1 October 2007 Progress

1 October, 2007

Don't forget to check the http://canberracollins.blogspot.com/ site for all the info, photos and xrays on Chris over the past month.

Chris is doing much better now. She can achieve many things we did not expect her to be able to yet. She needs help with daily showers (back and arm braces off, delicate process) and some help due to one handedness. Even this is improving and she can slip her hand out of the sling, which has resulted in less pain (finally moving it out of its frozen 90 degree prison) and she can use her forearm and fingers a little. The swelling has gone down dramatically now the muscles are mobilised a bit. In bed, she is again a flat spinal patient, but when the back brace is on (all day), she can get up and walk about very well. By the end of the day, her back is very painful, so she is still on painkillers, usually twice a day and once overnight. Obviously domestics are a problem and we are all helping.


Mum alternates between steady (Ok with breathlessness when physically active) and struggling (puffing and tiredness all day long). She improved a bit past couple of weeks, but is working hard again now, maybe a virus? No doubt, she is at the limit of lung tolerance and any challenge to her system (activity or illness) is a loss she can not compensate for.


I think the ‘numbness’ is wearing off and she is experiencing more of the grief and pain from losing Dad. Perhaps the concern about Chris and routine change has been significant. She really has been incredibly outwardly focussed and interested in everything around town/world. She is always saying, "I need to learn how to do that now" and "Tell me about …" and she has been telling wonderfully detailed stories for her memoirs that we are working on.

Another bit of news .…. During the mid year break we decided to return our children to their previous school, Emmaus Christian School in Dickson. Steve was commenced week 1 Term 3 and Ruben started in week 3. We feel as though we've come home, too. Leah is still at school in Florey (StJohn’s) because her yr 5 class Emmaus is at max numbers. We’re hoping she can start soon, at least by the new school year.