Well, tonight Deb and I decided to treat ourselves to crayfish at the Old England Hotel and let Nicole and Cliff do the visiting. Well, it’s as though he doesn’t want us there because he decided in our absence to do his little tricks. That’s right. Scott does what he wants when he wants. The neurosurgeon came in coincidently at the time of Nicole’s
visit and asked her to give Scott a few commands. Scott accordingly responded in a way that gave the surgeon encouragement, who then stated that we just need to give him more time. So tonight we are back on the positive pills and looking forward to the coming days in a different light to earlier on. Fingers crossed we’ll experience a little more of these encouraging signs in the days ahead.
Regards,
Harris family
The hardest thing about being in a stable position at that point was that if another trauma patient came in, BOOM, straight down the list you went. In some cases, this was a blessing in disguise. In my case, it definitely was because it meant that a tracheotomy was delayed and eventually called off. If it wasn’t for the trauma that was going on in the world that day, I would be sporting a memorable scar on my throat that would remind me of something I wouldn’t even remember.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Hi all,
Today has been our best to date. When we arrived Scott was propped up in bed with the breathing tube removed. His eyes opened today for the first time and his responses were most promising e.g. he was asked to show us two fingers and he gave us the bird. To be serious though, the fact that the tracheotomy was put off on Friday has turned out
to be a bit of a godsend. Without the tube, he is breathing unaided and we hope that this will be sustained. We have now jumped the first hurdle and with any sort of luck, three to four days might see him out of ICU and off to a ward to commence rehabilitation. I guess tomorrow will confirm if his progress can be sustained. The stars are now beginning to align.
Regards,
Harris family
With the first seventeen days behind us, the next challenge for me was to start living again. The first step back into the game of life was to get me out of the ICU and down to a ward. At this time, the one thing that gave my family a positive vibe was the support from all around the world. First from my uncle, who was in the Philippines, and then my mate, who was travelling abroad in Mexico.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Hi guys,
It is so good to read of Scott’s continued progress. It will be a hard time for all. But you know he’s a fighter, I’m so happy that he knows what’s going on around him, all great signs. Rehab will work wonders.
Love to all,
Uncle John
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Hi all,
Housekeeping for you first. Scott has moved house. ICU decided that they did not want him any more and have packed him off to a ward. For those who have visited him at The Royal Melbourne ICU on Level 2, South West, you now stay in the lift and continue to the 7th floor. He now lives at Level 7, South West, bed 52. Visiting hours are different to that of ICU where we could all come and go at times that were most flexible. Now his visiting hours are 2–8 pm (strict).
Now for the update: He was moved today and is in a ward for orthopaedic patients. He was placed in a chair for the first time and this will become a four-hourly daily routine from now on. He has strong movement on his left side but at this stage minimal on his right. There is definite feeling in his right leg so we hope that this will repair over time. Tonight we asked him many questions and he responded with hand/finger movements. We asked him to smile and to our shock and amazement he responded accordingly. Tough cookie is this boy/ man. His eyes open but at this stage not fully. He can see us and has indicated this fact to us. Today he received a card from some friends. Deb told him and went to describe the card and read it to him. Deb described the front of the card as having an attractive nurse to which he responded by grabbing the card from her and holding it up in front of his face. What progress, eh?! All of this sounds great but it will continue to be a very slow journey.
When his condition improves a little more, he will be shifted to rehab but I’m thinking this is some way off yet. However, given his progress to date, perhaps sooner than later. If you have any questions, please feel free to email them to me and I’ll answer individually. At this stage these updates are travelling to all parts of the globe, with his mate Daniel Sneddon in Mexico and his Uncle John in the Philippines.
Regards,
Harris family
By this stage, the news of my accident had spread as far as England. Another two mates from school were enjoying a year abroad when they got wind of the trauma in Melbourne. They had heard about the group email and they wanted in.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Hi Vic,
This is Scott Clark, I’m not sure if you know me. I went to school with Scotty and have always been mates with him since our skateboarding days at Research Primary School. I had been seeing a bit of Scotty Harris in the lead up to me heading overseas indefinitely in June this year and when Daniel got on to me the other week I just couldn’t believe it, I was in absolute shock. I’m stepbrother with Daniel Sneddon and he’s been forwarding me your updates as I’ve been trying to keep as much up to date as I can with the situation. I have just started to live in London for the next year with another mate, Andrew Hughes, who went to school with Scotty also. We’ve both been really concerned about Scotty, I was just wondering if you would be kind enough to add Andrew and I to the updates if that was possible?
It must be such a hard time for all of you and its good news to read that he is gradually coming along ok. I’m thinking of Scotty everyday over here and hoping he is going to pull through all right – he’s a strong kid.
I hope everything is coming along ok Vic and our wishes to the family.
Kind Regards,
Scott Clark & Andrew Hughes
If I had known about the love and support of all the people in my life, I may have just thought twice about doing one more lap on the day that changed everything. By this stage, I was big news to a select few in Mexico, the Philippines, England and Australia. I would like to say I had celebrity status, but it was all for the wrong reasons.
Moving Into Rehab
You are now a lot more impatient in that you need things done straight away.
- BRETT HARRIS
On 10 December I was moved like a piece of valuable cargo from The Royal Melbourne Hospital to Epworth Rehabilitation in Camberwell. As it turned out, this became my home for the next six months. It was common knowledge by now that I had severe brain damage. I was taken to the Acquired Brain Injury Unit, which was the most serious part of the hospital. Most people who entered those gates had been in a serious accident, often involving a vehicle on the road.
By this stage it was becoming apparent to my immediate family that I might never gain the independence that is mandatory to being a grown up. But I was determined to give it all I had. If I was ever going to gain the ability to live an independent life again, this was the place to learn how – within the walls of Epworth Rehabilitation.