Hamburg is really hot these day. We are probably only surviving this heat wave thanks to the really great care of our friends in the Schön Klinik, and especially a big fellow with a great heart! who keeps us going with a steady supply of water (and the occasional yoghurt:).

We are very close to become ‘certified’ in moving Pádraig out of his bed and into his wheelchair. We’ve done the theory, we watched, we did trials, and then the practicals. Now, we just need the ‘ok’ from the Chefarzt. Us taking over this task will allow the therapists to concentrate on stuff we’re (not yet:) so good at: tilt table, sitting up (with loads of support) on the bedside, and other cool things.

Pádraig is making really good progress: the speech valve is now a given, all day, from early morning to the time we leave at around 8pm. He continues to eat some tea spoons of pudding, yoghurt, and ice cream which he really seems to enjoy. His speech therapist has really done a great job and is pushing the issue along – our understanding is that he will, one day, just keep the speech valve around the clock, and if all of this works, eventually the tracheostomy will go. What a difference that will make!

What follows are some thoughts on Principle #1 for An Saol – Life with Severe Acquired Brain Injury. Let me know what you think, and what you believe the other principles should be!

Principle #1: Never Give Up
People with a severe acquired brain injury (ABI) often get an uncertain prognosis by their doctors. Imaging (CTs and MRIs) and EEGs only show the extend of the damage to the brain, but they don’t give certainty when estimating the chances of recovery. There is still a widely-held view amongst health professionals that the “brain heals itself” and that there is nothing they can do to support that healing process. In many cases, this leads to a situation where patients are just being ‘kept’ in an institution, often in an acute ward if their condition requires frequent medical intervention, or in a nursing home once they are physically stable. Staff in these institutions often have no or only very limited knowledge of the care and therapy required by these patients. Adequate and timely early neurological rehabilitation is not offered at all or only in very exceptional cases and for a limited amount of time. There are still echoes around of the ‘hospital for the incurables’ and in some countries, the medical profession is even discouraged to help these patients by their medical councils. – Parents, families and friends of patients with severe acquired brain injury do not share this view. They know better. They know based on their own experience that their brain injured loved ones never stop to get better. They know that their loved ones need all the support they can get on their journey to recovery. They cannot, they will not, and they have no reason to ever give up on those who need their support, energy, and positive outlook. And they need to be joined in their efforts by society who has a moral, ethical, and legal obligation to help those most in need.

Today’s Music Tip
Maya Saban, Das alles ändert nichts daran. Two really good looking young people wondering why they split up, given that they are really missing each other. Agreed. It’s hard to understand…:) Du fehlst mir!
What’s hot
Hospitals without air conditioning:)
What’s cold
Hospitals with air conditioning
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Nur wer gegen den Strom schwimmt, kommt an die Quelle.