Linda's Latest news
Dear all,
I will write a little (!) update for you all now. First, however, I do apologise for the lack of emails coming your way the past few days. I have been busy I guess is my only excuse. I can't really blame the one inch of local snow as that has actually kept me inside more than going out and being busy. But I am personally in the middle of moving to a new flat and selling my house (preparing it for sale actually) as well as moving my office (and visiting Graham, too!) so I have had a few things to do regarding the paperwork as well as preparations around the mountain of junk I have accumulated and must downsize! So far I am only making lists, but I have found that helps in the long run. Doing it in my head first, then on paper, and then in reality. It is a big job to downsize!
OK, about Graham...he seems to be mentally doing pretty well all things considered. He is seeing the ward psychologist today, for the first time I believe. This is good as he needs to discuss all the ins and outs of possible long-term paralysis. I think he is currently termed to be 'tetraplegic' and though he has some use of his arms, he still has no use of his hands to speak of. He can feel us touching his hands, however.
It is interesting to watch him while we are chatting now that he can sit up in the wheelchair for his visits, as he does use his arms to gesture when he speaks. I believe he has been seeing the hospital Chaplain every day which I know brings him comfort.
The occupational and physiotherapy is really doing him a lot of good, as well as the weekly group talk sessions where patients learn all the information they need over a series of subjects for giving facts and then answering questions. They also learn the stories of other patients -- how they got their spinal injuries and how they are improving slowly. It is a wonderful asset that he has a very well honed brain and intellectual capacity. He seems to be taking in what is being told to him, though we just don't yet have some of the answers needed about the future possibilities yet.
There is a lot yet to explore about care in the future and even about moving where he lives, the kind of care he might need, how he would get it, where would be best for that and so forth. It is still early days, but we do need information so if any of you know anything at all you think might be useful, please don't hesitate to tell us!
Meanwhile, I took him to the cafeteria on my last visit and we sat and it seemed quite civilised having a cuppa together. I read him some emails and showed him a photo I had printed out. It seemed like a very nice way to visit. Being away from the ward some of the time must make him feel better.
I think he is keeping his spirits up remarkably well, though I know he can feel down some of the time. That is normal for anyone anyway. He asks that we stop for a chat with others in the ward as we are going to the cafeteria, and I find that quite endearing -- how he encourages them. He knows many of their stories and how long they have been there, how they are doing, and tells me about each person. He also seems to know the names and life histories of every one who takes care of him -- and tells me some of their tales of woe even. He has a mind like a trap! It is very good to see how kind the staff are and how much they care for the patients on the ward.
Physically I think he feels he is making progress with the therapies and that is good. I think he looks forward to them and misses them on the weekends.
We will be having a meeting with doctors and others in a couple of weeks once it is set up to discuss more long-term prognosis. If he is not going to get much better than he is now, and that is not certain but is the basis on which they approach things, then he has to learn to do whatever he can for himself and then we have to figure out what kind of care he will need to do the rest of the things to keep him going. We feel sure he could eventually use voice software with a computer as that is pretty advanced stuff. He should be able to use an electric wheel chair to get around and might even be able to use one that is not electric some of the time. Moving it just one inch the other day was a big leap forward. He will have to learn how to feed himself using whatever mobility he has in his arms along with various aids that can be attached. It is a long-term process of learning and we are all keeping our spirits up as we watch others who have learned these things.
No one knows what the future will bring, of course. That is true for all of us. We can only do the best we can with what we have at the moment we are in. I know that your emails to him really help him to keep his spirits up. He needs things to think about that are not associated with his level of injury and how much he might be able to do in the future. AS they treat him as if he won't get any better than he is now, it can be a tad bit depressing for all of us. But we all have to be realistic as well.
Lately when I have arrived he has been sitting in his chair looking out the glass doors and listening to a CD. I know he will be glad when the new ones arrive. I keep hoping he will get interested in talking books, but perhaps for now that is not yet what he needs to be doing. He is working hard to help himself mentally and I know he is working hard to keep his condition moving in the right direction. I can see how a person's attitude can make a huge difference.
