spoke to dad last night.
he did watch the story and he rang Mums GP yesterday to discuss it with her.
The GP says she will look into it (thats what they told me 3 years ago but they never did).
Dad was a bit negative. Saying things like "what if it puts her in a coma again", "What if it makes her worse", "He couldnt handle that" etc.
I just wanted to scream at him "Dad, shes not going to get better on her own anymore. We are at the worst. Stop thinking about yourself and do what Mum would want"....but i didnt say it.
If i even start to talk like that Dad says "You have no idea what its like everyday. You dont have to live with this".

He was negative on the story cause he says we dont get told all the facts and i reminded him that i have been researching this for 4 years and i am in email contact with the head Doctor in charge of the trials and he sends me reports of how trials are going and that no one has gone back into a coma from it and no one has died from it. But Dad dosnt hear me when i say any of that.

I watched it and thought about the comment the specialist made about it not doing any harm and thought then if I was in your situation I would give it a try.

Sleeping pills do not kill people in small doses..

What have you got to lose?

Unfortunately you are not her guardian and I think the only danger would be your father taking action against you. But in reality what judge is going to give you a criminal record for trying to communicate with your mother..

I know for a fact that I would give it a go...

and the comment that your dad would make is totally wrong.. you do live with this every day.. you have "lost" your mother and your father is being rather selfish if he does not realise that every one in the family is living with the same torment..

My suggestion would be to put all this in writing to your Father. By doing this, he has the opportunity to reread and decipher the contents of your letter better than hearing it during a phone conversation. We all tend to block out things we don't want to hear, this is possibly what your Father has been doing regarding your Mothers medical care.

i need to convince Dad to try this. He needs to be on board and he needs to push Mums GP to get on board

On the link posted on #1039, at the bottom of the story it says
""Professor David Reutens from the Queensland Brain Institute has offered to meet with Sam Goddard and his family to examine his case."

I am emailing Professor Reutens now

My suggestion would be to put all this in writing to your Father. By doing this, he has the opportunity to reread and decipher the contents of your letter better than hearing it during a phone conversation. We all tend to block out things we don't want to hear, this is possibly what your Father has been doing regarding your Mothers medical care.

thats a good idea freddie. Thanks

thats a good idea freddie. Thanks

Yes, that is a good idea and put in lots of I love you and I understand where you are coming from... let him know that you "hear" all of his concerns and that you too have some hesitations and fears.

Often when we are "heard" by others and know that they sympathise with our plight then we are more willing to let them in to help us.

Let him know that his fears are your fears and that together you can both approach this with hope rather than with fear if you support each other.

It would be great if you can get a letter from that professor to assure you that it won't hurt your mum to try this.. that there is nothing lost in giving it a go other than a bit of disappointment if nothing happens.

My email to the Professor. It's hard to write these. I get pretty upset

Attention Professor David Reutens,

I was reading the transcript on the "Australian Story" website regarding Sally Nielson and Sam Goddard and I saw at the bottom of the page "Professor David Reutens from the Queensland Brain Institute has offered to meet with Sam Goddard and his family to examine his case."

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 in Dubbo N.S.W with brain damage .

3 years ago I saw a story about Stilnox being given to a man (Louis Viljoen) who was in a brain damage state and was "awakened".
I got into contact with Professor Ralf Clauss to discuss the trials with him and the possibility of giving it to my Mum.
Dr Clauss was very helpful. He sent me a lot of information about the trials he was doing and also said, that with a Doctors assistance, it would be worth trying it on my Mum.

I copied all the information he sent me and gave that to Mums Doctors and begged them to try it on my Mum but was told over and over again "No, it has not been tested enough". My Dad, who was at first keen on the trial was told it was to dangerous and it could make her worse.

Now it is over 4 years since Mums accident. The specialists gave up on her a long time ago. She gets no physio and has just been shoved in a nursing home to die. There is no worse then this.

So, my questions to you are, did you examine Sam Goddard's case? What were your findings? Have you been in contact with Professor Ralf Clauss? Will you help me to get my Mum on Stilnox?

Please, again I am begging a specialist to help me. You have to understand that we have nothing to loose now. If my Mother could communicate, I know she would ask to try this. Early on when she had the accident, she would laugh and cry and, at times, seemed to recognise people. That is getting less and less. Her body is now starting to shut down. She is dying a slow death and all we want is just to try this on her.
Please help me help my Mother.

A very interesting article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2006/sep/12/health.healthandwellbeing

That's true catmad, as we get older we get set firmly in our ways and it's difficult sometimes to think outside the square. Having it put in writing, will help him understand where you and your Sister are coming from, and hopefully he will understand his fears and concerns are the same as yours.

Really interesting stories, Amy. I don't see any reason at all not to try it with your Mum. Any doctor could prescribe it simply for "sedation" & see what happened. I think they're being gutless.

Has your Dad read that article? He must see it's at least worth a try.
Good luck:-)