The medical team have been doing what they can to assist in the management of the storming and it has certainly made a difference as the episodes are less severe and less often. Again, it is hard to know whether he is simply working through this part of the journey as he slowly improves, but I certainly hope that is the case.
The doctors have taken him off two of the three antibiotics he has been on, which is good and they are pleased with his overall health at this point given the added stress that the infections were placing on him in week two.
While it is still a waiting game (a phrase I have become alarmingly familiar with) his registrar has been quite pleased that he is making slow but good progress and seems to be “getting better”. He certainly appears that way on the face of it, so much so, he looks like he does so often when he’s dozing on the couch on a Sunday afternoon in front of the TV. HOWEVER…as we have also come to know, there is no way of knowing how long this comatose state will continue and just what will be confronting us when he wakes up to us.
In that sense the ‘ground hog day’ pattern we have been trapped in continues and the nauseating anxiety I feel each day continues to plague me. In the main I have become conditioned to this heightened state of distress which delivers the odd wave of reflective panic at the gravity of this situation, but as each day passes I keep telling myself that he is one day closer to waking up. I guess it is the not knowing that plays tricks on your mind. Actually I know it is!
In all however, he is more reactive and able to communicate to his nurses his pain and comfort levels and is now doing his ‘party tricks’ for the doctors during rounds, so we are glad of how far we have come albeit baby steps have never been mine or Darryl’s specialty.
Thank you all for your heartfelt words of support and vigil that you are also keeping from the sidelines. In those darker moments your support really does bring us (and Darryl I’m sure) comfort and a sense of hope for his recovery.
Mike
Hi Brenna
What a great little nurse you are. Darryl is so lucky to have a sister like you. I hope you are also giving lots of cuddles and kisses to Mum and Dad. I’m sure you brighten everyones day! Baba is enjoying staying at your house and looking after Bella, she is so well behaved.
Hope to see you soon, and read some more bedtime stories…but I don’t know about the ballet lessons you gave me, I think I will leave them up to you next time.
Keep up the good work Darryl, you’re a fighter.
Mike I love reading your daily updates,sometimes with a tear and sometimes with a chuckle as you still have your sense of humour.
Catherine you are in my thoughts everyday. You are one heck of a woman.I’m so happy to be your friend.
Have a great day
Love Julz
Yo Darryl mate. Guess what!? The group that I created for you, it’s up to hundred and six now. Are you happy with that? I guess so.
Ah, I had a big cut on my finger on firday night. well, I have been told by my friend that I smashed two glasses and I was bleeding. I noticed that I was bleeding non stop and pass out when I met my mate who is a nurse. lol. One of those things, I never do it again. So, dont learn it from me. I am fine right now, just my finger will bleed sometime.
anyways, here I brought you some messages from people who left message on the wall.
Nicky Ruddell Waru wrote
at 8:17pm yesterday
i dont no Darryl but my husband was playing against him on the day of this misfortunate inncident.my thoughts go out to Darryls family and my prayers are with you Darryl.Be strong.Your family needs you.
Report – Delete
Saffron Hita wrote
at 6:26pm yesterday
Taipa is thinking of you. Hang in there man!
Hey Darryl!!
One things for sure, your not missing out on much in terms of the weather. I dont know if its just Hamilton or not, but i could really do with some sunshine!
Anyway mate, really glad to hear positive things from ya Dad. You’ve got one of the most amazing families out there. But im sure you already knew that
Heather
Waiting buddy!!!!!!!
Thinking of you all!!!!
love and regards,
Bill Thurston x x x x x x x
Hey Darryl,
GREAT to hear you had a lax day yesterday probably just what you needed aye.
The fishermen came home with fish yummm fresh snapper and blue maumau for dinner last night.
Kyle and his Pop came up this morning and took 4 pups . 2 for Kyle, 1 for Pop and 1 for a friend of theirs. And then there were 4 YAY!!!!! 2 heading pups and 2 catahoulas left.
We have tracked Roy down. A guy John Ellis is looking after him for you. Terry discussed the deal you and he had and John is happy with that so all good.
We finished MOST of the painting and tiling the ensuite next week…so its all go.
Terry is building a dog box for the back of his ute today. Robbie texted they won their game against Kaihu 31 – 10 and he got to play most of the 2nd half. He says HEY to you.
