Dad's in HDU (High Dependancy Unit). He is looking much better! He's hoping to get the dressing off his head because it's annoying him. He was joking around today and his speech is improving more every day! He even gave me the thumbs up for a photo. Note: You can click on each image to view a larger one!
7th April
After seeing what they give him to eat and drink in the hospital, I decided to sneek him in a McDonalds thickshake. Boy was he rapped!!! He said "awww thats the good stuff" hehehe. I told him if he keeps improving I will sneek him in some more.
9th April
The Physiotherapist came to see dad yesterday, and GOT HIM WALKING! 3 steps! We were so happy to hear that!
Well he got another thickshake today, and a shave. I decided he was starting to look like Santa Clause so he got a personalised makeover from me! He said its much more comfortable. It took so long to shave his beard because it had got so thick over the last 3 weeks.
After his shave, came the clippers! He kept saying his head was itchy and I told him I could shave it off. He agreed so off it came. It makes him look so much younger! His talking has improved even more and the dentist is coming some time next week to fit some new dentures for him. We think that will help him speak even better.
The doctors & Physio said they are going to work him harder this week to try and get him up walking. He's looking forward to being able to walk! Hopefully he gets some more movement in his right arm. He's also feeding himself with a fork & not spilling too much. He reckons the hospital food is "beautiful".
Will keep you all updated on his progress!!! Cya's.
UPDATE!
20th April
Well it's been a little while since we
updated this page. Since the last edition, dad has been transferred to
Ward D, Bed 15 at Casey Hospital in Berwick. Both mum & I work here so
its perfect, I can now go and visit him at morning tea, lunch and afternoon
tea breaks. Whenever its a little sunny outside I put him in his
wheelchair and take him outside.
He has really improved the movement in his right arm. He can now almost squeeze his hand closed, he can move his wrist and even lift his arm a little bit. He is improving so quickly. He keeps telling me he may even be able to hold a beer with that hand soon.
These pictures were taken the day he was transferred (20th April). His room is so much nicer and brighter, much better than Monash Hospital. We even bought him a nice plant to lighten up his room. Easter weekend came and I took him some chocolate, I wasn't sure how he was going to go eating it but it was worth a try. Marc bought him some Monkey PJ's... he loved them! Much better than the hospital gowns.
21st April
Here he is pictured with his favourite take-away food.. Hungry Jacks onion rings. Every time he has been in hospital I have brought him onion rings, I was wondering how long it would be before he started asking for them. So we snuck some in for him to enjoy. After spending about 10 minutes just smelling them, he finally ate one.... BLISS! hehe cant you tell he enjoyed them. Now he refuses to eat the hospital food because he knows we can bring him yummy stuff.
22nd April
We have had a photo of Bella (the dog) in his room since he was in ICU. He started asking for her so we thought we'd try to sneak her in. We decided to wheel dad out to the front to spend some time with her. I even bathed her and put bows in her hair.
Dad has been up walking today. He can take about 3-4 steps on his own but is still a bit unsteady. His eye-sight doesn't help because he can only see 1/2 of everything, and sometimes he can see 2 or 3 of the same thing. We're hoping to get someone to tell us what's going on soon. He now has physio 2 times a day, speech pathology every day as well as an occupational therapist. The rehab is going so well.
He now dresses himself, feeds himself and walks for little distances. He really is a true fighter!!
25th April
Well his appetite is definitely returning. He's had more junk food since being in hospital than he has all his life, and he's loving it!! Tonight I took him boorenkool & roekwurst ( I think that's how its spelt)... His favourite!
He loved it! I also took him around the emergency department and introduced him to all of the doctors I work with and most importantly, the ones who saved his life. He was very grateful and didn't even swear once! I was so proud! He's hoping to be out of there soon! I will keep you updated.
For those who want to visit, he is in:
BED 15, Ward D (Rehab), Casey Hospital. 52 Kangan Drive, Berwick VIC 3805.
Kel
Rach
The Boys
