The 13th….unlucky for some…..But not for Darryl it would appear. Having said that there was no appreciable change from the day before and the day before that. I guess this is where the word patience comes into it. It is a bitter bloody irony that I am needing to be patient for a patient. Go figure!
I mentioned to my brother Len who is here yet again in support that I would just post todays update and he rightly joked that I should just cut and paste the last 4 days. And to be honest, it is not far from being an accurate reflection, in that he become a little more responsive to commands but on the whole it’s just a case of having to swallow a large cup of hurry up and wait.
The thing that that concerns me the most is the ’storming’ that Darryl is exhibiting. As alluded to in previous postings he shakes, sweats and trembles like leaf and tenses up like knotted reinforcing steel. The doctors say he basically has to ride out the storming which is the coma equivalent of being trapped in endless re-runs of the deadliest catch.
He seems to be worst at night and loses buckets of sweat. It just looks so exhausting and no doubt it is. Imagine tensing yourself into a sweat for hours on end, without a brain injury, let alone one of Darryl’s scale. Today I just had waves of anger, frustration, sadness and fear as I seemed to lose track of the day, the week, my place in the ‘journey’ so to speak. Everything seems to have a sickening familiarity about it and I don’t like that at all.
On the positive side Darryl gave his sister a great couple of hand squeezes today and the best thumbs up I have seen since Stu coined the ‘nice one Stu’ version many years ago on childrens TV. Brenna just beamed with happiness, then she looked adoringly at her brother and said “blink if you know it’s me Darryl”….and he did. It was all I could do to not dissolve into tears.
In any event, I am going to wind things up at that. I am tired and no doubt an earlier night would improve my resiliance. The problem is, the sickening feeling that pervades the morning as I wake to the reality of the situation again makes sleeping a double edged sword. Ironic given sleeping is all that Darryl can do.
Just hang in there mate, we’ll get there.
Mike
Gudday Darryl,
Jane here from the dog trials at Mt Manaia! Heard about you and have you in my thoughts and prayers often and hope that all the great progress your making continues, its going to be a long haul however there are a whole heap of people just hanging out to see you well. Meet you on the next dog trial ground, Jim will be waiting for you.
Heal fast.
Jane
Hi there Mike,
I am new to this but have watched your interview and read the previous blogs and it sounds like Darryl is one helluva fighter there….
I can understand its hard to watch and see what he has to go through when you talk about the storms etc and this may sound really corny and I am sorry if it does. But how I read what you were saying is basically like a thunder storm that builds and builds with power and energy and then has to let loose over time and after you have the clear sky and the fresh breeze and the sunlight coming through which is just like the squeezing of the hands and the thumbs up. I have always kinda been scared with thunder storms but its the clear , crispness that follows that is good and I am hopeful in Darryl’s case and your family’s that is a great sign and is an indicator of more progress….
Cause the journey you are all on to get through this may have holes to stumble into and hills to climb and seem never ending but with Darryl being a fighter it looks like you guys are all fighting with him and pushing on through each challenge….
So to you all Kia Kaha always!!
From an avid sports fan with a love for Rugby and a concern with family that have been at risk with injuries as well…. Good Luck !!!
Thinking of you all and sending all our support from “Whangas”. I’m sure Brenna will be an everlasting light through this period – Tai is asking lots of questions about your Darryl and as a typical 6 year old is regularly reminding me he is “smarter than a mummy” when I can’t answer the tough questions. He is sending Darryl his Player of the Day certificate which he got for his Hika JB1 game last weekend. He asked could you save it Mike and give it to Darryl on his “waking-up day” – we hope and pray that will be soon. Given your inherent level of impatience Mike, we cannot imagine the level to which this is testing you. Hopefully Catherine has got you indoctrinated into the daytime world of chamomile tea and rescue remedy and a night time elixir of “whatever it takes to get through”. Kia kaha Sabin family.
Hi guys, we’re still here thinking of you all and sending every ounce of our love and support. We read this amazing blog each night and have been talking with the boys about this journey you’re currently taking us on.
