Remarkable recovery - now 5 years on

[BobinTewks]

It will be 5 years ago next week that my boyfriend, Michael, had his accident and TBI. Reading back through what I posted back then on this forum brings it all back to me. I'd forgotten what it felt like at the time, having no idea where it would all end and fearing the worst. I had people around me telling me miraculous recovery stories about people they know and I would smile and nod but inside never thinking I would have Michael back.

Michael spent over 3.5 years in a neurological rehabilitation centre and I did see residents there that had made no change during that time. So I write this post with a sense of guilt that not everyone will get what I have now got. But I wanted to let people know that you shouldn't give up and "miracles" can happen.

It's been a long 5 years and it's still not quite over but fingers crossed Michael will be "coming home" very soon. He has improved so much that he no longer needs the care of the neurological centre. The CHC funding stopped and he has now been moved to a care home. But the plan is to find a place where we can live together again and I take care of him.

Michael will still need to be in a wheelchair but has made a remarkable recovery. He never stops smiling and laughing and I can't wait for out life together to begin again.

Don't give up xx

[cat3]

Heartwarming news BT. I hope you and Michael will be back together in your own place before too long. Great photo ! x

[BobinTewks in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat, good to hear from you.The photo was taken at an Hawaiian themed party last summer at The Dean. Such fun x

[New_beginning]

I'm glad you two will be together very soon and the photo is lovely.

[Silkwood20]

Hi, that is great to hear, am really pleased for you both and it does indeed give desperately needed hope to some of us.... we are now 10 months into this and there are tiny improvements but it's all so dispiritingly slow, So thanks for a little hope and very best wishes to you both.

[BobinTewks in reply to Silkwood20]

Good morning Silkwood, I have just read through your posts. I'm sorry to hear about all you have been through and still going through. It's very positive that your husband is trying to use blinking to communicate, that's a big step forward. You mentioned getting an "Alexa". I thought I'd share my experience. I initially bought Michael a Samsung tablet to use but found he had the habit of switching it off. So I bought him a Google Hub Max speaker - it's one with a built in CAM. It stays permanently powered up and when not in use displays loads of photos for Michael to see. I can add more photos directly from my mobile which will display right away for Michael.

With all the problems that Covid has brought buying the speaker is one of the best things I have done. We are constantly on video calls and just being connected via a video call in the background has made it feel like we are in the same room together whilst I can be doing other things around the house like cooking etc. He will just sit and watch me as I do things around the home.

A couple of weeks ago Michael started to have a seizure whilst we had the video working in the background and I could see it happening, I quickly called the home to let them know and they rushed in to help him.

You can also use the speaker as a security camera and I often look in on Michael to check on him, he doesn't need to "answer" the call, it just allows me to view him. I use this to see if he's been put to bed, if he's awake in the mornings, etc.

Let me know if need any more info'

Wishing you and your husband all the very best xx

[Silkwood20 in reply to BobinTewks]

Wow thanks some brilliant practical suggestions there, I will look into those, thanks very much x

[autowhen in reply to BobinTewks]

Hi, firstly wow, how encouraging.

Also thank you for your suggestion regarding “Google Hub Max speaker”, could you describe this a bit more, I tried Google for what it is, but couldn’t work out what it is exactly. It sounds like something we could use. Thank you

[FlowerPower62]

Lovely. Wishy you both all the very best. Xx

[Blu37]

Lovely positive news wishing you both all the best for the future ,beautiful picture x

[Hidden]

What a heartwarming post! Thank you for that and lovely photo 🙂👍

[Butterfly28]

What a lovely picture and such positive news. Good luck with finding a new home together and all the best for the future.

[Teazymaid]

So lovely to hear of your partner’s improvements .. 👍

[BooSocks10]

What a lovely post! Good luck to you both for the future x

[HungryHufflepuff]

Thank you for sharing this uplifting news. Sending you both lots of good wishes 😊

[AngelLeBuff]

Huge love to you both Bobin! What a beautiful photograph! Lots of love xx

[Bigbird52]

Hi

Your post gives me such optimism. Thank you.

I am new to this forum - my sister, age 48, had a CVST stroke and meningitis at the start of June last year. She is still in a neuro rehab unit, but they are looking to discharge her within the next month, saying she has plateaued and unlikely to make any further recovery. Her communication is very difficult as whilst she understands everything you are saying and can mouth words to reply, she is unable to speak. She can at times though which gives us hope.

She is very impulsive with her mobility and requires the assistance of one when walking, so is in a wheelchair all day.

With 2 young children at home it would be our hopes to get her home when we can do so safely, but there are so many hurdles. The alternative of a care home seems heartbreaking.

Any words of experience would be very welcome.