Four days have now passed since the large piece of Darryl’s skull that was removed to save his life, was replaced with a state of the art acrylic prosthetic flap, moulded perfectly to fit the deficit. And now as the swelling starts to subside the Darryl we used to recognise, re-emerges.
For those that have read the last posting, “Humpty Dumpty Day” you will know just what a relief it has been for Darryl and for all of us to have this part of the journey behind us. When Darryl returned from surgery accompanied by a model of his skull (with the bone flap missing) made by the manufacturers of acrylic bone flap, the true scale of the injury and the degree to which Darryl must have been feeling out of sorts is glaringly obvious. It is a hole equal to about a third of the surface area of his skull.
Darryl bounced back pretty quickly (as you can see from the Humpty Dumpty day photos) and by 10 am on the Thursday morning we had left the hospital and Darryl was at the Auckland home we have been staying at, relaxing and sleeping it off. He was in good spirits for the rest of the day and had a good 13 hours sleep that night, something he’s become very good at I might add.
Friday morning we returned to the rehab and Darryl completed a good gym session with a 15 minute walk on the treadmill, some sideways and backwards walking, followed by some strength work for his right leg. After speech language therapy that afternoon we headed back home to the Auckland address again, for the weekend. By usual standards it was a fairly relaxing couple of days but as the swelling is subsiding so too is Darryl’s feeling of health improving, so we will make the most of the last two gym sessions on Monday and Tuesday. And on Wednesday we close the door on this chapter of the journey as we head for home in the Far North, some four and a half months after we arrived at the rehab and well short of what they expected.
Darryl we have two more days until we can move on from the unusual and undoubtedly confusing world you slowly woke to as you rose from the fog that shrouded your life on ANZAC day this year. There are few milestones more significant than returning home – to the home where life will deliver the normality your life knew and the familiarity from which comfort will return.
It will be an uniquely special return and one I knew would be made, for some reason. I guess it’s because I can’t imagine a life without you in it, I couldn’t back on D-Day either, which may explain why I couldn’t accept what the medical staff were preparing us for. So before we return home we have one last door to ‘close’, that which you were wheeled through, fighting for your life with every sinew in your body.
Your life and ours was changed forever when you entered critical care that Saturday night. But despite the odds, your life is still yours to be changed and this is something to celebrate. For those who shared in your survival each and every minute in that first week there is also so much to celebrate and to return to where it all began, standing upright, walking through those doors, a smile on your face, will bring closure unparalleled.
I want you to be in that place, that place that carved such horrific memories into our consciousness. I want you to move around it and talk with the superb team that live and work in that environment of perpetual beeps and buzzes from monitors. An environment where the lights ensure it is always daytime and time neither stands still nor rushes by, but is trapped in a twilight zone of excrutiating anxiety. I want you to look them in the eye and them you, as they marvel in the power of the human spirit they nurtured, as you clung to whatever could support your life as those minutes and hours ground by.
And then I want to see you wave them goodbye as you turn and walk back out of those doors, those doors which so few have the chance to pass back through.
Then Darryl, that part of the journey will have gone full circle and as you move forward and embrace the new life you have worked so hard to secure, you will do so with an appreciation of the mountain you have moved. It is only when you have a true sense of what you so nearly lost , that what you have got left to give can be freed within you. When one door is properly closed then the next swings fully open. And as Graham Henry wrote on the note he left for you that first night – “onward and upward” and without question this will be the case for you.
I love you Darryl, but more so I am proud of you for enduring each minute, each hour, each day, as you have worked your way back to you.
Enjoy closing that door, I know I will.
Dad
Awesome! we are eagerly waiting your return Darryl, as helpful as these updates are im sure everybody is glad they are coming to a close, as you have improved so much. Chin up Darryl, we will see you soon xox
Hey Darryl,
Cool news down your way, Rob and I were in Auckland last week and were intending to visit. Forgot it was a big week for you so glad it all went well. And how exciting to be heading for home YAY!!!!!!
So looking forward to seeing you I guess it will be a case of ”get in line’ so many friends wanting to see you. We are really hoping you can come over to our place for a visit relax on the deck and check out all the dogs again.