Kia Kaha Whanau… sleep and rest well all of you. Recharge those batteries and have another go tomorrow…
Say I am a mutitaksed or not? Well, it is the best describe for me as I study in fashion. I guess everyone who study in this subject is muitaked as well. So, while I was doing my work last night I created a group on facebook under your name. Supprise ay!? It’s took only one day, there’re seventeen people in the group. Although, it seems like not much pepole but I amaze that the number of people joined in this group just by one day. I did not hard sell people to join in the group, I just put that up and send some invitations to my friend that I know and turned out they all joined to this group.
So, now you know there are people in this country who are supporting you at the back.
p.s, it is funny that I am not a “local” kiwi but I still supporting you. May be this is how much I love to live in this country then.
Hang on there, mate.
Cmon Darryl mate, give us all a big thumbs up and wake up buddy!!!!!
Your family have been marvellous and i admire you all for the way you are coping.
Dad you are a pretty good journalist too…..good writing mate!!!
Be strong team!!!
Love and regards, Bill Thurston xxxxxxxxx
Mike and Catherine, stay strong, but don’t forget to take the time to BREATH & REST & make space for this to happen. Darryl knows you are there so don’t be afraid to just stop to BREATH & REST.
Darryl keep up the awesome thumbs ups & blinks as it is nice to know you know we are all hear for you.
Hi Darryl
Wake up Buddy……the Navy needs you!
Lots of love to you, Mum, Dad, Catherine, Brooke, Brenna and your Grandparents from Roberta, Richard, Matt, Oli and Rosa Wilkinson
Darryl,
Get up! Come back and play tennis with us, the courts are still good. Yes, even with all the rain!
Catherine & Mike,
Warmest regards, our hopes and prayers are with you.
Clara & family
hey darryl
i hope you get better soon.
every time i ring up home now erics got no exciting storys to tell me about his weekend not like before this tragic event all the good storys of what he got up to on the weekend involved you.i was hoping before that you would come up an visit me with eric i need the company and it was funni how you used sort all the young fellas out for me like the time you gave luke a piece of your mine lol.and the time you and eric didnt like my m8s so you 2 stripped of to you underwear and startd walking towards them and they got up and left as fast as lightening then afterward you had a lil chuckle to yourself even though i wasnt impressed at the time.
ok darryl you keep on keeping on. your in my thoughts k
love sheryl xxxoxx
Mike
Just want you to know that we here in the U.S. and many of our Task Force members around the globe are all still praying for you and your family. We appreciate your postings so that we can stay informed about Darryl’s progress. I hope that you print the many beautiful posted comments out and read them to Darryl daily so that he knows that many people from around the world care about him and are praying for him. Keep up the faith!
Mike
Dr. Miguel Dahbar from Argentina has asked me to tell you that he and his wife have been touched by your son’s tragedy and they are remembering you and your family in prayer and they want you to know that they support your family in solidarity. He doesn’t speak English so he asked me to send these comments to you on his behalf.
Kia Ora ….D A Z Z L E R…
Mate we think of you so often and can’t wait to see you again
miss you being around heaps,
You undoubtedly have it in you, so just please come back
and hang out and catch up,
The boys need a rugby coach, and I know you would be the best man
for that job. ( A little hard – but perfect none the less)
The farm has gone through and we start work on it soon,
Allen and Marshall are going down to Potu to chase the cattle
again soon, they have some mustering to do there too next week.
You sould see how long the boys tails have gotten, Allen’s one is catching up too…
As I am constantly getting woken up with kids during the night I will endevour to take away some of your “storming”.
Take care and keep being Y O U.
Support Crew Keep on keeping on,
Thinking of you guys just as much!!
Tubbs Family
Mike I can only imagine what you and your family must be going through right now. My thoughts are with you. Hang in there and stay strong. We will be keeping an eye on your blog to see how Darryl is doing each day.
Elaine (Online Designs) and the Salmon Family xx
Mike
I am passing along comments from another of our Task Force members – Roberto Maldonado of Argentina. He doesn’t speak English so I will translate for him. He said he sends his greetings and the wish that your son Darryl can recover quickly from his suffering.
He will be praying and begging God, all these days to make this possible. He knows the pain of a father who is suffering over their son. He had a child with cancer who has fortunately recovered. That is why he has hope and faith in God. He says God bless you and Darryl and may you have hope. He sends you a big hug.
