(The Northern Advocate)
For two months Darryl Sabin lay silent in his bed unable to speak.
The talented, young sportsman suffered a serious head injury during a tackle in a rugby match in the Far North on Anzac Day.
He was flown to Auckland where he had emergency brain surgery and lay in a coma for weeks before eventually opening his eyes.
Since then his family have ridden an emotional rollercoaster, watching his slow progress from hospital wards and a rehabilitation centre in Auckland.
But on Saturday their support and love was rewarded with a string of words uttered by the determined 18-year-old.
It’s a huge milestone.
In the words’ of his father Mike Sabin, “He’s back” – all be it with a long road to recovery ahead.
Mr Sabin, a prominent anti-drugs campaigner, said his son had no facial expression since the accident, so getting him to smile, then talk was a major achievement.
Over a few days he rattled off jokes to Darryl, a farm worker in the Far North, in a bid to encourage a grin. First it started as a chuckle, then developed into a hearty laugh.
So when Mike said “how” and it was repeated by Darryl it was a major breakthrough.
Then the conversation continued.
Mike: “How are you?”
Darryl: “How are you?”
Mike: “I’m fine Darryl, nice of you to ask.”
After the short but monumental exchange Mike burst into tears of joy and they both laughed.
From there, it was like a switch had been flicked.
“Within a short period he was clearly saying three or four word sentences and while speaking slowly and needing considerable effort it was clear he could speak relatively normally,” Mr Sabin said.
Since Saturday morning Darryl has spoken with pride to all the staff at the rehabilitation centre and even shared a couple of words over the phone. The progress has been a boost for the Sabin family.
“I have almost found myself looking forward to the next day, where for so many weeks I dreaded each new day and in the beginning I was struggling to even face them,” Mr Sabin said.
Other milestones achieved by Darryl over the last week have included progressing from having a few sips from a cup to downing an entire glass of water.
He has also swilled back his first cup of coffee, since the accident.
His daily intake of food has also increased, going from a few teaspoons of yoghurt to having baked beans, a scrambled egg, half a banana, half a pot of yoghurt and a cup of juice.
He now brushes his own teeth, exercises himself in bed and even arranges his own pillows.
There has been a major improvement in the gym workouts.
Darryl has gone from being hoisted to standing in a sling to just being stood up from a seated position and then helped to keep his balance.
He manages a quarter squat and is then able to stand back up.
Darryl has been visited by All Blacks coach Graham Henry and a few players and his farm dog Jimmy while in rehabilitation.
Mr Sabin praised the staff at the rehabilitation centre.
“I can not speak highly enough of the terrific team of skilled, caring and compassionate individuals who have been working with Darryl. It is definitely a team effort and they all go the extra mile, every day.”
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