Voice Back and Eating

Family and Friends,

The speech and swallow therapy worked :-)  Maurice started on pureed food this weekend, he is not impressed with it but another step in the right direction of his journey back.  Also, his voice is back, he has been used to signalling with his hand so try to get him to talk, only 1 or 2 words at a time but he can talk. 

Food or liquid with a little texture is better for him, no water or juice as he may choke on it.  Anyone willing to assist with lunch or dinner time please let the family know. 

Maurice still does not have the strength to move his left side but he does have feeling, most times it is painful.  He is getting therapy for this also.

Maurice is on the 4th floor - Cooper Ward.  It is a great time for Maurice to start getting visitors.  Please pray with him, offer positive thoughts, happy stories etc.

Thanks again for all the support, remember this will be a long journey.

Love you lots

Marcia

Thursday - June 9 Maurice is back on the mend

Family and Friends,

Maurice is slowly getting better again.  I know a few have been to see him and were discouraged, remember Maurice needs us to optimistic and show him love and support. 

He is out of ICU and on Cooper Ward now, 4th floor.

Maurice is trying to speak again, 1-2 words at a time but again success, an emotional roller coaster with a positive outcome to come.

He is having swallow and speech therapy, physical therapy and the medical teams are always positive.

Keep praying, thanks for the support.

Lots of love

Monday - May 16, Please accept my apologies

Family and Friends,

I have been overwhelmed with keeping up the blog, going to see Maurice, keeping the balance of comforting him, family, finances and work.

I know some have used this to keep up on Maurice's journey and to continue to send the prayers and support.  Please accept my apologies.

Maurice was doing so well and almost 3 weeks ago he caught MRSA and had to be put in a isolated room.  This is something that occurs within the Wards unfortunately.  Maurice has relapsed now.  As of yesterday his Dr felt it best for him to go back to ICU as he has infection and also problems with breathing.

The family have a meeting with the medical and clinical team on Friday.  I will definitely update after.

Thanks again for all the support, I am so happy for life but the acceptance of the long journey is taking its toll.

Lots of Love

Marcia and Family

April 12 - 2 steps forward 3 steps back

Family and Friends,

I am sorry for not updating more often.  I had great news to share and had incident with laptop so will have to update from work.

I will start with the GOOD NEWS.

On Thursday the therapy team had Maurice in the gym.  For the first time he was haulsted up to his feet slowly, they will be working on his posture and strength to eventually stand.  He favours his right side when looking so he needs to be reminded to look to the left.  They had coloured cones that he needed to move from the right stack to the left stack, this took much concentration for Maurice.

Maurice is feeling pain in his left side.  This is great news because it means he can feel, so there is hope.

Also, as he was being wheel chaired back to the Ward, his therapist took him outside.  It was such a beautiful Bermudaful day.  First time outside since the incident, can you believe 2 months ago.

The NOT so GOOD NEWS.

Maurice seemed like he was catching something over the weekend, we are waiting for test results but he sounds like he may have the flu, chest infection etc.  :-( 

Keep praying, we appreciate it.

Lots of Love

Sunday - April 3: Maurice is encouraged

Family and Friends,

Maurice is off the oxygen and been handling very well so it is official, he can get the trach tube out of his throat, sometime this week.

Maurice has been talking more and more, at times it is hard to understand but he is communicating and understands what is going on.  The prayers, support and love are amazing, God is good, thank you so much.  We are thankful.

When you are visiting, the therapy team have requested we try to be on his left side to get Maurice to become more aware and to try look over to his left.  We know Maurice can see but it is unsure how far from mid-line to his left.  He definitely is able to focus more.

We have to remember he came from may not survive to day to day, strength to strength, getting better, miracles do happen.

As soon as the trach is out of his throat I would think Maurice would be happy to see all family and friends.  He does still get tired quickly, we have to remember the importance of sleep for his recovery.  It is still a long road but Maurice is fighting.  Continue to encourage him.

Note - He is back from Boston, out of ICU and now on Curtis Ward.

Lots of Love

Thank God - Maurice's words

Family and Friends,

Maurice is saying a few words which you are able to understand.  And he notices you and calls a few by name now.  Another wow moment.  His eyes were more focused and clear today.

I said 'Maurice you are getting better, a little stronger every day' and he responded Thank God.  How amazing is that.

