He is a well-known patient on the paediatric neurology ward. The nurses love him and the doctors pity him. When I entered his room, I was overwhelmed by the get-well cards and messages from his loved ones. They covered the walls from top to bottom. His cycling gear hung around his bed like mobiles, trophies of the past and motivators of the present. He was a bright, cheerful 16 year-old. Only son to his aging parents. Well-loved by his schoolmates and family. Not only was he tremendously active in sports, he was good in it too. He frequetly competed in cycling tournaments, triathlons and was an accomplished gymnast and swimmer. His future shone bright with joy and promise.
Until that horrific accident.
He was competing in a cycling tournament. He was sprinting towards the finish line. There was a pile up in front and somehow collided. He was thrown over the protective fence and his head hit a light pole. Many people don't really appreciate what really happens when one experiences an injury like that. It's not just broken bones and months in hospital. Brain injury is very frightening indeed.
He suffered a fractured base of skull, depressed fracture on another side of the skull, fractured face, jaw and leg. Suffice to say he was in critical condition and spent weeks in ICU. Surgeons managed to fix the fractures, but his brain was massively injured from all the bleeding. There is a hole in his brainstem. It's a miracle that he survived. Although his tracheostomy is finally out, his condition is in laymen's terms, a 'vegetable'. There is no voluntary movement of his limbs at all, he can only move his left eye ever so slightly, he can't even open his mouth or utter a word. He is fed via a tube into his stomach (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy - PEG) His muscles have all but atrophied. It's difficult to say whether he's still 'in there'. It has been difficult to establish means of communication. The day I saw him, his father managed to get him to blink once for "yes" for the first time. It will take time before he can really be sure it's for real.
Taking the history from his parents was painful. 2 minutes into the conversation the mum broke down in tears. The father did too soon after. As I glanced again at the wall of cards, I could feel my heart breaking too. I kept my examination brief. Tried to get him to blink. Couldn't really tell if it was a real response. But I had this weird, frightening feeling. As if he was trapped in his own body and screaming to get out.
I'm sorry if I'm biased. I can't feel the same sadness for the 60 year-old bloke who drank and smoked his lungs away. This was someone who didn't deserve this. Why him? Then again, I'm looking at only one. Millions around the world. They suffer needlessly too. Life has never been fair in the first place. But it still hurts to see this happen.
My heart goes out to his parents. They have shown such resilience. As his father said: "It's difficult, but what can we do? We have to continue living." Though nothing will ever quell their pain and sorrow. Makes us feel so helpless as healthcare professionals. Hopefully the small improvements recently will continue to grow. I really do pray he'll recover at least some function eventually.
Guys, rejoice in life and love with all your heart. Be grateful for all that you have. You never know when it will disappear.
Until that horrific accident.
He was competing in a cycling tournament. He was sprinting towards the finish line. There was a pile up in front and somehow collided. He was thrown over the protective fence and his head hit a light pole. Many people don't really appreciate what really happens when one experiences an injury like that. It's not just broken bones and months in hospital. Brain injury is very frightening indeed.
He suffered a fractured base of skull, depressed fracture on another side of the skull, fractured face, jaw and leg. Suffice to say he was in critical condition and spent weeks in ICU. Surgeons managed to fix the fractures, but his brain was massively injured from all the bleeding. There is a hole in his brainstem. It's a miracle that he survived. Although his tracheostomy is finally out, his condition is in laymen's terms, a 'vegetable'. There is no voluntary movement of his limbs at all, he can only move his left eye ever so slightly, he can't even open his mouth or utter a word. He is fed via a tube into his stomach (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy - PEG) His muscles have all but atrophied. It's difficult to say whether he's still 'in there'. It has been difficult to establish means of communication. The day I saw him, his father managed to get him to blink once for "yes" for the first time. It will take time before he can really be sure it's for real.
Taking the history from his parents was painful. 2 minutes into the conversation the mum broke down in tears. The father did too soon after. As I glanced again at the wall of cards, I could feel my heart breaking too. I kept my examination brief. Tried to get him to blink. Couldn't really tell if it was a real response. But I had this weird, frightening feeling. As if he was trapped in his own body and screaming to get out.
I'm sorry if I'm biased. I can't feel the same sadness for the 60 year-old bloke who drank and smoked his lungs away. This was someone who didn't deserve this. Why him? Then again, I'm looking at only one. Millions around the world. They suffer needlessly too. Life has never been fair in the first place. But it still hurts to see this happen.
My heart goes out to his parents. They have shown such resilience. As his father said: "It's difficult, but what can we do? We have to continue living." Though nothing will ever quell their pain and sorrow. Makes us feel so helpless as healthcare professionals. Hopefully the small improvements recently will continue to grow. I really do pray he'll recover at least some function eventually.
Guys, rejoice in life and love with all your heart. Be grateful for all that you have. You never know when it will disappear.
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