Eight weeks on...

Hi All

It is now 8 weeks since Bryan's accident and six weeks in the spinal unit. In this time he has gone from flat on his back strapped down to his bed with weights attached to his head and communicating in any way possible other than by voice. Telling us he had any itchy nose could sometimes take 10mins or so. From eating pureed food to now enjoying a nice juicy steak. Passing out when getting hoisted out of bed of a morning to going for a whole week without Bryan saying to quickly lift his legs up to the blood flowing back to his head. Requiring assistance to get pushed around in his wheelchair to testing out how fast the wheelchair can go down ramps, the list goes on.

Bryan's movement is still limited to his head, shoulders and part of his arms, his legs and fingers still don't have any movement, but he hasn't given up on them (YES USQSafe team, The power of positive thinking is not a load of rubbish). He has been getting some spasms in his legs and through his torso. The touch feeling he has in his body is also much the same, but has discovered extra sensitivity with hearing. The pain that he originally had in his neck and shoulders is not so serve anymore and not needing any pain relief, Bryan is not keen on taking pills!

Another milestone achieved today in physio with Bryan being able to get from lying flat up to a sitting position all by himself with the aid of a ladder strap that he hooked his wrists through. Bryan is also showing excitement about finally getting to try out smaller and lighter wheelchairs as they are much easier for him to manoeuvre places. We have had a couple of excursions across the road and also beyond the car park to view riverfire with the F1 11's flying directly over head.

Bryan has been shifted to bed 14 which is in the most western room in the spinal unit and he says is the closest he can get to home. On the subject of home, plans are progressing and Bryan has been able to have plenty of input with design features.

We found out this week what the issue is with Bryan's voice. After the camera down the nose to view his vocal cords, it was found a Granuloma has formed most likely due to the tube down his throat while in ICU. The Granuloma may reduce and disappear in time but if it continues to cause voice problems it can be removed by laser surgery. (Granuloma is a benign growth that results from irritation or trauma). Adding to this is some nerve damage resulting in one side of the vocal cords not moving and requiring the other side to compensate. The speech therapist said Bryan should get this vocal cord movement back as this nerve can repair itself.

All in all Bryan is progressing steadily and working hard on his goals to get him home.

Keep you posted.

Goodnight from,
Julie and assistance from Bryan