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
I was trying to tell my Belgian bloke about Graham Henry’s jersey but couldn’t speak because of the tears messing up my voice … so I’ll explain later. Darryl has to wake up now
Great progress, Darryl!!! Much excitement here in the flatlands of Europe where summer is coming and I have a photography exhibition to hang tonight.
Mike and Catherine and of course Darryl,
I check your website first thing every morning now, and consequently start each day in tears – but they’re mostly happy tears. Having been in a similar place with Aaron, I can feel, between the lines, your rollercoaster emotions, the frustrations, the sadness, but most of all the deep love we feel for our sons. I’m truly amazed at how much he’s progressing each day.
We feel that it’s a lifetime ago that Aaron was where Darryl is, but sharing your journey with you makes us realise how raw it all still is. One thing I know is that at the end, this journey has and will, make us better people.
Looking forward to maybe seeing you tomorrow Catherine.
Much love
Raye
It’s great to read these encouraging words about Darryl’s progress. We’re still keeping him and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Just great to hear all this news, what a huge day all round.
Kia Kaha Darryl and the Sabin Team – Awesome
Darryl, so pleased you are making progress, you are certainly working very hard, keep it up. The Girls from the National Bank in Kaitaia.
To Darryl’s farmily you are “Legends” and Darryl is very lucky to have you in his life.
When my little two year old grandaughter comes in to my bed on Sunday mornings to have her bottle i pretend to be asleep, and she taps me on the chest and says in a loud voice;
“Wake up poppa, wake up” !!!!
I am saying to you buddy;
“Wake up Darryl, wake up” !!!!
Kia kaha my mate!!
Hope to meet you and your whanau one day!!!
Love and regards, Bill Thurston
Hey Darryl,
Wow! haven’t been able to check out this website for afew weeks and am bloody impressed with all the progess! Awesome Darryl!!!
Keep it up!!! Hope you’re feeling heaps better and much more comfortable now… chur- even scored a All Blacks jersey!!!
Fah thats pretty cool aye,& you’ve got heaps of support!!!
Looking forward to hearing of more progress and goodluck with getting the trachie out!!! Thinking of you often…
With love from Gem & Chels oxo
Hey D A Z Z L A
Ah Mate such great news we are so super stoked for you
and for us all,
More of you in our lives A W E S O M E
Could’nt be happier
Lulu* is going to have to keep her awesome
promise and we will hook up coming down same time
Cant wait to see your reactions to that
Glad you scored a AB Jersey wow words cant
describe how special that is – You HAVE deffinatly
earnt that well done you
Very proud
Very happy
Very excited to see what happens next
You are a huge inspiration
visits from All Blacks and people crediting
you world round proves that – Your worth it Darryl
The Dream of seeing you pull up at the house in a CAR
(next time please) is getting closer – We like that allot
Keep it real, keep it YOU
Hey there,
Great progress! Awesome work with the tilt table and stuff. You just ffel that “good” pain and keep on working. It’s a long road but a very worthwhile one. Only Alan Nisbet on the leaderboard at teh trials down south I think and snow on Te Mata peak so pretty cold for the Northland dogs!!! You keep working hard and show those physio’s what Northland boys are made of.
Good luck for this week. Look forward to the updates and thinking of you all down there.
Regards jane
gud on ya bro
we all sendin our thoughts nd vibes 4 u frm down here (hopefuly they get thru the snow)
and if they dnt reach u, the energy frm tonites gig sure bloody will!
kia kaha bro
Nath & the otha boys from the south
also got a fresh jug waitin 4 ya down here!
Awesome news yet again – keep up the leg lifts.
Tai’s JB1 team got beaten this morning but he thought that it might make you happy to know that Kamo got the win over them. I just heard that Mid-Northern beat our Hika Prems so we’re having a doubly dastardly day.
We are all in awe of your courage and determination – keep fighting.
Jude T
Its great following progress,thanks for the updates. Just to let you know that we are thinking of you all and wish you all the best. Keep fighting Darryl!
Darryl
That’s a hell of a way to meet the coach of the alll blacks! Well done you. I’m sure you’ll get to watch the all blacks beat the wallabies when they play. I can’t say how happy I am to hear you lift that leg and open that eye. What a legend you are. You put us all to shame. Keep up the good work.
Lisa
Softly….softly….
Softly, softly catch the monkey!!!!
Cmon you monkey, i know you are coming back !!!!
Keep the good work up!
Kia kaha!
Love and best wishes to you and the whanau!!!
Bill Thurston
Morning Dazzla
A beautiful sunny morning up here hope you are getting
the rays down in Aucks
Keep climbing and we will all keep pushing you up
the mountain of life
Love and miss you
Kia Kaha
Tubbs Family
Hi Darryl
Weather is fine but cold with 0.3 mm shower of rain overnight.
Book work is on the agenda this weekend with us both working on the budget for 2009/2010.
Kathleen has picked a few tomatoes from your garden and they are ripening nicely in the sun. Latimer has been into your silverbeet as well.
We are all proud of the great progress you are making so quickly and think of you very day.
Kind regards
Kathleen, Max, Deane, Latimer, Lewis and Sandy
Мда, посмотри каких только ГСов не придумают.
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