Friday 24th

Dad was very much awake when we came in this morning. They have slowly weaned him off the sedatives overnight and he is definitely more alert and aware of what’s going on around him. I think he also realises more now what is happening and slowly learning the new feeling of his body.

I am surprised by how much he is improving every day and it’s only going to get better. The chest infection they say is clearing and hopefully by early next week he will have the tube out. We are slowly creating our own language with the charades, I can now figure out when he wants his mouth cleaned, his pipe moved over or his hands massaged. But it will be awesome when he can finally tell us himself how he’s feeling.

Reminded Dad that it was Friday today and he had been in ICU for 5 days. He rolled his eyes as if to say ‘that’s such a long time, just get me out of here already’. Lying down in the same spot for 5 days in a row must seem like a lifetime for Bryan. We ‘translated’ that for him ‘every minute feels like an hour’.

Mum and I were visited by Dr Hill (spinal specialist) today after I was speaking to him yesterday. He likes to check on Dad’s progress each day so that they can prepare a bed in the spinal ward once he comes out of ICU. The doc took us down for a tour of the spinal ward just before lunch. It was a little confronting at first to see all the chairs and contraptions set up, knowing that our lives are going to change so much. However, Dad has never shied away from a challenge and I believe that he will find ways to adapt and overcome this new challenge.

The occupational therapist came back today as she made splints for Dad’s arms yesterday. These are designed to reduce swelling, to maintain muscle toning and correct the tendency for his hands to disfigure. She had to assess whether they were doing their job and/or causing any unwanted pain. Then we learnt how to do some exercises with Dad’s hands and arms, making sure that he still has a full range of motion. So we will be doing those a few times a day.

Another visit from the physio this afternoon, Dad frowned and glared at her when she walked in, knowing that she brings a world of hurt for him. But before she began the jolting of his chest, we went through some stretches with his legs and arms (I did one side and she did the other). I want to try and learn as much as I can from this experience; no doubt it will help me in the future with my course.

Uncle Derek came back today to spend time with Dad. He bought with him a new air of positivity after visiting some friends yesterday, one of whom is in a wheelchair. It was very uplifting the stories he has been sharing with us today. Its hard for Dad to be positive right now but we are trying as hard as we can to keep him in the right mindset.

Tonight before I left they put him back on sedative medication. They were going to try and take his tube out tonight but he still had too much fluid in his lungs. So back to sleep-mode for a couple of days until his infection clears right up. Fingers crossed that Monday he came have the tube out!

Until tomorrow...

xoxo