Category: Uncategorized

Mum had a wonderful Mother’s Day thanks to friends and family and not one but two outings over the weekend. Saturday morning was “preparation day” when Mum got a trip to the “House of Hair Removal”, otherwise known as the beautician. In my gift post I recommended against pedicure/manicures/hair removal because of Mum’s neuropathic pain…

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend. Mum’s bound to have a great day but, after putting some thought into the issue of gifts, I realised there are a lot of things that simply aren’t practical for someone who’s had a stroke. So I thought I’d get together this blog post to outline some gift ideas. These…

Mum had a quiet weekend after her lignocaine treatment this week; being understandably tired after five infusions of an anaesthetic. She does report pain reduction after the treatment but unfortunately the neuropathic pain hasn’t been completely eliminated. Considering the varied evidence on a lignocaine infusion’s efficacy that’s probably not surprising but it’s still a little disappointing. One…

There’s pain, damn pain and then there’s neuropathic pain. And who of us can tell which is worse. The problem with pain is that we still don’t entirely understand it: its causes; our experiences of it; and often how to treat it. All we know is that, if somebody is suffering from it, it can be seriously…

Mum had a very special Easter Sunday yesterday. SACU had approved a leave pass (or “parole”) for Mum; not just for Easter Sunday but also for her sister’s birthday. She was picked up by a taxi at 10:30am and went to Aunty Deirdre’s house for a Greek style lamb lunch. Mum, of course, loves lamb…

Mum is settled into SACU now and it’s been all go since she got there. The unit continues to work her intensively with physio, OT and speech. While it’s just speculation, I get the impression the new unit is enjoying the challenge of a severe-stroke patient and they’re trying every toy in their arsenal. Mum’s…

Firstly, I’d like to apologise for not being the most diligent blogger lately. It seems that “virus” I had a month ago did not actually go away but is lurking within, waiting to pounce the minute I get a little tired or run down. I woke up with a sore throat and swollen glands this…

As you know, Mum is in the brand spanking new Sub-acute Care Facility at the Townsville General Hospital. Her bed number is 42. Dad and I flew up here and are helping Mum settle in. She was obviously missing the routine of Prince Charles but is settling in now. She wants the world to know…

Mum has finally been transferred, this time with even less notice and more insanity than previously. I got a call at midday today that Mum’s flight was ready and the ambulance was leaving at 12:15. I pelted, once again hysterically and possibly hilariously, to the hospital in time to hear the words “short notice” and “reschedule” being…

Another lovely morning this morning when Mum’s friends Gail and Martin and my Great Aunt Elsie came up to the hospital for a Sunday morning tea/ lunch/ meal between morning tea and lunch. Thanks so much to Gail and Martin for bringing the nosh. It was lovely. We took Mum down to the café and…