Carer Report 4
October 24th, 2007
Carers report 4 (4 in 1 to go) 22/10
Shelagh is into three hours of the recommended 4/6 hours rest, after the fourth treatment. Feeling ok and this time no noticeable tingling sensation in legs or body. It took a little longer this time, approx 30 mins, with the anesthetic first and then two injections. We have learned that it can take up to 6 months for any real difference to appear. Apart from when tired her voice has maintained the slight improvement which has occurred over the last two weeks. Her swallowing is as previously noted and spitting force somewhat sustained. Shelagh’s strength in the previously weak left arm has greatly improved with the daily physio treatment. The grip reading, as we call it, has gone from 104 to 145 to 167, over three weeks, and, when compared to the right hand grip, is in fact stronger.
We farewelled Dale today, he is off back to the USA, and tomorrow we say goodbye to Neil,his wife Rosemary and her sister Peg who are also off to the States. New people came in over the last few days, Mary and her father, Manuel, from Spain, and two from Malaysia, Lillie and husband Wong. Having been charged by the great organiser Roz (who with husband, Phil, left last Thursday) to redistribute all the goodies they and Lorn with son and daughter (who also left last Thursday) left with us to give any newcomers, we had the opportunity to meet the new people and make them feel a little better by passing the goodies on. Induction Hotplates, Microwaves cleaning cloths and agents and a couple of washing up bowls, to mention a few.
Yesterday we spent a few hours at the Shenyang Zoo. It is about 30 odd km out of town and divided into two halves and is a cross between a small Western Plains and a small San Diego. You travel by bus for the first half and walk the second..That was quite a hike. They have lots of lions and tigers and bears and a few leopards. There are also emu, peacock, camel, deer, wildebeest, chickens, geese, swans, rabbits, pandas, lesser pandas and elephants and a white rhino. A group of 12 patients and carers, from our floor, enjoyed the outing.
Some of you are still having difficulty getting onto this blog so I will copy and paste by e-mail to those I know of who are struggling.
Looking forward to your comments, bye for now, will be in touch!
ps. been off air AGAIN since Sunday night – unable to post this earlier. Still relevant tho! Thanks for all your responses – it’s lovely to read them.
Entry Filed under: als,Uncategorized
6 Comments Add your own
1. David and Carolyn | October 24th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Hopefully you weren’t walking in the lion,bear and tiger part!! Trust you to be responsible for the redistribution Dad, but not quite sure if Roz knew you well enough! Anyway, so nice to hear that you have a good group of other people to help you through this. Keep up the good work and not long now.Take care and we’ll see you on the 4th.
Lots of love to you both
David, Carolyn, Isabelle, Connor Chelsea and Nan. xxx
2. Chris | October 25th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Hi both
Sorry it’s taken so long to get to send this. We’ve been kept up to date a bit via Dad, and I’ve just read the Blog. I’m not sure if I’m blogging now or just sending you an e-mail – all new stuff to me. If it’s a blog it’s my first!!
From what I can gather it seems to be going resonably well, which is great news. It also seems like a great adventure, being in such a strange and unfamiliar place so far from home, and dealing with all the trials and frustrations of being there. I think you’re both been very brave and are doing fantastically well. I’m glad, as I’m sure you are, that you are able to go home in the not too distant future. I’m sure you’re looking forward to it, and that you’ll get a great welcoming when you arrive in Adelaide.
This Saturday we have our bi-annual Siblings gathering. (The seven of us get together without other halves or children twice a year for 24 hours.) At about 7.30pm BST we will raise a glass in your honour and all of us will be thinking of you and wishing you well. This will be in the middle of the night for you I know, but if you stir about this time you’ll know why!!
Good luck with the final session (if I’ve understaood right, there’s one to go). You are in our thoughts.
With love
Chris, Kati, Jasper & Sebastian xxxx
3. Steve | October 25th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Back on the air, yipee! 4 treatments down 1 to go, I am so glad that the treatments are helping, strength, swallowing and voice, it is so encouraging to hear this! It will be very interesting to see the effects after the six month period, don’t exactly know what sort of effects, but should be good. I’m glad that there is the comradship developing between all the paitience and such a releif to be able to communicate and have things explained. I see that young Chris has managed to find his way onto the blog, congrats! Have decided to sell the house it is, as of today, 25.10.2007 on the market, now all I have to do is find alternative accommodation!! It is difficult to beleive that there is only a short period of time until you are back in OZ, wish we could be in Adelaide for your return, but will be there in thought. All here is fine, and all send thier best wishes and love for you both. Look forward to the next installment or email or…??
Cheers for now
Steve, Elina, Ned, Stephanie, Veronika, Yuir, and Nika.
4. pamela/mike oshea | October 27th, 2007 at 12:56 am
What with you being off air and our laptop going temporarily capout again, communication gets quite difficult but here we are now towards the end of October so you will be able to cross off the days till you return home after your epic experience. Mike will possibly be glad to relinquish the domestic/kitchen chores side of things. We look forward to your return while we are in Adelaide and to welcome you back. Mike should be leaving UK on Sun and me on Tues but flights look horrendous. We now have mitch, karl and bomber with us as they have moved out of Harefield but no moving date for Amersham property yet. Love to both & keep the improvements on the up Shelagh
5. Emma | October 27th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Good to see you’re back on the air – I wondered where you had got to. Great news to hear of all the positive effects of the treatment, and after such a short time already. will be looking forward to seeing how much better you feel Shelagh, after the next 6 months. You must be feeling like the locals rather than the newbies, now that you have some new friends come to the hospital and you have the task of distributing items.
Steve, great to hear the house is on the market, looking forward to seeing you again on a more permanent basis soon.
Ryan is well. We had some photo’s taken at his Childcare centre today but wouldn’t sit still, so the photographer had a real workout trying to get him to stay infront of the camera. Ryan enjoyed himself though, running around and jumping. My back has been bad for the past 2 weeks but is better now after numerous chiropractic treatments and a couple of massages. Lucky, as I am doing the 10 km race for life in the morning. Clocks go forward an hour tonight so up an hour earlier than usual tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you in a week, Lots of Love Emma and Ryan x x
6. Terry & Mo | October 28th, 2007 at 1:46 am
Hi Both it was really good to read such a positive Blog. like everyone else we are looking forward to hearing that you have returned home safely after you last treatment. We will also be looking forward to favorable reports over the coming weeks.
Sorry we haven’t been in touch before but there was a phone call from Torbay Hospital offering me a cancellation, last Friday evening, to have my knee replaced. 3 hours later I was in the hospital, being processed. Saturday morning at 8-30 I was on my way to theater and now have a new knee. I returned home on Thursday afternoon and this is the first time I have ventured near the computer. Glad to report that the knee is a success and that I am already down to one crutch.
Mo is at the Siblings Do, but she sends her love to you both and will be raising her glass in 45 mins. I will too but only with water. All the best.
Love T& M xxx
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