Hey Darryl,
you’d be soo impressed. There’s a whole fan club of people from Kaitaia and all over sending their love through Facebook. Im really not sure where it started but Marz invited me in. Its heartwarming to see how many people from different places are coming together with a common intrest…..you. Heh heh, It must be hard to be so popular.
Were all keeping up to date daily on your adventures and thinking of you often.
Much Love
Hadlee, Marz, Katie Jane, Hailz and co.
Mike: From one anti-drug warrior to another, please know we are storming the heavens with prayer for Darryl. The news of him connecting with his sister sounds very promising, so hopefully the worst is behind. I hope so. Keep the faith.
Sincerely
Roger Morgan
Dear Mike & Family: I do anti-drug work in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA and wanted to stop by and say I have offered prayers for your family and your son. I certainly can understand your feelings. My cousin’s young boy was hit by a drunk driver and suffered a severe, nearly fatal head injury some years ago and is also in a coma. They recently had some success with a trial using the drug ambien.. for some reason our Jim responded. I don’t know if this is something you might look into there in the future or if your son’s condition is a case where this might help but thought I would offer this for you to research. Please hang in there and know our whole network is praying for your son and your family.
Hi guys,
As you well know by now, hospitals are the worst place to be and the best place to be, I can fully appreciate your feeling of hurry up and wait watching Darryl lying on that bed. Gabriel took 6 weeks to heal her broken leg, which is no comparison to what Darryl is now healing, my thoughts are with all of you, and all we can say is stay strong and we are all with you…
take care Rachelle Dennis and the Kids
Mike, Lou, Merlene & Family,
We have been trying to contact you guys by phone and have been unable to do so. We just want you to no that our thoughts have been and will continue to be with you through this tough time.
If there is anything that we can do we are only a phone call away.
Stay Strong
Dave & Dale
Hi again Darryl. So happy to hear of your progress, keep it up. Baby steps and all that. We are thinking of you and check on your blog every day.
All our thoughts and wishes
Steph and Lance
Dear, dear Mike. I know some of your pain. Talk to God! Let him give you the peace he promises. ‘The peace that passes all the understanding of man.’ It is an amazing feeling, for all around can be chaos and yet one can have such peace inside. Let Him in. I’m sure I’m one of many praying for you all. Keep on keeping on, as I’m sure you will. Blessings and Love. Sue.
Dear Mike,
I wish I could take some of your pain, anger and sorrow. I spoke to you a couple of days after this tragic accident and could not think of anything comforting or sensible to say. I feel so sad for you and your family. I can’t for the life of me find fairness in this situation, how can this happen to you considering all the wonderful things you do to protect our children. I have only heard you speak once and was so moved by what you had to say and what you have done for our country. As for Darry, I am sending you the strongest, most positive thoughts, there has not been a day that has passsed since speaking to your dad and learning of your situation that I have not thought of you, I believe you have the strongest team at your side, and after learning more about you believe you are strong enough to get through this, you sound like a wonderful young man and I look forward to hearing your progress, Positive thoughts and wishes
Melissa
Southland
Dear Darryl and Family.
We all find it hard to comprehend what has happened to Darryl. He was always the jock at school, joking, encouraging and playing nearly every sport happening in and out of school. Darryl was a major role model for just about everybody. He encouraged us all to grab every opportunity that came into our lives. Even though he was the jock of the school he still kept the standard high academically and we were proud to see him off into the world earlier than expected as he had completed NCEA level three. Darryl made sure we were all proud to be apart of Taipa.
From first hearing the news of the accident we all have been gripped with sadness. Hearing Darryl is recovering, slowly it seems, we are all relieved he is pulling through.
Darryl you will always be a part of this school and we can’t wait to see you back here in the future to visit and inspire us all yet again.
Regards
Joshua Hobbs
Deputy Head Boy
Taipa Area School
Kia ora whanau,
Small communities are renowned for pulling together when the chips are slightly left of centre – however when they are completely out in ‘left field’ we have a tendancy to embrass one another & pull even harder no matter what the issue or how great the distance – your Doubtless Bay whanau are pulling for you & your whanau Mike.
Cast your net – hook into our collective energy, energy that will help get you to the end of this nightmare journey & bring all of you home safely.
