Traumatic Brain Injury

Bit of progress - well a lot really

she's off the breathing machine and on HDU ... she's opening one eye slightly

and I'm getting the impression that there's someone at home

 

I asked her to squeeze my hand this afternoon and she did

 

her lips are terribly chapped and her eye matted - and she keeps putting her head (injury side) on the bed rails

I keep wondering if there's anything practical I can do to help her be more comfy

 

gentle massage of her hands / feet maybe ?

 

 

 

  SO GLAD to hear your daughter has made progress.  A bit of honey on her lips would help with the chapping.  Tell her gently where she is and what happened to her.  Hand holding is always a comfort.  Be thankful she is young and resilient!  What is HDU?

It seems to be a comfort to her

HDU is High Dependency Unit

it's a step down from Intensive Care Unit

and the visiting is now restricted to 2 sets of 2 hours daily

 

I've been told to pace myself as it will be a long haul they say and so i'm here at work today

instead of the hospital, it feels weird and selfish but then I have to get the pennies in, I'm self-employed so if I dont work we're in trouble

My husband is disabled and waiting on more knee surgery and my son's getting married end of April - they need me too

My son had a very well paid job in the army but not so much wages now he's back in civilian life - he's a salesman

his fiancee is lovely and has been a total rock so far to me with transport and other little kindnesses

 

so am still on auto pilot _ I didnt sleep - laid awake thinking REALLY stupid things like will Jenn need a single bed or a double

and what colour curtains should I get her room and will we need a stannah stairlift

for crying out loud ...

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you and your family are going through this situation with your daughter. Back in Dec 1989 I had a motorcycle accident. I had a head injury among other injuries. I was transferred to a rehab center. In my case, it took 3 months for the doctors to release me, going through speech therapy, vocational therapy an physical therapy. My family went through a lot not knowing what was going to happen to me or my outcome at the end. But All I can tell you is to give her all your support and your love. And just be understanding. I don't know the degree of brain damage that she has, but the therapy works. Nowadays they have computers systems that make different parts of the brain work. They know what they are doing. Let me know if I can answer some of your questions from a patient point of view. I wish all of you a prompt recovery.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you I squeezed my dad's hand as well while i was in a coma. so that's a good sign. he said to me "if you can hear me, squeeze my hand". And he said I did, of course I do not remember. I had just turn 21 a month ago. Best of luck. She is young and strong. she will be ok.

Bless you for that

She's had pneumonia and has MRSA in the left knee and is coming round very agitated

but hey ho she's alive and on the mend ...

 

Sumbossdodger, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter, and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I'm sorry I don't have any first hand experience with any of what your going through. Here you are seeking advice and help and it sucks for me, I wish I had some magic advice etc.  You are doing what any great mother would though, your right by her side, she knows she isn't alone there.  I wish you and your daughter the very best!

 

 

Sorry to here about your daughter! I will not give you any advice except to pray. My son fell fourty feet and was in a coma for 45 days. All the time the doctors told us he is young and that was it. That was four years ago. Today would not know he ever got hurt. So pray and be there for her god bless.