He does still have the trach in his throat, the Medical team is saying it will come out this week.

Blessings....... We have to be appreciative and very thankful for the blessings we receive daily.  Life is one of those blessings.

Lots of Love

Maurice's family

Thursday - March 24, Maurice's sad reaction

Family and Friends,

Please continue with the prayers and support.  I believe because Maurice is getting better, his understanding and remembering has made him react in a sad, emotional way.

I am sure this is frustrating for him and so this week he has struggled with not being able to communicate and tell us what he is thinking.

Please send positive thoughts for Maurice to get through this without guilt but determination to get better and appreciation of life.

With Love

Sunday - March 20: Looking Good

Family and Friends,

Maurice is looking good, shaved and now haircut, his looking himself again, you know how he likes to look good :-)

Maurice is getting great control with his right side, he waved goodbye today.

I have seen the old Maurice in different ways this week.  He has a gesture of the way he touches his face, he does this often, he looks like his trying to hug and tickle and then the waving goodbye.  :-)  He definitely is fighting this.

Good news for this upcoming week, they may take the trach out of his throat.  Continue the prayers and let us hope the next big wow moment will be his 1st word(s).

Lots of Love

His Family

Tues - March 15, Great News

Family and Friends,

We have another hallelujah moment :-)

Maurice has been transferred to Curtis Ward and doing well.

As you know, his left side has been unresponsive well today he moved his LEFT LEG, Praise the Lord.  Wonderful, amazing, shocking, tears of happiness.  Again the power of prayers and support.

Thanks to his medical team, especially the therapy team.

Thank you thank you thank you.

Sun - March 13, A Wowsa Moment

Family and Friends,

Today we had a wowsa moment.

Maurice squeezed Mechele's (daughter) hand, she took her ring off and put it into her pocket.  Maurice went into her pocket took it out, felt it, then put it back in her pocket.  AMAZING, what a special happy moment.  I knew he was getting a little stronger every day but this was proof.  15 minutes later he was sound asleep.

Maurice is fighting and all the prayers are working.  He was told to continue to repeat 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' Philippians 4:13

His right wrist is strapped to the rail because Maurice continues to pull the cord from his throat, so this is for his own protection.

The family would like to ask if you visit Maurice to not stay more than 15 minutes at a time and if he is sleep, please do not wake him.  The power of sleep is very important to his recovery.

Lots of love

Sat - March 12 - Every day he gets stronger

Family and Friends,

There hasn't been much change, but every day he gets stronger which is important.

Maurice is almost looking his regular size now, Dialysis has been very helpful.

He had to go OR (Operating Room) The Medical Team changed what is needed for Dialysis on the other side of his chest.

There is a chair in the corner of the hospital ICU room and I queried if he sits in it, the Nurse said yes, he had a couple times that week for an hour or two.  I think that is amazing.  They strap him in to be supported which is great therapy for him.

I am trying to plan a Family & Friend Circle of Prayer event for Maurice, at the moment I am aiming for April 2.  I will keep you updated.

Lots of Love

Maurice's Family

Tues - March 8, Dialysis

Good day,

Maurice had a shave today, his female RN did a great job :-)  Her colleagues teased her that if Nursing didn't work out she could do shave men's faces, lol/laugh out loud.

Maurice received Dialysis again today.  I was told it is on a current rotating schedule.  One day is getting the toxins out of his body and the next is just taking out additional fluids.

Maurice's face has gone down lots, his hands and legs are still a little swollen. 

Overall today was a good day and Maurice is pressure is low (for him).

Thank you for the continued prayers and support.

Mon - March 7, Maurice had a Busy day

Family and Friends,

Maurice must have known it was going to be a busy day, that is why he slept all day yesterday :-)

The medical teams have started to discuss long term care.

Maurice had the occupational therapist and the speech specialist see him today.  And he had Dialysis, what a day.

Maurice definitely seems like he wants to speak.  Continue the prayers on Maurice getting stronger day to day and being able to receive the therapy and support he receives.

Thank you for the continued prayers for Maurice, please keep his children and family in your prayers for the strength to get through this also.

Sun - Maurice is getting much needed rest

Family and Friends,

All the calls, texts, bb's, voicenotes, voicemails, emails are received with love, we thank you.  We may not always answer, it is not because we are not appreciative, we are overjoyed with the support but also overwhelmed.

