A few more steps of progress, a few more layers of frustration probably sums up today. Darryl has over the past day and a half been able to lift his left leg, from his hip, right off the bed. It would appear he may have been doing some exercises in bed. Well that’s what he said anyway. Alongside this he has been lifting his head and shoulders off the bed as if he is trying to sit up.
It is fair to say he has been unsettled all week with his trachie pain, then removal, bowel pain and then bladder infection, all of which inhibit his ability to sleep restfully. Despite this he still takes strides forward, as opposed the the baby steps I keep speaking of. The concern being that too much stress on his healing brain and fatigued body now, can have a huge impact on progress in the long run. Rest and sleep is really so important at this stage and something I am focused on trying to ensure is achieved as much as possible.
Today saw some good signs with his voice and he has been making some quiet mumblings and is trying incredibly hard with the speech therapists to engage his voice in humming and talking. They have been really impressed with his efforts. What a difference it will make when this happens. I am sure it will come, but like all in this process, it is nothing if it is not the ultimate test of patience. Neither of us have been particularly good at this skill, but there is no side-stepping it on this journey. “Carrying away small stones” is a very apt description of the mountain Darryl is beginning to move.
Having said that, his physio told me today that in all the years she has been doing this she has never seen the sort of progress Darryl is making. That was heartening to hear, but it is important to remember that progress for someone with traumatic brain injury of this degree is seldom anything but painfully slow. So degrees of painfully slow is still a test for all, not least Darryl who is slowly breaking free of the chains of this injury.
Darryl, these days will be etched into my mind forever, but I hope that the memories of pain and frustration you feel each day will fade away as the ground you recover becomes more friendly to your body and mind. Your strength is unquestioned, but mine struggles as I sit on and watch you calling on it every hour of every day. I wish I could do more. I wish I could take the weight off your shoulders. I just wish I could.
Keep passing the test of you Darryl.
Dad
wow. Awesome to read the steps he is improving. Seeing him open his eyes must have been damn near akin to watching him being born I would think. It would have sent me over the moon.
Great progress you are making Darryl but not surprising from someone like you. You have so many people up here who follow your progress each day as our family. Each day at the pharmacy I am talking to people at the progress your are achieving. Soooooooooo many people care. Keep up the fight. X
And he will pass the test Mike!!!!
With flying colours i might add!!!
Kia kaha to you Mike and all the Whanau!!!!
Love and best wishes!!!
Bill Thurston x x x x x x x
You mentioned the small stones again, reminding me of a search I went on last night and was distracted from. There is a war journalist called Kevin Sites, I borrowed the subtitle of my blog from his words and your words reminded me of the paragraph that comes before the words I use:
“A large and overwhelming pile of boulders lies in front of you — a backbreaking daily task that could defeat you before you even start. But then, with a purpose, you begin. You hammer and hammer. Eventually the big boulders become smaller boulders, the smaller boulders become rocks, the rocks become pebbles, the pebbles become gravel. The mountain of rock becomes manageable.
Darryl is doing so well. Good luck in the days ahead and all the best things.
Di
Mike – I watched this today and immediately thought of you and your son Darryl. Be encouraged Darryl is on the road to recovery especially because of his father’s love. I think you will have to click onto the website because I can’t post the actual You Tube.
READ THIS BRIEF STORY BEFORE WATCHING THE SHORT VIDEO:
A son asked his father, ‘Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?’
The father who, despite having a heart condition, says ‘Yes’.
They went on to complete the marathon together.
Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying ‘Yes’ to his son’s request of going through the race together.
One day, the son asked his father, ‘Dad, let’s join the Ironman together.’
To which, his father said ‘Yes’ too.
For those who don’t know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever.
The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike
ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island, Hawaii.
Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race at…..
NOW WATCH THIS VIDEO:
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
My Redeemer Lives – Team Hoyt – tangle.com
Source: http://www.tangle.com
My Redeemer Lives – Team Hoyt – Incredible video about the relationship between a father and son…. and Gods relationship with us. Redeemer,disabled,hoyt
Hi Mike
Getting good rest is essential for all of you, Darryl is doing so well and is obviously very engaged in his recovery process which is great, frustrating though the slowness is for him to experience and for all of you to watch, it is great!
Keep chipping away at the pile of rocks Darryl every tiny one counts.
Keep well all of you.
Hey DAZZLA
Nice to see you are able to be as bigger part of your recovery as you want to be – that is the key!!
Very Happy all the pain stuff ONCE again is set aside.
Talk about in the face of adversity!!! – You are the Man
Take care little Bro
Good article – plenty of food for thought.