Paul update - Day 101

Day 101 (I think!) – Saturday 21 February

In answer to Mark’s comment, I am 99% certain I spelt Ceilidh correctly but Mr Gates obviously changed it without me noticing – have a look at the Word spell checker and you will see he spells it with a K! In answer to Laura’s comment – yes, you’re right – Paul’s entry to the blog is being done at exactly the same rate as his homework; i.e. he isn’t doing it!!

So, a brief update from me!

Paul is doing very well and we have recently passed a couple of milestones. Firstly, he has started working back at the garage, initially for just a few hours a day but this is gradually increasing and he is coping very well. It is very good for him as well because he has to concentrate on what is going on, he has to handle money and credit cards, write receipts and deal with the customers and even when it’s busy, he is managing very well. His hours will be gradually increased because he is still finding it quite tiring, but this is definitely a major step forward.

He is gradually reverting back to his old habits of not going to bed and not getting up though, but we keep nagging him and hopefully this will improve.....once the pigs have been refuelled and are ready for takeoff.

The other thing he did today was ride his bike for the first time. He did admit that he found it more difficult than he expected but he and I went for about a 4 mile ride this afternoon which went very well.

He has also dug out the radio control cars and has started using them again which is good for his co-ordination. So, all in all, things are progressing well. He is still having regular physio / speech / occupational therapy both at home and in town – this will continue for the next few months and then we will review where we are.

The only bit of “bad” news that we have had is that Paul is starting to talk about driving again and is keen to get another car, so we have written to DVLA to advise them of his accident and the hospital has written to the organisation that evaluates drivers after a serious head injury, but there is a 32 week wait before they can see him. If we go to Edinburgh (where they are based) it is 20 weeks, but he is keen to get behind the wheel in advance of this so he is hoping to get a cancellation.

Hopefully we will persuade Paul to post a blog in the near future, but in the meantime I will try and post an update whenever anything significant occurs.

Hope you are all fit and well,

Best wishes,

Martyn

Paul update - Day 81

Day 81 – Sunday 1 February

He’s home!!

Eleven weeks and one day after “black Wednesday”, Paul was finally discharged from Maidencraig last Thursday. Kevin, the lad who he was sharing the ward with, was discharged on the same day so I sensed a little bit of sadness all round on the day. For the last eight weeks Maidencraig has effectively been Paul’s (and our!) life; for Kevin and his family it has been a part of their life for even longer and so both boys and indeed the nurses were sorry to say goodbye. The pictures above were taken by one of the nurses. All the staff at Maidencraig have been superb and we cannot thank them enough for all they have done or Paul.

He has effectively been fully discharged – all he has now are weekly appointments at Horizons (a rehabilitation centre near to Maidencraig) for physio, occupational and speech therapy; we have appointments arranged through to March but I guess that they will continue beyond that.

Since being home, Paul hasn’t done a great deal (!), he has slept quite a lot but went out for a couple of hours Friday evening with his chums and we all went to a Keilidh in Tullynessle last night; Paul saw a couple of his old teachers there and they were amazed at the fact that he was there and how well he was doing! He did quite a few of the dances (far more than I did) and we all had a good evening but he was quite tired by the end of it – he fell asleep on the sofa (sound familiar??!!) when we got home (he wouldn’t go to bed!) and once he had got up and had his breakfast he had an afternoon nap!

He’s actually telling me off at the moment because he wants to take the blog over and he thinks I am writing about the Keilidh so he will have nothing to say, so I will stop here and let Paul start to add his own blogs from now on. I will do the odd one, but will leave Paul to do the majority.

So, in closing, thanks again to all of you for all your help, support and comments since last November; without you things would have been so much more difficult for us.

Best wishes,

Martyn and Pat.