Maurice is looking better but very tired, he slept most of today.  His pressure went high again early this morning and they put him back on the ventilator to assist with breathing.  They only expect to have him on it for the day.

He also received dialysis which seems to make him more tired.

I will continue to update every other day at the moment.

Lots of love and heart warmth thanks.

Fri - March 4 - Maurice is staying strong

Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for all the love and support.

We have been waiting for Maurice to get strong enough to come home and that happened last night.  Maurico came back with his dad via air ambulance.  Maurice is in Bermuda, back in ICU. 

At this time we are asking that NO one go to see him.  We apology to all but we have to protect Maurice and make sure he is stable enough.  At times he gets excited and his pressure will go up, so less visiting and more prayers.  Once he is able to be off out of ICU we will discuss visiting and what is best going forward.

Maurice is breathing on his own and needs all the energy he has to get better right now.

His parents visited him tonight and think he looks good.  The swelling has gone down a lot.

Maurice definitely seems like he wants to talk to us, there are very small movements that makes it seem like he is responding to us.  He moves his head side to side when looking and it seems like he is really trying to concentrate on focusing now.

Maurice is NOT talking.  He is still unresponsive on the left side but getting a little stronger on his right.

Next week we will start discussing long term rehab.

Thanks for the support during Maurice's Journey back to us, it is going to be a long journey but we are keeping hope and continuing the prayers.

Lots of Love

Maurice's family

Note - Yes, I will continue to keep the blog going, this is a long journey and we know we have family and friends overseas that are praying and sending their love and support also.  I want everyone to feel they are a part of Maurice's recovery, you reading is showing us and him that you are.  :-)

Wed - March 2, Maurice is looking better

Family and Friends,

Thank you, we appreciate the continued support.

Maurice is looking better, less swelling - Dialysis is working.  He will have to do dialysis for the rest of his life.  He will need another shave soon :-)

He is able to move his head side to side now as he looks at us.  Any movement he makes is extremely slow but we must remember the energy it takes for him to think about what to do once he has heard it is more than we can imagine.  This is a new Maurice and we have to be patient and caring during this time.

He is still breathing on his own, so definitely getting stronger.

We get this question often - Is he talking?  NO - The neurology team are unable to tell us if he will.

Family and Friends this is serious.  Maurice is in for a long journey back, could be years.........  And at this time we do not know if he will talk, walk, read, hug etc, it is day to day.  We can continue to pray, send best wishes, share our positive calming energy and tell him We Love Him.

Thanks again, with Love His Family

Tues - March 1 - Maurice is breathing on his own

Family and Friends,

Keep those prayers going  because Maurice is breathing on his own, Praise the Lord.

We are excited and accepting the simple meaning of life right now.

Maurice is getting stronger day by day.  Looking at him can still make us feel fearful, sad, anxious, etc but to hear he is breathing on his own.  Hallelujah :-)

He had more dialysis today to assist with his kidney failure and this will also help the swelling.

BUT

Maurice is breathing on his own, huge development in the right direction.

We are giving thanks, each day is a new day.

Sunday, Feb 27 - Maurice wants to talk

Family and Friends,

When I put the stats on the page I would never have imagined, over 1000 hits, you truly do not know what that means to us, thank you.

I knew they said Maurice was swollen but wow, in my opinion (Marcia) he looks like a sumo wrestler in training, it is unbelievable how swollen he is.  He had dialysis yesterday and the nurses said his swelling should go down this week.

Maurice definitely knows when we are there, you can tell he gets excited.

Today I was talking to him and said "so what are the nurses calling you, Maurice or Pringle?  I think today's team is saying Maurice."  All of a sudden it looked like he was answering me :-)  Mechele then held his hand and said if you love me squeeze my hand, and he did hard :-)  He couldn't stop trying to talk (remember this is our opinion, not clinical feedback)

The Nurse came in and told us we are getting him to excited, try not to make him talk, we are making his pressure go up.

So we have to remember minimum is best.  Maurice looks anxious and sad at times, wish we knew what he was thinking.

Overall I want to say it was a good day.

Thanks again for all the support.

Lots of Love,

Maurice's family

Fri, Feb 25 - Dialysis Trial started

Family and Friends,

We continue to feel the love and support, thank you so much.