Terry is off to Gisborne this morning for 2-3 weeks, he has been offered 6 months work so will be travelling back and forth for a while yet. He is loving every minute of it chasing feral bulls all over the place. So Im left holding the fort here with the dogs and horses that remain.
Kyle has been itching to catch a pig that has been out his way and getting bolder by the week. So Rob and I are taking Just over this week to see if we can catch it. Ive mated Just with our catahoula so looking forward to those pups due end of november.
Well my friend only two more days till you get home, thats so cool. It will be so nice to see you again.
Love you heaps Robbie says HEY,..
Love and hugs
Traceyxxxxx
Kia ora bro
we just wana say, that all of us down here who hav been followin ya from those intense first few days- right up until now where your just about to reach the top of your mountain
no words can describe Darryl how much respect we all hav for u down here & just know mate that our doors will always be open to you (a cold beer goes witout sayin)
youve nearly done it bro ‘knocked the basterd off’
never forget how much of a truly epic legend u are mate, even if you do forget youve got so many people who hav got ur back to remind you
Kia kaha for the next part of your journey bro
remember, you can do fuckin anything now, the world is your barrel wave
if u ever need anything the South has got your back brotha,
until then we wil just continue to send you metal waves over the wind!!
good on ya bro
enjoy the view from your mountain
Nathan, Vinnie, Roddy, Kate, Shane, Josh, Lani, Lewis & Rachael, Andrew, Miles, Jason, Kristy, Joel, Kaine, Genesis and the shitload of other southlanders who thinks your the man!
The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort – the opening, terror. Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing – the opening a wonderfully joyous moment.
Andy Rooney
Good luck and very best wishes. What a journey!
Amazing! Can’t wait to see you up in the far north again. We are coming for a visit as soon as you are ready. I can already picture you slammin the door, not just closing it. All of the old cowboys up here are thinking of you too and keep updated through those of us that know how to use the internet
all our thoughts
Steph and Lance
And the lid was closed………. What a relief that will be for you all. That is pretty weird to think that you had that much “exposed” all this time!
Like everyone else that has been following your progress, I look forward to catching up with you AND shaking that right hand!
Well done Team Sabin. Continue the good work and remember the God of creation and love.
Blessings. Sue.
WOW today is the day you will ALL be home – will be just great for all of you. I have enjoyed my stint of housesitting for “TEAM SABIN” and looking after Bella and I hope you enjoy being home again! Make the most of the Sunshine and being back in your own beds. Will catch up with all shortly – Take care and lots of love to you all Glenys x
Slam that door Dazzla, SLAM IT !!!!
Not without appreciation for what the amazing staff there have done to help you but slam it with the confidence and excitement of what lies ahead and the pride that you should feel of what you have accomplished.
Slam it. Lock it, seal it, bolt it down, because the door that is now opening is going to be such an amazing, exciting, true real life that lies ahead.
I can never begin to imagine what you have gone through over the last few months. As my life passed by as per usual. You were ripped with a force from your usual life and awoke to an unfamiliar, scary, painful environment. You have been for the last few months, continually struggling and fighting for what you want.
Well Done Dazzla !!
Dazzla, Surviving (first of all) and then living through what you have been through, I hope will give you the confidence in yourself to know and believe that you can do anything. Including what ever lies ahead in the next few months.
Christmas is around the corner ( I know scary) and I remember reading your blogs in the beginning thinking and saying that if you just woke up out of your coma and said something it would be the most wonderful, amazing, incredible, magnificent, superb, miraculous, breathtaking, “best ever”, Christmas present ever. AND YOU DID!!
Thank You Dazzla. You defiantly made my Christmas. (and a whole lot more.
Of course you did, you’re Dazzla, . . .Dazzling everyone. Always have been and always will do.
I am so happy for you that, you are happier and that things are getting better. From what I have heard and understand, now that you have had that piece of your skull replaced, it will make a proper seal and your brain will feel more safe and secure. Not so exposed. And because of that, will heal even more and function even better, YES!!!! So good.
So excited for you.
Onwards and upwards hey.
You’re amazing, I’m proud of you and of course I miss you.
Speak soon, (hopefully you will get back to using your mobile again soon.)
XxXx Lulu*.