Lots of action in the coma zone today. Darryl had another pretty good night but he was riding out the storm this morning during the rounds. The physios decided to try and help the tensing (toning as they call it) on his right arm by fitting a full arm cast. The idea with this is that he will relax into it (hopefully) and give his arm three days of moderate stretching, uninterrupted by his toning/storming episodes.
His main physio who is doing some great work with him asked if he wanted a blue or purple cast. I found myself holding my breath hoping for the obvious ‘man’ choice and was rather delighted and somewhat relieved I might add, to see a bold thumbs up to blue. It would appear his mojo is still in tact as well as his sense of ‘bloke’.
He tolerated the cast going on quite well and it doesn’t appear to be bothering him too much to date. The physios carried on working with him and once in his famed lazy boy, they asked a number of tasks of him, such as touching his nose, each of his eyebrows (although it is more of a Sabin mono-brow so either side would have been correct!) Putting his finger in his mouth and pointing his fingers at the ceiling while he had his arm held high in a stretch.
While the physio was supporting his arm throughout, he was managing to achieve the tasks at hand as it were. He also held and released items and reached out to me for a couple of handshakes. The obvious question is why can he do this but still be in a coma and the answers really lay in the part of the brain where the damage is most severe.
Obeying commands suggests he has good function in the front of the brain where ‘executive’ brain function is controlled. The state of comatose however relates to the bruising and damage to the brain stem and ‘mid’ brain. This is the central computer of the brain if you like and when it is damaged the response to the trauma is coma. So that part of the brain and the functions it controls are in effect in shutdown mode while some other areas are working to some extent. Fascinating if not totally frightening in the sense that the questions about this sort of injury and recovery far out way the answers.
So what this all means is that slowly Darryl is healing in areas where he was once unresponsive and so is now more ‘awake’ in the front of his brain, while the area of most trauma is still in shutdown, for how long we have NO idea. Darryl does like his sleep remember.
Aside from his little exercise session this morning Darryl also had a ‘peg’ inserted into his stomach. This a feeding tube directly into his stomach wall, meaning they were able to remove the tube from down his nose and throat from which he had been feed up until now. It was done under a local and Darryl handled it bloody well I’d have to say. Surprising the medical staff who placed it in as they say that normally teenagers can’t cope with the procedure and they have to ‘knock’ them right out. True to form, Darryl proved them wrong and he was back in the ward within the half hour, ready for a liquid dinner no doubt.
So in all, another positive day moving ever so slightly forward. He is looking good and it is easier now being able to use his thumb as a voice piece of sorts to communicate his needs.
Again we are glad to have your support and I know that it is making a difference to him to know you are there and ‘here’ (if that makes sense)
We now have over 500 blogs from you on this site, a real testament to the stunning young man Darryl is. For once in his life he is having to be patient and do things in natural time rather than Darryl time, but even through this I can see his eagerness to wake up and light up the room with that magic smile of his. Now that will be a Kodak moment!!
My thanks to you all,
Mike
Softly, softly……i know that he,s coming back!!!!
Still with ya buddy, and whanau of course!
Love, Bill Thurstonxxxxx
Good to hear Darryl came through a busy day with flying colours.
All good progress in the waiting game.
A liquid lunch will never be the same again!
Thank you Mike for the information you are sharing, your step by step progress reporting is so valuable in helping everyone understand what’s happening to Darryl and the rest of you.
Keep well and keep the camera handy for that “kodak moment”.
Friends, family and faith will get Darryl through this. I will offer nightly prayers to our father in heaven to watch over Darryl, comfort him, and to return his health and strength.
Ken Tano
Your law enforcement family in Hawaii
Wonderful news guys, more love and hope and prayers coming your way. Your blogs are great they have made me laugh and cry. Darryl you are a feature on the radio station every day and I have people stopping me in the street to ask what you are up to, how you are doing, you’ve got the whole of this place behind you mate. Keep up the baby steps, they work.
Jax
Hey Darryl,
Thats the way my friend I know you’re fighting your way back to us. In your own time aye….
Town was un eventful, but I booked a ticket to Oz for me and Rob for mid July.I thought it was nice he still wanted to come on holiday with me being nearly 16.
Its that ticket I booked last August and I had a year to use it. Fingers crossed this time, as I have had to cancel it twice. First Mum was”nt too good the next time Terry ended up in hospital 3RD TIME lucky…..
Beautiful day up in the bay here ,sun is shinning ,lawns still waiting haha
Taking Poppy 1 of Terrys horses for xray on friday she went lame on Kyle after a couple of days at Poutu. Hopefully not too serious.
Heading down to Hamilton early next week to pick up Mum and bring her back up here for a little holiday.
Will hopefully talk to your Mum before then and try and catch up with her for a coffee.
Talk again soon
Hugs and love
Tracey xxxx
Good to hear you are slowly fighting your way back to health Darryl. Keep up the good work!!
And well done to all the support crew – Megan, Mike and Catherine, Brook, Brenna and all the team supporting and loving Darryl. What a marathon you guys are doing!
Mind you, as I recall you DID make a lovely nurse Mike. Especially running down hospital corriders with the fainted patient in your arms!! Remember that – lol. Anyway in all sincerity I know what a caring, supportive person you can be, to the unwell patient, and I’m sure Darryl is loving having you there. And I also know that Mike Sabin determination and stubborness, will make sure you last the distance of this journey. How did it go – (nurse) “Right you can you home now” (Mike) “I’m NOT going anywhere!!” I remember, and Darryl will too one day… keep on keeping on you guys, just one day at a time.
Love and prayers for you all
Ginny xx
hey man,
Its soo good to hear that your doing well!!!
Theres not a day that goes by that we dont wonder how your doing.
Your strength is amazing!!
To the Sabin Family,
!