Tell Darryl i drove past the hospital last weekend & bless my kisses & cuddles from the motorway & when he gets home i’m comin to look for that horse video he’s still got… tell him it’s time to get on that horse & start movin!!
Our love & prayers are with every day
Kia kaha
Carol Hudson & whanau
Librarian
Taipa Area School
Hey again Darryl,
i was thinking today about the last coversation we had, after Kellys 21st. I think it went something along the lines of
“Darryl, shave off your beard you look 30!”
“Thanks Holly, your so nice.”
I just wanted to apoligise, although, i did offer you some of my power raid isotonic at the time coz i felt bad.
Anyway, the point of my story was that i was suprised when you didnt say something mean back to me… i was fully expecting it. I guess i forgot what a nice guy you are. Its great to hear how well your doing. Keep it up, were all thinking of you & your family at this time.
Mike, Darryl and whanau,
Just wanted to say that we are thinking of you at this time and wishing you all the courage, strength, luck and whatever else it takes to break through this coma – however long it takes. John, Kathleen and the team have been keeping us posted on your progress. Any and all progress is good, mate. Hang in there. We look forward to having you back on your feet again and mixing it up with your whanau and mates. Of course, there are probably a couple of stray stock to shift and maybe a fence or leaking trough to fiddle with – just to keep your hand in – but that’s not important. We just want to have you back on the team.
Kia kaha – keep at it Darryl, you can beat it!
Mike and whanau – kia kaha ra koutou.
Regards and best wishes,
Chad Paraone (Chairman) and trustees,
Parengarenga Incorporation
hows it bro just i was just at home on the net
and decided that id read up on things that are happening
over home as i am living in perth at the moment
i was heartbroken to know that you one of my bros/mate/peers/fellow students/ was put in a coma playing rugby i dont really have any words to express how much this sucks
but know this you are going to pull out of this like mrs hudson said about small communities pulling together as small as we are were pulling from around the world with me in OZ clemens is in europe well always be there for you whenever you need us bro and ill be flying over to see you soon either this saturday or next saturday so i wanna talk to you then much love brother
Kia kaha Tama
Hi Darryl, Just to let you know we are thinking of you and your family everyday. Hang in there, as you have the support of the Northland community behind you. Regards, the girls from the National Bank – KAITAIA. 90 Mile Paradise xxxx
Hi Darryl
Shearers started work again today.They all ask after you and send their best wishes.Mickey says the shed is not the same with you not been around.Its a fine night up in the north so hopefully the rain will stay away for 4 days.Keep fighting Darryl,we know you can and will.
Regards Kathleen,Max,Deane,Lewis,Latimer,Sandy.
Hi All,
We took th eYear 8’s to Waikato last week and on the way we had a stop off at the Auckland museum to give them a run around.
We looked up at you guys in the hospital….waved and wiggled our hands and sent you all good vibes. If you can imagine the energy level of 30 year 8s who had been sitting on the bus for 5 hours you will know we sent you a huge lot of good thoughts.They all thought they saw you wave back!
I feel for you guys sitting and waiting…Kia Kaha. I’m thinking of you all.
Di
What a long journey for you all this will be. Our love and thoughts to mother Megan and grand parents Shirley and Ces. We know how much Darryl means to you all. Love Rae, Bill and family.
Kia ora Sabin Whanau
Just a short message from Taipa to let you know we are thinking of your family everyday and our prayers are with you. Kia kaha koe Darryl! Nga manaakitanga o te atua i runga i a koutou i nga wa katoa. Piki te ora, arohanui… Whaea Patsy Shaws whanau – (Desmonds & Tobins)
On Behalf of the Mangonui cricket club and i am sure, the wider cricketing fraternity of Northland. our thoughts and prayers are with you Darryl and also your family in this, your time of need.
Our thoughts are with you each and every day.We pray that you make a speedy one hundred percent recovery…………
Hey Darryl, i only breifly got to know you while you worked for Terry and Tracey at Tiria station, you were the only one who could handle that home made plum wine, lol. i’m currently working in the australian outback (same place kyle Worked) and even though the t.v does’nt work the news travelled through the grape vine and ended up with me. just wanted you to know my thoughts and prayers are with you. Hope to catch up with you when i get back, you still owe me that horse reide.
get better soon, i know you will.
Jamie
Hi Mike and family.
