Question: What led to the devastating state of the Romanian ‘orphan’ babies and young children? (You will remember the world-wide scandal some years ago, when they were found in a very bad metal and physical shape in several orphanages around Romania.)

Answer: Almost complete neglect and lack of meaningful stimuli. There brains were never challenged. They were left in cods on their own, receiving nothing but the most basic care.

Now, remember the discussion about whether it’s worthwhile providing therapy and neuro-rehab to patients with severe brain injuries? The thing about the lack of ‘return-on-investment’, the idea that treatment would be ‘wasted’ on these patients because ‘the brain heals itself‘ and that there was nothing you can do to support this healing process?

Here is an idea. A very lay-person-kind-of-an-idea. An idea that medical consultants, health economists and politicians should therefore find very easy to understand. No scientific study needed, no professors required.

If you leave someone without stimuli; if you leave them on their own; without regular and meaningful physical or mental stimulation; looking at the ceiling above them for hours, days, weeks, months, or years; if you don’t get them onto their feet; if you don’t talk to them; if you leave them on their own – THEIR BRAIN WILL DIE, not heal itself. Whatever potential for healing there is will disappear, go to sleep forever, shut down and stay shut down. In the best of circumstances, I would call that neglect, especially if you knowingly permit those abandoned to get physically and mentally injured (think bed sores, think dropped feet, think dislocated shoulders, think acquired spasticity, think …).

Yesterday, they took out what is standard procedure in an ICU: an IV entry, just in case they needed it. It was always in the way if you wanted to move Pádraig, and it was just another one of these ‘entry point’ we wanted to get rid of. He is stable enough now so it is no longer required.

It is really great to see how the nurses we have met so far on the new ward deal with Pádraig as a person – someone who understands, has opinions (they don’t know half of it), can communicate.

Here’s is another first: Up to just a few days ago, Pádraig was on a constant water and “Sondennahrung” (liquid food) drip. Day and night, water and nutrition was dripping nonstop into his stomach. Can you imagine the feeling? Not only would you forget how to chew and swallow food (even if you, theoretically, could do it), but you would forget how it feels to be thirsty or hungry. So, after more than a year – MORE THAN A YEAR – they stopped the liquid food during the night and they are not giving him water via the drip anymore at all, at all (with few exceptions), but via the PEG in larger amounts directly into the stomach. Another big step towards a bit of normality.

Pádraig also got a new physio who is doing magic stuff with him. One nurse described Pádraig’s reaction to this treatments as ‘bombastisch’! Pat told me ‘you have to see what he is doing to believe it’ – I can’t wait!

Please: keep voting for Hospi-tales on http://www.blogawardsireland.com/best-blog-post-2014/ – it’s still in an amazing 4th place, but you have to keep voting as often as you can (and ask your family, friends, enemies, and colleagues to do so as well) to keep it there or even improve it’s position!

Finally – if you are into sea swimming, don’t forget the brilliant fundraiser, the Sea Swim for Pádraig on 06 September!

Today’s German Music Tip
Adel Tawil, Zuhause (July 2014). – Zuhaus ist da, wo Deine Freunde sind…
What’s hot
Getting rid of entry points
What’s cold
Smoke screens set by the ‘experts’
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Bombastisch