You guys are so strong.
Keep your heads up high and keep on smiling.
Im sure Darryl can acheive anything with a family like you guys
by his side
okay time for a funny moment!
This one time i went to rugby training and Darryl had these
shorts on that were torn all the way to the elastic waiste
band, and my friend and i every now and then were getting
sneak peaks of his white bumm ha ha ha ha……
It was soo funny!!
Kia Kaha!
lotsa love
Jaynie & Bryan
xxxxxxx
(Te Hapua)
oooooooooooohhh
oooooooooooohhh!!
p.s
your tomatoes are HUGEEEEE!!
hahah
xox
Hi guys,
so glad to hear that darryl is doing so well.
Stay strong
sending lots of love to you all in this difficult time.
Laura ox
Good Morning Dazzla,
Well I had a pretty normal weekend. Went with my best friend to try on wedding dresses on Saturday, she’s getting married next year, she looked Beautiful!!
Tried again to find a kitten, went to two different places but nothing. Think I’m going to drive to the RSPCA this Saturday, its far away but I like to try and save animals from a shelter or RSPCA rather than getting them from a pet shop or something.
I hope you are getting more comfortable there, not that I want you to stay there for a long time
, but just the time that you ARE there, hope it is as comfortable as possible. It sounds like everyone is doing everything they can to help you, you have a good team around you Dazzla! A really good team. I really wish I just lived down the road so I could come and visit you every day.
Maybe one day hey ??
Keep up the good work Dazzla, keep resting, and I’ll talk to you soon.
Love Lulu*.
Kia ora koutou,
on behalf of my family, my wife and 4 children, and my work, YTS Kaitaia, we would all like to give our prayers and blessings of strength, power and healing to darryl and to his parents.
Awhi mai awhi atu
Baz
Our thoughts are with you Megan and Mike and Catherine.
Miracles happen every day. He’s on his way back to you.
Much love, John & Leoni and the Northland Team.
Morning D A Z Z L A
Such awesome news mate, so very good to hear
you are proving to be you, more and more
nice one
Mike I know that seeing Darryl smile would just make you
so stoked, so I thought that by singing “business time” to him
you might just achieve that, it will be Darryl’s turn to feel
proud of you and get both of you can get a laugh out of it at the same time, they are the kinda lyrics that are so classic they make anyone that sings them smile…
For your convience i down loaded the lyrics, they are as follows:
Aww yeah
That’s right baby.
Girl, tonight we’re gonna make love. You know how I know, baby? Cause it’s Wednesday. And Wednesday night is the night that we make love. Tuesday night’s the night that we go and visit your mother, but Wednesday night is the night that we make love. Cause everything is just right conditions are perfect. There’s nothing good on TV. Conditions are perfect. You lean in close and say something sexy like, I might go to bed I’ve got work in the morning.I know what you’re trying to say baby. You’re trying to say, Oh, yeah. It’s business time. It’s business time.
It’s business.
It’s business time.
That’s what you’re trying to say you’re trying to say let’s get down to business it’s business time.
It’s business.
It’s business time.
Next thing you know we’re in the bathroom brushing our teeth. That’s all part of it, that’s foreplay. Then you go sort out the recycling. That’s not part of it but it’s still very important. Then we’re in the bedroom. You’re wearing that ugly old baggy t-shirt from that team building exercise you did for your old work. And it’s never looked better on you.
Oh, team building exercise ‘99.
Oh, you don’t know what you’re doing to me.
I remove my jeans but trip over them ˜cause I still got my shoes on. But I turn it into a sexy dance.
Next thing you know I’m down to just my socks and you know when I’m down to just my socks what time it is…it’s time for business. It’s business time.
It’s business.
It’s business time.
You know when I’m down to just my socks it’s time for business that’s why they call it business socks.
It’s business.
It’s business time.
Oh.
Ooh, makin’ love.
Makin’ love for two.
Makin’ love for two minutes.
When it’s with me you only need two minutes, ˜cause I’m so intense. Two minutes in heaven is better than one minute in heaven. You say something like, Is that it? I know what you’re trying to say. You’re trying to say, Aww yeah, that’s it. Then you tell me you want some more. Well I’m not surprised. But I’m quite sleepy.
It’s business.
It’s business time.
Business hours are over. Right, right.
It’s business.
It’s business time.
All the boys know business time – pretty funny
Much love and respect Mike
Tubbs Family
Hay Darryl and family
So good to hear your improving!
I’ve been coming on here everyday to check your progress and i cant wait for that kodak moment to hear you have finally woken up!
This blog is so good i loving being able to read whats happening everday and you explain it all so well.
my thoughts are with you all.
Tiff xx
A week ago today I rang and spoke to your dad at intensive care. We dont know each other Darryl. I read your story in the newspapers,keep up the good work. I was exactly where you are 11 years ago. Walking, talking, driving, doing everything now. Gods only a prayer away, God bless. Take it slowly but you will get there with your fighting spirit!
Sandra from Whangaruru
Kia ora Darryl and Sabin Whanau.
Keep it coming. You are all doing so well. One day at a time works! getting ever closer to the steak and eggs, young fella. As always lots of kind thoughts and prayers coming through cyber space!
Kia kaha ki a koutou.
Arohanui
Jo Berghan
This is like a countdown to xmas, every day something more exciting is happening with Darryl. What a dude, says alot for his fighting spirit. This waiting for the day I tune in and find a big YUREKA on screen will be awesome. Come on Darryl BIG things mate!. Massive wave of support for you and your family !!
Keep on Keeping on Darryl and family… nice to know you have a voice in those thumbs mate. Excellent blogs Mike, a real insight into whats going on for you all… thanks again for sharing with us.
Soar high buddy with us as the wind beneath your wings.
All our love and support for each of you…