One small step for those afflicted by traumatic brain injury, one huge step for Darryl! Today while seated in his famed lazy boy on wheels the physio asked Darryl to try lifting his foot off the footrest. I held my breath and watched like my life depended on it, but in the back of my mind knowing the most I had got him to do with his feet was wiggle his toes. My eyes welled up as I saw his left leg from the knee down slowly being to rise from the footrest. About 8 inches he raised his foot then when asked to put it back down he did. This process happened twice. It was a beautiful thing! My heart swelled with pride.
Today also saw another milestone with Darryl’s eyes as he managed to open his left (eye just a few millimetres), but he did it himself. He is also now taking his first steps to removing the trachie from his neck with the cuff being deflated and he is breathing fine. By mid next week it should be out – I hope. The speech language therapist did some work on Darryls face today as well, just gently stimulating the nerves in his face with touch. This process is aimed at getting the many muscles in the face activated by trying to stimulate nerves in key areas. She was pleased with the responses she saw from Darryl and is encouraged by his swallowing and tongue movements, all of which are relevant in terms of potential speech post trachie removal.
But the highlight of the day was when 4 men in black walked into his room to add their support to the mix. Graham Henry, Tanerau Latimer, Stephen Donald and one of the management team Joe Locke. It’s a hell of a way to get to meet the top rugby coach and players in the country Darryl. Mind you Darryl and Graham’s paths crossed almost 6 weeks ago when he aso had occasion to be visiting a person in critical care. Having learned of Darryls injury he wrote Darryl a note of support and encouragement which we kept under his pillow everyday.
Graham was really bouyed by Darryl’s progress saying quietly to me “He looks a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw him, well done”. Graham Steven and Tanerau all shared words of encouragement with Darryl and we snapped off a few photos. Darryl was then lucky enough (please excuse the obvious irony in that expression) to be given an All Blacks training jersey. I held Darryl’s eye open as the jersey was held in front of him and then put it in front of him and said “Take it Darryl, you’ve earnt this one the hard way”. Darryl reached out his hand in a controlled in focused way and gripped the jersey, clutching it to his chest. Joe Locke later told me that the jersey was Graham Henry’s own and when we checked the bottom right of the hem, sure enough we saw GH embroidered into the shirt. What an honour for Darryl, something I know would mean the world to him and will be something I hope will inspire him through the long months we have ahead.
I was touched by the sincerity of Graham and the players who made the special trip to see him. They will never know the lift this will have given him, but I do, and I am so pleased for Darryl that they took the time to be there. Graham set Darryl a little challenge with the upcoming test against Australia in 6 weeks time in Auckland. He wants Darryl to be able to watch that game, so the challenge is there and if I know Darryl, he will do his utmost to rise to it. Lets face it, he’s already risen to places thought beyond him.
Tonight he is resting well, his sleep so much more healing in it’s calmness and his shattered world somehow more together than it has been for weeks. The days and months that lay ahead hold so much more promise of hope and possiblity when this calm is with him, so long may it remain.
Darryl, 6 weeks tomorrow since D-Day. In all my life I have never known so much hurt, anguish, sorrow and fear. For each horror emotion however, you have countered it with your courage, will and strength to a point that the belief I have always had in you has been galvanised beyond destruction. There is no medicine or doctor in the world that can replicate the formula you are applying to claw back each inch of your recovery. For no doctor could replicate the you, in you.
I’m proud of you Darryl, because you are you.
Dad
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