Progress this year shows Emily blossom into post trauma independence and I celebrate !

Today is the anniversary of my 1st blog. I thought it fitting to reflect on the year; Emily’s progress, the subtle changes that experience has delivered to Emily and me, the evolution of our separate short and long-term goals.

Emily has progressed enormously as when catastrophe strikes the individual has to psychologically address their physical change, accept their trauma, devise coping strategies and reassess their short and long-term goals. It’s the individuals journey through their own mental and physical injury towards healing.

I had my own journey overcoming parallel issues to Emily but as her carer, her mother. I could assist her in the recovery process but only she could write the agenda, she set the goals, I expedited her aspirations, I eased her hike to health by sharing the administrative burden.

My part in my daughter’s recovery was always transient, I had to subtly withdraw because her life’s course is her own, her ability to have a full, productive, active life is inherently personal and driven solely by Emily. The greatest dis-service to a person with a disability is quashing their independence. I revel in Emily’s growing confidence, her  post trauma personal development, her objective growth. Her emotional and psychological resilience addressing change; change in her appearance, her relationships, her social life and her altered ambitions.

I have distanced myself gradually because we are not living a shared life. I have my own inclinations which I have to pursuit. I was delighted to spend twelve days in Barcelona recently, leaving Emily alone. I left for Europe secure in the knowledge that Emily was competent, assertive and informed in all aspects of her need. The dynamics of our relationship have always centered on nurturing Emily towards physical, emotional and social independence – my time away consolidated Emily’s adaptation, independence and well-being.

I celebrate this past year as Emily has managed her stressful transition from rehabilitation to home, from patient to student, from reliant to independence. She has shown mature insight as she set achievable goals,  she has mastered new skills within safe environments, she manages care delivery and student demands gently which engenders strong working relationships.

I have gained enormously witnessing Emily’s graceful, educated yet assertive approach to life so it is a delight to report on her ability, her strength of character, she shows good humor and love everyday – no ounce of dissatisfaction, anger or belligerence.

Traumatic injury is heartbreaking but with time, care and resources individuals and families can recover. The recent breakthrough in cell transplantation and the success of epidural stimulation treatments engenders great hope for the future. Although research and development fosters hope we must take care to live now.  That is my message one year on; that Emily is living, she’s back at University, she’s on the bus, she’s back up at the bar ordering a cocktail, she’s travelled in Australia and Asia and she’s independent.

 

One year on I can proudly report that Emily teaches me everyday caring!

Twelve months on Beastie is the singular unchanged being. She remains active, hungry and completely devoted !

 

Science is to SCI what Picasso and Gaudi were to art and architecture – inspired!

I was in Barcelona recently at the Picasso museum, impressed by this revolutionary artist. He experimented with ideas and design, colour and shapes. He altered our perception of objects and our interpretation of faces and bodies. He had the original thought that comes to geniuses.He reinvented art and it’s form.

 

I loved Gaudi’s interpretation of design and architecture, very tangent to the thinking at the time. It made me think about medical research and the science that needs to be encouraged to overcome Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). To understand the complexities of the central nervous system will take an outside the box brain. To piece the medical minutia together to be able to rectify severe spinal cord trauma will be phenomenal yet fundamentally life changing for quadriplegics and paraplegics worldwide.

 

I view the revolution in art and the progress in architecture just like modern-day medical development. It must be encouraged and funded as sooner or later some genius will understand the complex structure and treatment for traumatic SCI. We have to have faith in the talented and encourage their thoughts, develop their ideas as they are our future.

Just as I was about the publish my piece above….. the news exploded with: Man With Severed Spinal Cord Walks Again After Cell Transplant. 

The man paralyzed for two years is walking again, albeit with a frame, after a transplant to his spine. The treatment, to be published in this month’s Cell Transplantation, has been under discussion for a while, but has only now shown success.

Olfactory ensheathing glia (OEGs) surround olfactory axons, the nerve fibers that conduct electrical charges from the nose to the brain to allow us to smell. What makes them of interest to spinal patients is that OEGs maintain their capacity to promote new neurons into adulthood.  These neurons usually survive just six to eight weeks, and require constant replacement if we are not to lose our sense of smell. OEGs keep forming paths for new receptor neurons to transmit their messages.

This capacity for regrowth has inspired spinal researchers frustrated by the fact that the mammalian central nervous system does not regenerate axons. The idea is that if OEGs are transplanted into the spinal cord at the point of injury, damaged axons will start to restore themselves.

Mr. Fidyka was selected as the subject for the OEG transplant trial, a joint operation between University College London and Wroclaw University Hospital, Poland. Cells from one of his olfactory bulbs were cultured for two weeks before being transplanted through 100 micro-injections around the scar site.

BBC TV current affairs program Panorama was invited to film his response to the treatment. At first, despite five hours of exercise, five times a week, Fidyka showed no response, but at the three-month mark he noticed that his left thigh was putting on muscle. After six months he was able to take faltering steps with the assistance of leg braces and parallel bars. 

University College’s Professor Geoff Raisman, who discovered OEGs, described Fidyka’s small steps as “more impressive than man walking on the Moon.”             Adapted from Stephen Luntz report.  

My mind is dwarfed by this inspired cell transplantation research, development and implementation. As I drifted around Barcelona musing on art and architecture, musing on original and unique human ideas and interpretation  – advanced medical progress was actually happening across the world in Poland. I am delighted, amazed and hopeful – this medical success story could change the future for SCI wheelchair users !

 

Barcelona’s Gaudi – Inspired by faith