Simon is back HOME!!!
He was discharged from Craig Hospital on Thursday afternoon, following a conference with his doctors, nurse, and therapists, in which he got lots of reminders about his physical and mental limitations. He was advised to keep to a routine; do one thing at a time; and keep working on his balance, coordination, accuracy, endurance, memory, and attention span. He is not allowed to drive or use power tools . . . . not even allowed to carry groceries while he walks. He was reminded several times about the 5 times higher risk of brain injury, following 2 previous brain injuries. His left arm and hand are still weaker than they should be, and his left eye still doesn't open or track properly, but hopefully they will improve over time. He also has to continue wearing a brace for his spine fracture, as recent radiographs showed slightly worsening compression of one thoracic vertebra. He will not be returning to work for some time.
Of course he was very excited to get home. The first things he did were: (1) greet Sootie, the cat; (2) have a cup of tea; and (3) walk around and admire the garden. Although he has missed all the spring bulbs (crocuses, daffodils, tulips), he is here in time for all the roses, peonies, etc. He is VERY appreciative of all the yard work done by friends, and even said, "There isn't much for me to do!!"
Thank you again to everyone who has followed the blog (. . . and a special thanks to Gus for setting it up . . . !), sent messages or cards of support, visited Simon in hospital, helped in the yard, covered clinic duty for me, and helped in so many other ways. You have made a stressful time much less difficult! We hope to see many of you, and thank you in person, soon.
Ann
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Fri 21-May-10
Simon is finishing his 6th week at Craig Hospital. Recently, I’ve been noticing how various therapists combine both physical and mental challenges at the same time: one had him sit and balance himself on a therapy ball, while doing a sequence of hand motions (cross hands on knees, touch ears, snap fingers, clap hands, etc. etc.), adding another new motion each time, and testing whether he could remember the sequence (it wasn’t easy!!). Later, another had him repeatedly step on and off on a low balance beam, while simultaneously asking him what state various cities are in! It's all about re-training the muscles and the brain at the same time, and learning to multi-task again.
Simon was able to open his left eye, just a little bit, for the first time this week. He can open it only just enough to see a tiny bit, but he says he can see with it. The doctors warn he will probably have double vision for awhile at least, but it looks like that damaged nerve is starting to regain function, albeit slowly.
He had his first pool therapy session this week, which was pretty tiring - even though the water provides buoyancy and no concussion, the resistance of the water and the current make it difficult to maintain balance. At the end of his pool exercises, he tried to do a couple of strokes of freestyle (before this accident, he was swimming a mile, about 3 times a week). He could barely keep his body on the surface of the water – his left arm is too weak, and I think he was surprised at how difficult it was. Even though he is doing really well overall, this provided a reminder of how far he still has to go.
As I've already reported, Simon is set to go home on May 28, where he will continue to have physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Thank you to all who have already volunteered to help keep an eye on him when I have to be away from home - he will enjoy the company, and I appreciate the support! Also - thanks to those of you who have visited him at MCR or Craig, who have sent cards and emails, and have helped keep our garden in top shape!! The one GOOD thing to come out of all of this, is that we've learned what wonderful, caring friends, co-workers, and relatives we have!
Ann
Simon was able to open his left eye, just a little bit, for the first time this week. He can open it only just enough to see a tiny bit, but he says he can see with it. The doctors warn he will probably have double vision for awhile at least, but it looks like that damaged nerve is starting to regain function, albeit slowly.
He had his first pool therapy session this week, which was pretty tiring - even though the water provides buoyancy and no concussion, the resistance of the water and the current make it difficult to maintain balance. At the end of his pool exercises, he tried to do a couple of strokes of freestyle (before this accident, he was swimming a mile, about 3 times a week). He could barely keep his body on the surface of the water – his left arm is too weak, and I think he was surprised at how difficult it was. Even though he is doing really well overall, this provided a reminder of how far he still has to go.
As I've already reported, Simon is set to go home on May 28, where he will continue to have physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Thank you to all who have already volunteered to help keep an eye on him when I have to be away from home - he will enjoy the company, and I appreciate the support! Also - thanks to those of you who have visited him at MCR or Craig, who have sent cards and emails, and have helped keep our garden in top shape!! The one GOOD thing to come out of all of this, is that we've learned what wonderful, caring friends, co-workers, and relatives we have!
Ann
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thu 13-May-10
Time is going quickly now - I can't believe it has been a week since I last sent an update!
Last week-end was very pleasant. Simon and I went outside a LOT, and walked quite a bit - around the various hospital buildings, and through several gardens associated with Craig Hospital and Swedish Medical Center, which is right next door. Simon has always had a great sense of direction (before this accident), but he's only just now figuring out his way around Craig - an indication of progress, at least! He's also just now starting to know the names of Craig staff members who work with him - he has had trouble remembering even people he sees every day here, but is starting to get better. He made a list of some of the regulars, with their names and distinguishing characteristics, to help himself.
His left arm, which was very weak for a long time, is getting stronger, although still not back to full strength. Today he was excited because, for the first time, he was able to open his left eye very slightly - just a little bit. The nerve that controls the muscle that raises the upper lid (cranial nerve III) was apparently damaged in the accident, but the doctors hope that it will gradually improve over the next 6 months or so. So, just that little bit of opening was a good sign!