Not to make comparisons in one sense, but it helps in another -- at least he is not needing any help to breathe. There are quite a few on the ward with some kind of breathing apparatus and they are really less likely to improve over time than those who can breathe on their own.
Well we have had quite a lot of snow here -- though not in our personal streets, the areas around. My route to the hospital by country roads was closed off for 4 inches of snow -- ok not a lot in one sense, but it was enough to close the roads. There was a foot of snow just a bit north of here too. It had been snowing every night and leaving an inch, but it didn't do this last night. We are predicted to have snow again on the weekend or Monday however. It seems like the weather is going a bit mad many places -- lots of rain there in California and a drought in Oregon and Washington...
Airasa has continued her frequent almost daily visits to Graham in spite of inclement weather and her incredibly busy life teaching and so forth. She is now having the odd day off visiting to do yoga or go swimming -- she must keep up her own health!! And, on top of everything else, she has parent meetings coming up next week to prepare for. Ian has also had his work stuff to do but also finds time to visit Graham a few times a week. Each of us is supporting the other as well. We are lucky to have each other and know that our visits to Graham are vital to his well being, too, not just for the news we bring from you all!
OK, gang, that is enough from me. I think we are all doing well here -- ups and downs of course, but that is normal. My birthday is coming up on the 4th of March so my kids will all be getting together and that is always such a positive moment for me and I believe for them. I know Airasa and Ian are looking forward to a little celebratory moment with me. We all need to focus on other things some of the time! And we will take photos to show Graham so that will include him a little bit as well.
Your news and photos to him about your families is always welcome, as well as anecdotes from work or news about local weather or sports. It is the regularity of contact, not the depth, that seems to help a lot. Thank you all for your continuing support. We are especially grateful that the income taxes are going to be done over there!!!
Kind regards,
Linda
I will write a little (!) update for you all now. First, however, I do apologise for the lack of emails coming your way the past few days. I have been busy I guess is my only excuse. I can't really blame the one inch of local snow as that has actually kept me inside more than going out and being busy. But I am personally in the middle of moving to a new flat and selling my house (preparing it for sale actually) as well as moving my office (and visiting Graham, too!) so I have had a few things to do regarding the paperwork as well as preparations around the mountain of junk I have accumulated and must downsize! So far I am only making lists, but I have found that helps in the long run. Doing it in my head first, then on paper, and then in reality. It is a big job to downsize!
OK, about Graham...he seems to be mentally doing pretty well all things considered. He is seeing the ward psychologist today, for the first time I believe. This is good as he needs to discuss all the ins and outs of possible long-term paralysis. I think he is currently termed to be 'tetraplegic' and though he has some use of his arms, he still has no use of his hands to speak of. He can feel us touching his hands, however.
It is interesting to watch him while we are chatting now that he can sit up in the wheelchair for his visits, as he does use his arms to gesture when he speaks. I believe he has been seeing the hospital Chaplain every day which I know brings him comfort.
The occupational and physiotherapy is really doing him a lot of good, as well as the weekly group talk sessions where patients learn all the information they need over a series of subjects for giving facts and then answering questions. They also learn the stories of other patients -- how they got their spinal injuries and how they are improving slowly. It is a wonderful asset that he has a very well honed brain and intellectual capacity. He seems to be taking in what is being told to him, though we just don't yet have some of the answers needed about the future possibilities yet.
There is a lot yet to explore about care in the future and even about moving where he lives, the kind of care he might need, how he would get it, where would be best for that and so forth. It is still early days, but we do need information so if any of you know anything at all you think might be useful, please don't hesitate to tell us!
Meanwhile, I took him to the cafeteria on my last visit and we sat and it seemed quite civilised having a cuppa together. I read him some emails and showed him a photo I had printed out. It seemed like a very nice way to visit. Being away from the ward some of the time must make him feel better.
