Hello again,
Nothing but good news happening with Chris these days, he floored all of us by hitting a 100% while working with the speech therapist. Questions ranged from simple pictures then to words, then onto phrases, then sentences and questions that required some form of calculation.
Even for me it left me in tears and I am the one that requires proof before getting too excited.
Along with all of this I picked up his TV on Monday and installed it on the wall so the angles now are good for him from any side or distance, made sure we got all the right connections so as to attach the computer and other forms of technical support that will help us to communicate more effectively and at a quicker pace. Physio sessions were great as well Chris responds quicker and uses visual targets to answer questions. We are now working to strengthen his muscles that he needs to use while sitting and interacting; this in turn is working with the speech therapist in her quest to find the right tools to use. The OT has brought in a lady from GF Strong to assess what Chris needs in the way of switches or tools to interact in his environment.
It has been a struggle to arrange for the equipment needed but special thanks to Sheila at Mr. Doig’s office we have been able to get the things we need and in place so they work until I can get it together with the equipment we need for the future.
Heather you have a very special place in Chris’ and my hearts, I can not begin to thank you. You know I credit a lot to you and your determination, your passion and drive in making others see what only I thought I could see. This page is not long enough to go on thanking everyone, Anthony for all the quirky gadgets Graham and Laurie for the evening shifts when Chris started moving and communication with his fingers and no one wanted to believe them, their determination to show the others it was happening, all of the nurses and aides that cared so much from the heart for Chris when it became much more than just a job.
To all the staff from administration to education to Rec-therapy thank you for the magical time of transformation that we were given there with you, for listening to me over and over and believing in my determination to make a difference in this area of brain injury. Our fight is not yet over but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
To Doctors “R” and “G” thank you for the chance and the open door to change, without that chance I am afraid I would have failed in this journey as no one in this province will listen or seems to care.
Larry the support and encouragement and you always being there when I needed that extra push or paper completed, will always be remembered, I am even more determined to make people open their eyes and see the injustice that has been brain injury up until now, every life is worth fighting for people just don’t know how to.
Now that I am home it is still a battle, but showing others the things I learned while there with Chris have enabled me to enlighten other caregivers and therapists on how and why “you never say never”!
I must add here that the therapist and care workers we have working with us are fantastic I will not go as far to say better than Ponoka that will never happen, but they have come in with open ears and understanding mostly not being influenced by word of mouth and misdirection. They are very special people that have those same qualities as those in Ponoka, it really has to stem from experience and a way of believing in something. Just wanted to be clear that good therapists and people are every where you just have to open your eyes and not take what is given, always ask questions and ensure that those you are trusting your future with are people you can believe in and trust yourself.
Maybe one day soon we will carry that message clearly, and in a way that the politicians that hold access to the funds to create that change can understand!
This is such an exciting time, thank you all for sharing your time, thoughts and support. If I need your backing and support in the future to make changes or to rally for more for the disabled I know I can count on you, and really in crazy times like this who could ask for any more than to have a great bunch of friends, supporters and believers that know that one person can make change, albeit a slow one. Chris and I will keep the push on making people who are accountable, accountable and those who control funds that will effect the changes needed for people who can not speak for themselves.
Thank you all,
Kevin and Dr. Christopher Bigelow
Updates twice a week or as needed.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
June 1, 2010
Hi,
Welcome to June 2010. Chris' therapies are going great new ideas and things to try are getting him more into the therapy than I thought possible this soon after returning home. Finding the right therapists after having the best in Ponoka was a chore but we have come close and Chris is making up lost ground because of the unorganized and hastily, unorganized and poorly arranged transfer back home.
G.F. Strong is lending us some environmental controls and helping us to get this rolling, speech is working on Chris' swallowing and taste as well as trying to use the controls once in place. Physio has some great ideas and really is excited to work with Chris and it shows in Chris' responsiveness to her and his participation in all of his sessions.
Anyone who can say that rehab does not help after a certain amount of time has obviously been misinformed and not educated enough to make decisions or in fact has never worked with brain injured people in a productive way. Always looking to decrease therapy for anyone is a no brainer as we all know as things get better and stronger the need for therapy increases and never decreases.
I think a debate on TV with some of Fraser Health’s officials and or people from the Ministry of Health would be quite enlightening either in showing the shallow depth of training or that in fact its the dollar that rules all and not the injured person's best interest at all. Perhaps some day in the future we will be able to see the benefit to people, society, family and the reduced burden on health care by increasing therapy, making people better and stronger and not draining the all so precious health dollars.
I will have to keep a close eye on the people at Fraser Health and the Health Ministry as I know their intentions were anything but what has turned out. They have been doing what is needed as I have requested with a little pressure.
