My dad when he had his tbi June 2013

[annharford]

First week in critical care

[StrawberryCream]

This reminds me of me when I was in a coma with the ventilator, dozens of drips and tubes into every orifice, machines etc etc although minus the neck collar as mine wasn't a traumatic BI. Initially I was ventolated via my mouth but after a couple of weeks they did a tracheostomy for the breathing tubes as felt it would be better. Did you Dad ever cause a panic like I did when on one occasion when they were trying to bring me out of the coma, in my confusion I pulled the whole lot out which then urgently had to be sorted!!

It must have been a very worrying and fearful time for you because like me at that time your dad would have been blissfully unaware of the distress he was causing to his nearest and dearest.

[annharford in reply to StrawberryCream]

Hi strawberry cream they tried to bring my dad out of the sedated coma to no avail as his icp would go dangerously high but when they did bring him out eventually he didn't pull nothing out as he lost all control of his muscles, and yes it was the worst time of my life as u said my dad was so unaware and still is now as he only remembers rehab nothing before but I suppose in a way that such a good thing xx

[StrawberryCream in reply to annharford]

Likewise I have absolutely no memory of before, during or even after for several weeks of coming out of the coma! Yes in some ways it is good for us that we don't remember although at times I find that difficult because I have no idea how I behaved, what was done to me and my body etc etc. I am well aware now though that it was those closest to me and sitting by my bedside when I wasn't expected to survive or expected at best be in a vegatative state or very disabled state that had the absolute worst emotional time.

But we were strong, fought back from the brink and are survivors (even though life is no longer as it was before). x

[annharford in reply to StrawberryCream]

Yes that's so true, I've tried explaining to my dad what I went through seeing him day in day out having good and bad days but he thinks I'm talking about someone else as I think he finds it so hard to accept as he has no memory of it, I've kept photos and videos but nothing will make me dad realise how close we came to losing him, critical care even brought him back so he could see where he was for 2months and what he had gone through but he didn't say much about it xx

[HopeforTony]

An all too familiar scene for us all. God bless your dad you're a great daughter

[annharford in reply to HopeforTony]

Awww thank you. It was the worst experience of my life. It's a long road they said my dad wouldn't make it and if he did he wouldn't be able to talk eat walk again but he proved them all wrong took him 8 months from the injury but it's was more than worth it xx

[Lauren_1006]

How is your dad now after 5 years? I hope he’s made a good recovery. That photo looks just like my first few weeks visiting my dad x

[annharford in reply to Lauren_1006]

Hi lauren my dad sadly passed away in 2016 not due to his Tbi though. My dad made an excellent recovery but after 2 years of his brain injury he did start suffering from seizures which made his memory worse but other than that he was a lot like himself before the injury xx

[Lauren_1006 in reply to annharford]

Sorry to hear you lost your dad. That’s terrible to hear but I’m so pleased you got him back for at least a little while and he was himself after such a terrible accident xxx

[annharford in reply to Lauren_1006]

Yes indeed. Its definitely a long process you can't put a time on how long it will take for them to get better I hope your dad makes a good recovery soon. I know how draining it can be my life was on hold I couldn't focus on nothing else but my dad is couldn't be there everyday either due to having a little one and I felt so guilty lucky I had other family members who was there when I couldn't be but it was so hard xx

[Lauren_1006 in reply to annharford]

I know exactly how that feels. I’ve got a 3 year old and am 6 months pregnant at the moment. My mum was in the car accident too so having to care for her with my sister. The hospital is so far away, 3 hour round trip so it’s hard seeing him and I just want to be there and sadly visits from other family members are already dwindling I hate that he’s all alone just staring at the ceiling most of the time x

[annharford in reply to Lauren_1006]

Try not to feel guilty though I'm sure your dad would understand xx