Well the sun is shining so I spose I should be out there making the most of it aye. Should do my lawns…..
talk to you soon.
Love and hugs
Traceyxxxxx
thinking of you lots d
cant wait ta see you
miss you
love bon x
D A Z Z L A
Happy for you mate,
you are a guttsy little bloke and have allot going for you!
we are so stoked for you and your family,
that’s a far cry better than where you have just been…
GREAT JOB SUPPORT TEAM
Tubbs Family
Kia ora Everyone
This one is specially for Brenna.
I am still missing you, but I know what a help you are being for Darryl and Mum and Dad.
I’m glad to hear you are such a good nurse – but I am hoping you will grow up to be a vet.
I am lucky to have Glenys staying with me – she is really kind and a good friend.
It has been sunny here today, so I have been able to sit on the deck. I look at your trampoline and your sandpit and think of you. I really miss seeing you in your pink fairy dress, jumping up and down and waving your wand – you really are a magic kid!
It has been really awful walking with the wussy black dog – she went to the hairdressers, and now she has a red ribbon in her ear. But I have taken your goodness to my heart and I am playing with her more and more. She’s going to give me a Schmacko for being so nice – I’ll save it for you … um … er (paws for thought) – maybe we could share it??
Heaps of loving woofs to you and Darryl and Mum and Dad
from Bella
Hi Darryl
Weather is fine and warm. Shearing will finish early Monday morning. Just in time for stock checks on Tuesday and Thursday.
Some of the staff from Te Rangi are coming up to give us a hand.
Kathleen went fishing and caught 6 kahawai and a snapper. The shearers have taken the kahawai for tea and breakfast.
Leo and Deane went pig hunting this morning and caught 2 pigs in TL 9.
Everyone sends their regards and best wishes for your recovery.
Regards
Max, Kathleen, Deane, Latimer, Lewis and Sandy
Hey guys,
So good to hear the progress continues!, I’m with my sister who has worked with head injuries most of her career and Darryl she said you are doing really well mate. Those wonderfully positive signs at just 3 weeks are definitely reason to give another thumbs up! From my own head knock I have seen first hand that the brain is a mystery that we will never really understand but is just such an amazing thing – and its knows what it needs to do to recover itself. Its going about that in its own miracle way and unfortunately time. So keep up the good work, keep trusting the process and your body to heal itself and when your brain knows it is has done some healing, or it has found a new way of doing things with another part of its clever self the progress will get better and better! Right now it just needs some time to get back in working order and can’t be functioning fully and healing at the same time so try not to worry and know that things are unfolding exactly as they should be day by day, slowly and surely the miracle of healing is going on right inside you and you don’t even need to do a thing!
Hugs Mike & Catherine,
Love Kristin
I don’t know Darryl, but just wanted to say to Mike the following:
It’s wonderful that you are with Darryl day after day and we thank you for these amazing reports on his progress. Darryl is getting excellent care, but you need to look after yourself as well. Your body can not live at this heightened level of distress and anxiety all of the time. Having been in a similiar situation in the past with my own Dad – I encourage you to take plenty of breaks from the hospital environment, and have a complete change of scene for a few hours regularly. It will refresh you, invigorate you and enable you to last the distance during this difficult time. And don’t feel guilty for doing it! It’s an unnatural and different world in those hospitals.
I am sending Darryl lots of healing thoughts, and thinking of all of your family at this time. Without a doubt Darryl will be hearing you while he is in a coma. My Dad woke up out of his coma after 6 weeks and told us that he heard everything. He repeated to us conversations that we had forgotten that we had had at his bedside. So stay upbeat and positive. Continue to talk to him, play his favourite music, read him books or bits from the newspaper – its all helping.
Good luck, and keep up the great work.
So here I am, a kiwi but a stranger who checks in for news of Darryl everyday, even while wandering in Italy. You sound like you have a good team around you and there’s this team out here in the world who are following his progress closely too.
Take care of yourselves and of Darryl and all the very very best in the days ahead.
Di.
Kia Ora to Darryl and whanau,
It is a sunny day in taipa with a cold wind.
The sea is inviting but we know it’s cold out there.
The Taipa school kids are chirping as are the birds.
All is well in Te Taitokerau
We hope it is well in your world today.
Kia Kaha to you all
We have you in our prayers and thoughts each day
from Maia and Paige’s nani
Trisha