The blinds finally opened!! Today for the first time Darryl was able to open his own his eyes unassisted. It was hard to believe, in fact it almost seemed unreal. But it was real. It was real.
Darryl’s best mate Eric came down with one of his dogs and I lowered Darryl’s bed down and we put a few towels around so that we could get Taz (the dog) close to Darryl. I opened Darryl’s eyes and he immediately reached out to touch Taz, then before long he was patting him and when I suggested it, he even reached out and held Taz by his rather oversized ears. Darry’ls movements were really controlled and purposeful. But when I moved to get into a better position I looked back and Darryl and noticed that his eyes were actually open. His left eye was over half open and the right was about a third. And for the next five minutes or so Darryl blinked and re-opened his eyes himself! What a thrill, what a breakthrough, what a releif.
But it didn’t end there. Darryl continued to pat Taz, but a wee while later I got out Darryl’s dog whistle and held it in front of him. He reached out and grabbed it between his thumb and forefinger and slowly moved it to his mouth. He opened his mouth and placed the whistle carefully between his teeth, sealed his lips around it and then proceeded to try and blow it. He couldn’t because his trachie is still in, but again, I just sat there with my gob open watching on with pride and happiness beaming all over the place. Shortly after that, we gave Eric a bottle of brown ‘fizzy water’ and darryl carefully took it from his hand, then moved it to his mouth, placing the end of it in his mouth and raising it up as if to drink. He then passed it back to Eric.
Shortly after that Catherine arrived with Brenna and I got Darryl to show here his one to five – fingers up and down routine, but I added a bit of maths to it. I asked what 1+1 was and he put up 2 fingers. Then 3+1, he put up 4 fingers, then 5-2 and he put up 3 fingers. All quick as a flash. Not long after Breen wanted to give Darryl a hug so we knelt her on the edge of the bed and she lay her head down on his chest. I said “give your sister a hug Darryl” and he put his arm around her gave her the first hug he has give in 6 weeks. Beautiful.
We got Taz back to see Darryl again before Eric needed to leave and Darryl continued to reach out calmly and pat him. The amazing thing was after Taz had gone that Darryl was able to reach down to the top of his thigh and rub his own leg. He has all of a suddenly got a whole range of movement and control out of his arm.
What a day! He just seems to be breaking out of the chains that have held him dormant for 6 weeks. I am really looking forward to getting that trachie out of his neck and seeing if he can get any speech back. What a difference that would make.
Darryl, today was the first time since this happened that I felt real joy. Just watching you turn your baby steps into large strides right in front of my eyes was magical. I will sleep easy tonight and tomorrow can’t come soon enough.
Love you Darryl.
Dad
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