June boinger bash father in law update

[Craig-P]

Dear Lord Craig, I've only just read this.

I don't honestly know if sharing this with you will help or not but as I filled with tears reading your initial post it did bring back this story ...

Several years back my brother was in a car accident. No one really knows what happened. No other car involved. He lost control at 30mph in the middle of town and hit a lamppost. Minimal damage to car and not a mark on my brother. First people to get to him said he seemed confused. He was taken to hospital, still confused, and was put in an induced coma and sent to Intensive Care. Scans showed multiple bleeds in his brain. I was told that he may just wake up when they take him off sedation and ask for a cup of tea ... but be prepared for the fact that the neuros expect him to be vegetative state. They tried a few times to wake him up but he just started fitting and they put him back into a coma. After a week they were struggling to keep his oxygen levels up and further tests revealed that a 'superbug' had destroyed parts of his heart and lungs. He was taken off life support and allowed to go.

The zombified state that you go through during that time whilst family are constantly at the hospital, being there for each other and hanging on to hopes of miracles, can only be known to those that have experienced it. One minute you are cracking jokes and things are almost normal, and the next grasping onto a loved one desperate for support as that ice cold wave hits you again.

You are in my thoughts matey and I'll pray for strength for all of you.

Col, I’m so sorry to hear of your brothers’ accident. I now know what you’ve experienced and understand that words are impossible to find. You’ve absolutely nailed it there with your explaination, mate.
One minute we’re laughing at his quirks, the next we’re in floods as we ask how this has happened. And with no ‘end’ in sight, it’s draining to say the least. We honestly don’t know what to feel or to expect next.
He came to our place at 7am on the morning of the accident to borrow my chainsaw. We had a quick chat about the little’un not sleeping well just lately (he was always asking about the well being of everyone else), agreed to meet up over the weekend for some shooting and off he went. Never did I think that would be the last I’d see of him.
I’ve lived through the deaths of the vast majority of my own family (my own dad was only 49 when he passed, my uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers etc passing quickly afterwards in what was an awful period of my life) but never have I had to deal with such an awful ongoing grief like this. I thought these were bizarre things, that people read about in dusty magazines in waiting rooms, that happen to somebody else, miles away.
All I can say is love your loved ones like there’s no tomorrow as these things genuinely do happen.
Take care bud, Craig.

[TonyL]

So sorry to hear of your harrowing tale, Col.

And continuing prayers and love to Craig and the family. Constantly in our thoughts.

[TonyL]

And again, Craig.

How you holding up, brother?

[Craig-P]

And again, Craig.

How you holding up, brother?

Hello mate.
Day by day to be honest. Sarah’s not too good so I’m trying to juggle all the bits and pieces whilst keeping busy so as to occupy my own head.
John remains in a vegetative state and hasn’t improved. Surgeons found another aneurysm on his brain which is causing pressure/fluid increase and also obviously poses the threat of bursting. With this addressed he’ll not only be out of the danger area of another brain bleed but should, theoretically, recover to a higher degree. Then if he has the capacity and desire, can inform the powers that be that he wants their care withdrawn.
He’s been booked in this morning for what we’ve been told is a very serious operation and should there be any problem, they won’t resuscitate. So we’re going to be a bit anxious over the next few hours and will be waiting for a call.
I’ll update you later on, mate.
Very best, Craig and family.

[TonyL]

I really have no words, mate, and they'd only be scant consolation.

Just be assured that there are lots of people thinking of you all.

Love, Tone, Family and all the Boingerfolk and good people of the BBS.

[TonyL]

How are you doing, Craig? xxxxxx

[Craig-P]

Hello Tone,
Still hour by hour to be honest, mate. John has recovered a degree of consciousness but nothing approaching ‘awake’, his eyes are focussing and he’s responding to different sights for a few minutes, and that’s the extent of it. We’re just dreading him realising the extent of his injuries - so every phone call makes our hearts skip beats.
We keep having to attend meetings concerning his future care so we’re unable to have anything like a lifestyle - but we’re glad of kind messages and nearby mates who we can grab an hours’ company with for a change of scenery.
We can’t make plans for his future care before surgeons can ascertain his level of recovery. We/Sarah can’t ask for power of attorney to handle his affairs until his level of recovery is ascertained. We can’t really do much except wait and it can be agonising at times.
But he’s in the best place with wonderful people looking after him and that’s all we keep telling ourselves. I know you’ve sadly had the same experience so know all too well of the limbo state and how simple acts of kindness and thoughtfulness ( such as this ), make all the difference.
So thanks again all x

[rhyslightnin]

Hello mate.
Day by day to be honest. Sarah’s not too good so I’m trying to juggle all the bits and pieces whilst keeping busy so as to occupy my own head.
John remains in a vegetative state and hasn’t improved. Surgeons found another aneurysm on his brain which is causing pressure/fluid increase and also obviously poses the threat of bursting. With this addressed he’ll not only be out of the danger area of another brain bleed but should, theoretically, recover to a higher degree. Then if he has the capacity and desire, can inform the powers that be that he wants their care withdrawn.
He’s been booked in this morning for what we’ve been told is a very serious operation and should there be any problem, they won’t resuscitate. So we’re going to be a bit anxious over the next few hours and will be waiting for a call.
I’ll update you later on, mate.
Very best, Craig and family.

❤.....