30th July 2011

Hiya,
Steven continues to improve. Having been given extra confidence by the removal of most walking aids, he does a lot of walking exercise. Playing games with the physio’ staff, climbing stairs, more swimming. He still has the Velcro straps around his ankle, and now he has a very clever, moulded support under his toes on his left foot, to help them bend and straighten. However all this is conducted under severe pain. Following previously unclear x-rays, a CAT scan revealed that he has suffered a small fracture of the left hip. The result of this is lack of mobility and of course pain. He’s been told that it is likely he will continue to be in pain, unless the bone wears in a way which makes the pain bearable. The alternative is to have a hip replacement. The only problem with this is that any hip replacement operation will need to be repeated every 15 or so years. Steven and us have already made the decision that he will have the operation if and when the doctors agree to do it. Steven’s left elbow is also causing problems in that he can almost straighten it, but not bend it fully. This is caused by calcification in the elbow joint. This can also only be rectified by an operation. However Steven is improving so well that the doctors are considering sending him home and be dealt with as an out-patient locally. Steven and us would like him to be home, but would that move send him to the back of any queue and delay any operations? Would it be better to have the operations where he is, and delay his homecoming just by a few weeks? So again he has decided, if he can, to have the operations as soon as possible.
One small crisis last weekend. I accompanied Steven to our swimming pool, a manoeuvre we have done many times. I climbed onto the surrounding border, and stepped down onto the first step. Steven stood on the raised border. I stepped down to the second step, but before either of us was steady we both slipped. We both fell from the edge of the pool and onto the patio, where Steven’s head forcibly struck a large terracotta plant pot, breaking the rim of the pot. I had done my best to get under him as he fell but wasn’t fully successful. Steven is 6ft tall, and he was nearly one foot above ground level, so his head fell about 7ft to hit the pot. It was a very traumatic, worrying, and emotional time for all of us, but luckily no damage was caused to Steven. He certainly must have a thick skull.
After 260 days, finally the early morning daily stomach injections have been stopped. We’ve been trying to get this stopped for many weeks due to Steven not being bed-ridden. Steven’s stomach is full of bruises from the injections, so he is glad that they’ve been stopped.
As for other problems. Steven is still not fully socially and emotionally correct in his dealings with people. His behaviour isn’t inappropriate, it’s just sometimes childish. He truly is growing up again. Yet inter-mixed with this is beautiful speech, very deep, thoughtful, and intelligent. We’re sure that Steven is responding to treatment possibly due to him looking forward to his weekends at home, the days at the hospital now seem to fly by much faster.
We’ve been here at the hospital now for 7 months, I thought I’d share some observations of the place. There are probably about 60/70 patients there, and they’re all seen by physio’ staff at irregular times throughout the day. Sometimes there are over 30 patients waiting in the waiting room along with their carers, making it extremely crowded. Many patients and the carers know the histories of each other, and it’s pleasing to see the progress of these patients, but sad to see the ones that don’t seem to progress as quickly. At least 2 patients have died.
I haven’t got exact statistics, but as a rough guide, I would say that over 90% of patients are men. About 10% are children, say from a few months to about 7yrs old. About 10% are elderly senior citizens. The remainder in the main are young men. The problems are similarly varied. They are there due to serious injury or from such things as strokes. Everyone shares the achievements of the patients.
Steven is seen as “the miracle one”, because people knew of the circumstances of his condition on arrival, and have seen him improve.
Another lad of Steven’s age, and there due to a car accident, has been there 2yrs, but there are small signs of improvement. In the short time we’ve been there we can see that he is aware of what’s going on around him, and he smiles at comments made.
Another lad, there from a car accident, was extremely violent and nasty, unable to speak and fidgety, has changed so much he is now talking and is settling down.
Another young lad involved in a motor-cycle accident where his head caught on fire under his helmet is now walking and talking, and helping other patients, incredible.
Another man, there for 8months with very little improvement had collapsed with a stroke whilst playing football. We are noticing very slight eye and hand movements.
Another man suffered an epileptic fit whilst having a shower. He fell hitting the tap and knocked it to full heat, remaining there for 30minutes, receiving horrible scalds about his head and face. He is beginning to acknowledge people by making sounds.
There’s a lady who suffered from a virus making her lose all bodily functions except her eyes, and all her memory. She’s had to be taught everything, and has had to be shown photographs of her own family. She has walked, but has regressed a little. These things do take time.
Another man we first saw in a wheel chair, progressed to a walking frame to a walking stick, but has also regressed and is back in a wheelchair.
Another man from an accident was also in a wheelchair, then went to using a walking stick, is also back in a wheelchair.
There is a very young boy who repeatedly smacks his own face with his hand.
There is an elderly man who repeatedly screams at the top of his voice when excited, otherwise he’s quiet and talkative.
There is a lady suffering from severe injury from a car accident who constantly swears, loudly.
There’s a pitiful young girl there, about 10yrs old, who has no control of any bodily function, and who has apparently been abandoned by her family. There’s little anyone can do because people have their own patients to deal with, and the nurses are too busy, but somehow she does receive some care and attention from nurses, auxiliaries, and carers.
There are so many stories, and everyone shares with the trials and tribulations. But no-one gives up, the staff and carers are constantly working to improve the lives of the patients. We all acknowledge when there is an obvious improvement in any patient, whether it’s an eye or hand movement of minute proportions. But we wonder how we would feel if it wasn’t Steven making such good improvements, but it was one of the others who was improving. So it makes us wonder how these other people are feeling. We just have to hope that their charges improve also. Any recovery however slight is seen as a minor miracle. Using Steven as an example bearing in mind that he has remembered things from when he was in a coma, our only fear is that patients who cannot communicate in any way, are totally aware of what’s going on but are in no position to say or do anything about it. We just hope that they are not knowingly suffering inside.
best regards
Terry