In speech therapy, he is working on progressively more difficult puzzles and problems that exercise his short-term memory and attention span.
Simon's last tube, the feeding tube, was finally removed yesterday (remember: at Craig, patients get better, "tube by tube"). He is just starting to realize how badly he was injured and how far he has come. Everyone here keeps telling him how much he has improved, which surprises him, but of course he has no memory of the accident, being in ICU, or most of the first few weeks here at Craig. He is now scheduled to be discharged on May 28, and then will continue therapy (physical, occupational, speech, etc.) at home in Fort Collins. He knows that he has to do the rehab right, to avoid setbacks or further injury, and he seems determined to do it right!!
Ann
Last week-end was very pleasant. Simon and I went outside a LOT, and walked quite a bit - around the various hospital buildings, and through several gardens associated with Craig Hospital and Swedish Medical Center, which is right next door. Simon has always had a great sense of direction (before this accident), but he's only just now figuring out his way around Craig - an indication of progress, at least! He's also just now starting to know the names of Craig staff members who work with him - he has had trouble remembering even people he sees every day here, but is starting to get better. He made a list of some of the regulars, with their names and distinguishing characteristics, to help himself.
His left arm, which was very weak for a long time, is getting stronger, although still not back to full strength. Today he was excited because, for the first time, he was able to open his left eye very slightly - just a little bit. The nerve that controls the muscle that raises the upper lid (cranial nerve III) was apparently damaged in the accident, but the doctors hope that it will gradually improve over the next 6 months or so. So, just that little bit of opening was a good sign!
In speech therapy, he is working on progressively more difficult puzzles and problems that exercise his short-term memory and attention span.
Simon's last tube, the feeding tube, was finally removed yesterday (remember: at Craig, patients get better, "tube by tube"). He is just starting to realize how badly he was injured and how far he has come. Everyone here keeps telling him how much he has improved, which surprises him, but of course he has no memory of the accident, being in ICU, or most of the first few weeks here at Craig. He is now scheduled to be discharged on May 28, and then will continue therapy (physical, occupational, speech, etc.) at home in Fort Collins. He knows that he has to do the rehab right, to avoid setbacks or further injury, and he seems determined to do it right!!
Ann
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thu 6-May-10
Simon is continuing to progress. The highlight of this week was that Simon and I were “okayed” to go walking – inside or outside – with no assistance other than me holding onto the back of his safety belt (no walker, no cane). He does pretty well, although sometimes he forgets that he can’t afford to move quite as quickly as he would have, before the accident - one time he instinctively reached to turn on a lamp and nearly fell over!
Today, Simon's occupational therapist had him bake some brownies (it was probably the first time in his life he’d ever made something from a commercial mix!!). It was a good exercise in reading directions, planning, being on his feet, moving around to find things, etc.
I always thought "speech therapy" was about talking, but we're learning that it's also about improving memory, flexibility of thinking, reaction time, processing information, solving problems, even some math!!! Some of the questions and puzzles that Simon has to do are pretty challenging: looking at a picture, putting it aside, and then answering questions about the details of the picture; rapid-fire number problems on the computer; filling in missing letters in a list of partial words; etc.
As a "homework" assignment, Simon and I watched 2 videos on traumatic brain injuries. A comment in one video that impressed me was from a lawyer who had had a TBI, but recovered apparently well. He said he’d written a book since his injury, but even so, when he tries to cross a busy intersection as a pedestrian, he finds it overwhelmingly confusing! It just illustrates how someone with great intelligence can still have trouble with everyday tasks after a TBI.
Thanks to everyone who has emailed regarding visiting - it is helping us keep to a manageable schedule!
Ann
Today, Simon's occupational therapist had him bake some brownies (it was probably the first time in his life he’d ever made something from a commercial mix!!). It was a good exercise in reading directions, planning, being on his feet, moving around to find things, etc.
I always thought "speech therapy" was about talking, but we're learning that it's also about improving memory, flexibility of thinking, reaction time, processing information, solving problems, even some math!!! Some of the questions and puzzles that Simon has to do are pretty challenging: looking at a picture, putting it aside, and then answering questions about the details of the picture; rapid-fire number problems on the computer; filling in missing letters in a list of partial words; etc.
As a "homework" assignment, Simon and I watched 2 videos on traumatic brain injuries. A comment in one video that impressed me was from a lawyer who had had a TBI, but recovered apparently well. He said he’d written a book since his injury, but even so, when he tries to cross a busy intersection as a pedestrian, he finds it overwhelmingly confusing! It just illustrates how someone with great intelligence can still have trouble with everyday tasks after a TBI.
Thanks to everyone who has emailed regarding visiting - it is helping us keep to a manageable schedule!
Ann
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tue 4-May
Over the week-end, Simon had quite a few visitors, in fact probably too many at the same time . . . so now a new process, so that I can try to avoid having 5 people at once (which happened yesterday!).
People who would like to visit Simon should email me first, and I'll then negotiate a suitable time for both you and Simon. Most of you should have my email - if not ask me for it via a post on this blog and I'll email you.
Thanks,
Ann
People who would like to visit Simon should email me first, and I'll then negotiate a suitable time for both you and Simon. Most of you should have my email - if not ask me for it via a post on this blog and I'll email you.
Thanks,
Ann
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