I think he is keeping his spirits up remarkably well, though I know he can feel down some of the time. That is normal for anyone anyway. He asks that we stop for a chat with others in the ward as we are going to the cafeteria, and I find that quite endearing -- how he encourages them. He knows many of their stories and how long they have been there, how they are doing, and tells me about each person. He also seems to know the names and life histories of every one who takes care of him -- and tells me some of their tales of woe even. He has a mind like a trap! It is very good to see how kind the staff are and how much they care for the patients on the ward.
Physically I think he feels he is making progress with the therapies and that is good. I think he looks forward to them and misses them on the weekends.
We will be having a meeting with doctors and others in a couple of weeks once it is set up to discuss more long-term prognosis. If he is not going to get much better than he is now, and that is not certain but is the basis on which they approach things, then he has to learn to do whatever he can for himself and then we have to figure out what kind of care he will need to do the rest of the things to keep him going. We feel sure he could eventually use voice software with a computer as that is pretty advanced stuff. He should be able to use an electric wheel chair to get around and might even be able to use one that is not electric some of the time. Moving it just one inch the other day was a big leap forward. He will have to learn how to feed himself using whatever mobility he has in his arms along with various aids that can be attached. It is a long-term process of learning and we are all keeping our spirits up as we watch others who have learned these things.
No one knows what the future will bring, of course. That is true for all of us. We can only do the best we can with what we have at the moment we are in. I know that your emails to him really help him to keep his spirits up. He needs things to think about that are not associated with his level of injury and how much he might be able to do in the future. AS they treat him as if he won't get any better than he is now, it can be a tad bit depressing for all of us. But we all have to be realistic as well.
Lately when I have arrived he has been sitting in his chair looking out the glass doors and listening to a CD. I know he will be glad when the new ones arrive. I keep hoping he will get interested in talking books, but perhaps for now that is not yet what he needs to be doing. He is working hard to help himself mentally and I know he is working hard to keep his condition moving in the right direction. I can see how a person's attitude can make a huge difference.
Not to make comparisons in one sense, but it helps in another -- at least he is not needing any help to breathe. There are quite a few on the ward with some kind of breathing apparatus and they are really less likely to improve over time than those who can breathe on their own.
Well we have had quite a lot of snow here -- though not in our personal streets, the areas around. My route to the hospital by country roads was closed off for 4 inches of snow -- ok not a lot in one sense, but it was enough to close the roads. There was a foot of snow just a bit north of here too. It had been snowing every night and leaving an inch, but it didn't do this last night. We are predicted to have snow again on the weekend or Monday however. It seems like the weather is going a bit mad many places -- lots of rain there in California and a drought in Oregon and Washington...
Airasa has continued her frequent almost daily visits to Graham in spite of inclement weather and her incredibly busy life teaching and so forth. She is now having the odd day off visiting to do yoga or go swimming -- she must keep up her own health!! And, on top of everything else, she has parent meetings coming up next week to prepare for. Ian has also had his work stuff to do but also finds time to visit Graham a few times a week. Each of us is supporting the other as well. We are lucky to have each other and know that our visits to Graham are vital to his well being, too, not just for the news we bring from you all!
OK, gang, that is enough from me. I think we are all doing well here -- ups and downs of course, but that is normal. My birthday is coming up on the 4th of March so my kids will all be getting together and that is always such a positive moment for me and I believe for them. I know Airasa and Ian are looking forward to a little celebratory moment with me. We all need to focus on other things some of the time! And we will take photos to show Graham so that will include him a little bit as well.
Your news and photos to him about your families is always welcome, as well as anecdotes from work or news about local weather or sports. It is the regularity of contact, not the depth, that seems to help a lot. Thank you all for your continuing support. We are especially grateful that the income taxes are going to be done over there!!!
Kind regards,
Linda
posted by Fearless Leader Sue at 9:15 AM
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