I will be paying attention to every detail and request made by anybody that has any thing to do with Chris' recovery detail, documenting it all, as a lot of people do not see things with clear glasses or take each case on its own merit and will always be trying to sabotage the efforts I have worked years for.
The buttons you talk of being pushed are still there waiting, in fact over loading. As I see it you have to have enough damming evidence to make your point hard and clear, but I hope I never will have to. Moving forward in a positive environment for Chris and other individuals with a brain injury is the most important thing at this time as long as we have this and the cause for brain injury moves forward each day, I am happy and we all should be. I will keep you all informed if the train starts rolling off the track. All of you that read and pass along the information regarding Chris, and the injustices done or tried play such an enormous roll to help to make those responsible for rehab accountable, you all have become a big part in what has become some what of a movement and we will move on.
Thank you to all the Doctors, Nurses,Aides, support staff, BC health workers, Alberta health workers, health workers in the rest of this country who have written in support, all of Chris' family, friends as well as the many, many, people from BC, Alberta and the rest of Canada who have become a part of our support group, this includes all of the great people from Ponoka for being so dedicated, professional and just plain human beings with big hearts that really care. If only I could instil just a bit of this into our health system here what a different world we would have.
There will be “Dr. Christopher Adam Bigelow Society for Brain Injury” shirts available very soon I will post the details when they are available. All proceeds will go directly to the Society.
Thank you all again so much for the support, concern, caring and love you send. I share it all with Chris and he is aware of all that is going on around him and of the tremendous amount of support out there. He shows it every day by fighting against all odds that makes him that human being we all grew to love and respect.
Bye for now,
Kevin
Welcome to June 2010. Chris' therapies are going great new ideas and things to try are getting him more into the therapy than I thought possible this soon after returning home. Finding the right therapists after having the best in Ponoka was a chore but we have come close and Chris is making up lost ground because of the unorganized and hastily, unorganized and poorly arranged transfer back home.
G.F. Strong is lending us some environmental controls and helping us to get this rolling, speech is working on Chris' swallowing and taste as well as trying to use the controls once in place. Physio has some great ideas and really is excited to work with Chris and it shows in Chris' responsiveness to her and his participation in all of his sessions.
Anyone who can say that rehab does not help after a certain amount of time has obviously been misinformed and not educated enough to make decisions or in fact has never worked with brain injured people in a productive way. Always looking to decrease therapy for anyone is a no brainer as we all know as things get better and stronger the need for therapy increases and never decreases.
I think a debate on TV with some of Fraser Health’s officials and or people from the Ministry of Health would be quite enlightening either in showing the shallow depth of training or that in fact its the dollar that rules all and not the injured person's best interest at all. Perhaps some day in the future we will be able to see the benefit to people, society, family and the reduced burden on health care by increasing therapy, making people better and stronger and not draining the all so precious health dollars.
I will have to keep a close eye on the people at Fraser Health and the Health Ministry as I know their intentions were anything but what has turned out. They have been doing what is needed as I have requested with a little pressure.
I will be paying attention to every detail and request made by anybody that has any thing to do with Chris' recovery detail, documenting it all, as a lot of people do not see things with clear glasses or take each case on its own merit and will always be trying to sabotage the efforts I have worked years for.
The buttons you talk of being pushed are still there waiting, in fact over loading. As I see it you have to have enough damming evidence to make your point hard and clear, but I hope I never will have to. Moving forward in a positive environment for Chris and other individuals with a brain injury is the most important thing at this time as long as we have this and the cause for brain injury moves forward each day, I am happy and we all should be. I will keep you all informed if the train starts rolling off the track. All of you that read and pass along the information regarding Chris, and the injustices done or tried play such an enormous roll to help to make those responsible for rehab accountable, you all have become a big part in what has become some what of a movement and we will move on.
Thank you to all the Doctors, Nurses,Aides, support staff, BC health workers, Alberta health workers, health workers in the rest of this country who have written in support, all of Chris' family, friends as well as the many, many, people from BC, Alberta and the rest of Canada who have become a part of our support group, this includes all of the great people from Ponoka for being so dedicated, professional and just plain human beings with big hearts that really care. If only I could instil just a bit of this into our health system here what a different world we would have.
There will be “Dr. Christopher Adam Bigelow Society for Brain Injury” shirts available very soon I will post the details when they are available. All proceeds will go directly to the Society.
Thank you all again so much for the support, concern, caring and love you send. I share it all with Chris and he is aware of all that is going on around him and of the tremendous amount of support out there. He shows it every day by fighting against all odds that makes him that human being we all grew to love and respect.
Bye for now,
Kevin
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