I believe the support makes the difference when things are dicey, & Darryl is getting the best.
Thoughts remain with your boy & hoping you too can find some relax / diversion time for self care in all this,if such a thing’s possible. I found a “visualisation” type story that may or may not not appeal as a reading – the kind of thing a yoga class I attended used, to very successfully relax people. A few I know who suffered bad head injuries said they don’t much remember early days, so they could not say if they were stressed by the horrible sorts of symptoms you describe. Hope for more positive signs when Darryls ready. We bargain with what might be – good or bad, but I believe many (not just a few) do make better progress than one might first expect. The signs of recognition are so great to hear of.
A star from a daydream
This is a story to exercise your imagination. Breathing in you are happy, breathing out you are happy. (Pause) Breathing in you are safe, and breathing out you are safe. Letting your mind drift off to a land of endless possibilities, you wander a short while admiring (insert idea) before spotting the dreammaker lady up ahead. She’s reaching into her treasure chest and choosing a bright new star – just for you. What colour is it – just your favorites of course and it’s spectacular. Now she’s tossing it high into the sky, and as she does, its’ magic sprinkles down upon you, filling you with warmth and the strength to know this struggle will pass as healing time works it’s magic. The love of so many is at your side, surrounding you to strengthen the spirit all day, all night. And refreshing sleep is only just a thought away when the peace of hard earned resting time’s due. Imagining now from your dream location under your special star, that far faraway are snow capped mountains and when you look in the other direction, you see the rolling ocean. Every single thing above and under the waves has a silver glow around it, and sparkles like the snow when the sun shines upon it. It is so relaxing to now find you’re float on a sailboat cloud and can see with a birdseye view the many wonders of this happy Dream Land. You’re just hoping to see a rainbow and a horse, when instantly, a your mates come galloping up on thoroughbreds, chased by a pair of yappy border collies, and a giant glistening rainbow arcs around them just like they’ve entered a picture frame. You all laugh about how you’re up above just riding on a cloud instead of a steed, and wave at each other alongtime as they ride up and even as they fly away with powerful hoofbeats fading. As you float comfortably about this scene watching dust swirl in the riders wake, the sun shines down, warming your body and, making your face all aglow, but soon it will be time to head home. Up ahead, you can see a spot where the day meets the night. And the colours on the horizon are getting deeper and all amazingly vivid. For a second, as your cloud carries you toward the sunset, you’re halfway in the daylight, and halfway in the night, but then you are lightly floating up into the dusks starry, starry sky. Looking down now like from an aeroplane the earth comes into focus, and scanning the neighbourhood where you live you seek out your own house, and there it goes. The cloud you’ve been riding begins to stretch out longer and longer gently sloping down till the end of it is almost touching your place. So downwards you’re able to slide, softly down & riding that long cloud like a giant surfboard down, down, and right down to land back on the solid ground. And now you are home, but you can still look up whenever, to see that coloured star the Dreammaker put up just for you. Breathing in, you are happy, and breathing out you are safe, feeling peaceful and restful and strong.
Hi all,
We’re bringing down some Northland sunshine for Darryl tomorrow. (I bottled a bit today in the few minutes break from the relentless precipitory experience – ah the winterless north. Hope today brought some more positive signals.
JT
Hi Darryl – remember all the struggle we went through to get your nzqa externals sat at Okaihau? You persevered and hung on to your goals like a little terrier. You will get through this in the same way – you have the family pack of terriers right there with you! Thumbs up Darryl – my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family every day. Lots of love Angela and all the Liefting family.
Dear Darryl and Family
It’s so wonderful to hear about how positive you are, 17 years ago my Father after numerous brain operations went into a coma, medically there was nothing more they could do for him and we as a family was told to say Goodbye to him, well I guess we are a fighting people and stayed positive that he would wake up one day and 9 months after he went into the coma he woke up, to the total disbelief of everyone but us as a family, it took a long time to get back onto his feet but he was determined to get well. His case was even studied at a medical brain seminar in Europe. What made him better… Positive thinking and the Belief in a Higher power, what I always think is this, that when we have a wound we can see, we expect it to get better and we give it a bit of time, well the brain CAN also heal itself, just give it time, believe and it will come true.
My thoughts are with you on your road to recovery
Michelle