mum has responded to a command.
When they walked in her room, her eyes were shut and my Aunt said loudly "cmon, wake up. Youve got visitors."
And she opened her eyes.
Even her Doctor said that was a good sign.
However, she still wont focus on anything, just looks towards lights.

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:35:02 GMT

10th July 2007- This week is a sad week. Mum and Dad were due to come back on the 14th. It was arranged for that day because my little man turns 4 on the 17th and Mum wanted to be back in time for his birthday.
Other times when they have been to the UK, i get so excited the week they are due home. Now, it's sunk in that Mum wont be coming home, not for a long time, maybe not ever.

On a good note, counting is finished from the Dubbo Bowls Day that was held for my Mum last Sunday and they raised $10,100.
It will be used to pay house bills that come in while Mum and Dad are in England and will be held in an account for when they get home here to Australia.
What an amazing community
----------------------------

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:35:46 GMT

i was with Mum the week before they went to the UK.
We stopped at Dubbo on our way back to Adelaide from the Gold Coast.
I asked her what she wanted for her 60th and as usual she said she didnt need anything.
So i said i would shout her a day of beauty at a salon so she looked all fresh when she went to England, but she wouldnt do it. So I ended up buying a hair dye (with blonde tips) for her and we spent the afternoon dyeing her hair.
It was a laugh. We had a great time

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:42:41 GMT

11th July 2007- My Uncle rang this morning after spending the day with Mum.
The infection is really putting up a fight.
Mum is weak and my relatives have noticed she is less alert as each day goes by now.
Another problem is they took the feeding tube out to clean it and have not been able to get it back in properly again. For 4 days she has had no food.
This makes no sense to me.
She is on a drip for glucose and some other stuff but they cant get the feeding tube back in to her stomach.
How can this be?
Surely there has to be some way to get food into her?
She needs food for strenghth.

---------------------------

12th July 2007- elly put the idea out of waggers getting together to donate for me to get over to the UK.

Mum is moved to leicerster general hospital

Re: My Mums update thread

daydream**believer — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:45:05 GMT

12the July 2007-
Binky and Susie set up accounts for wagger to donate to for my flights

-----------------------

13th July 2007- This morning i talked to my Dad. Mum is in the Brain Injury Unit at Leicester General. She is feeding through her tube again and is looking good.
This ward are experts on the brain, where as the last ward she was in were chest experts.
She will have more scans and then next week a specialist will speak to Dad and tell him what the scans show, what damage there is, what she can do now and what to expect in the future.
This ward also encourage visual stimulation so all the photos ive sent will be put up for mum to see, cards that have been sent will be displayed and my UK family can put flowers in her room.
My Dad also told me that Mum always reacts when she hears my 3 year old sing Humpty Dumpty on the MP3 player.
So they play that to her quite a lot

I am on standby seats to fly to the UK, but I am going to surf the net and see other travel agents for the best deal. I am also trying to talk my sister into going over with me.

Im keeping the donations that Susie has organised in my paypal till i need them for the flight and the bank account details i have given Binky is also seperate from my normal everyday living account, so any monies put in it will be untouched till i need it for the flight.

I just cant find the right words to type to express my gratitude to all of you for what you are doing for me.