The medical team have taken the tube out of Maurice's head.  They are observing at the moment.  He had another cat scan and it showed no change.

He also has received Dialysis to assist with the swelling, the Dialysis is a trial at the moment.

Marcia and Mechele will be flying back to Boston tomorrow.

Wed - Feb 23 - Maurice is struggling

Friends and Family,

If you have tried commenting and where unable, please try again, my apologies, I had it setup for spam which didn't allow comments without logging in, sorry.

Maurice is struggling at the moment.

His Nurse said he is very swollen, his kidneys are getting worse.

Maurice has not accepted the tube in his belly for feeding so they continue to work on this.  He is also still on the ventilator because he started having more breathing issues.

He is fighting but struggling.  The medical teams are trying to make him as comfortable as possible.

Tues, Feb 22 - 2 Weeks in - Kidney disease and Pressure

Family and Friends,

Thank you for the continued prayer and support.  I can tell everyone still is hopeful, we appreciate that.

2 weeks today is when this medical nightmare began, we were told he may not survive and here we are 2 weeks later, that is positive - right.....

Maurice's pressure spiked overnight but the medical team have treated this and it has came down.  It is very hard to be dealing with high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Earl and Maurico do feel he is continuing to react to family voices and looks more alert in his eyes.  We don't know what any of this really means though.

The medical team feel they have successfully managed the chest infection but again still having issues with stabilizing his pressure.

Maurice still needs to release more fluid, he is very swollen and the tube in his head is still draining blood and fluid.  They want this to stop draining or drain clear before putting the shunt in.

More tests will continue.

Unfortunately, Maurice will be on dialysis for the rest of his life.  He is not strong enough to receive dialysis yet though.

Monday - Feb 21 - Holding on to Hope

Family and Friends,

Maurice had a brain scan but he is not responding as well as he had been.  He started swelling over the weekend due to fluid and because of his chronic kidney issue he is unable to release enough urine and fluid as needed.

He is not as swollen today but his stomach and kidneys are not functioning at a good level.  The medical team are working on a plan for this.

This is still the beginning of a very fearful situation. 

Earl (brother) is there with Maurico (son) now.

February 18 - Almost ready to breathe on his own

Family and Friends,

We continue to give thanks to everyone.

The hardest for us is not knowing how to comfort Maurice and how much he understands but we are taking it day to day and praying for his strength.

The medical team put the feeding tube in Maurice's stomach so this will allow him to get stronger also.

The positive is that they continue trying to take Maurice off the ventilator, he is on the lowest setting, in order for him to breathe completely on his own.  He is not ready yet but could be any moment now.

He is still giving us Thumbs up....

Thurs - Feb 17: Another Day

Family and Friends,

Dealing with this crisis has been exhausting for the family, making sure we are getting the best care for Maurice, supporting each other and all that comes with that - emotional stress, decisions, leave of absences from work, responding to numerous queries, fear etc.

There is no real change, Maurice is more alert.  Family and Friends, alert means his eyes are open more often, Maurice is unable to talk, unresponsive on left side, we are unsure what he understands, his reactions are extremely slow. 

He is still in ICU and will be until they consider him to be stable enough to be air ambulanced back to Bermuda.

Tomorrow he will receive the tube in his stomach in order to receive feedings.

Thanks again for all the support and prayers.

Earl (brother to Maurice) will be flying out soon.

Tuesday, Feb 15 - Trach put in throat

Family and Friends,

Remember we are not clinical so some spellings maybe incorrect or abbreviated.

Maurice looked alert this morning, moving his eyes all around, following your voice, watching the tv etc.

The Neurology team (primarily dealing with function of his brain) came in and tested him, he gave them a thumbs up on the right. (Left side still unresponsive)  He may be slow at times in doing what asked but he does get there most times.  Eg.  giving thumbs up, wiggling toes

Today at 3pm another team came in to put a trach in his throat to assist with breathing, no more tubes in his mouth.  This is a safer and healthier method that will allow him to get better with the pneumonia which he is on antibiotics for.

The medical teams have to be careful with all they give him due to his high blood pressure and chronic kidney failure.

Maurice no longer has a fever which is great.  They are keeping his blood pressure stable.

The Neuro team also said they will discuss a long term rehabilitation process now that they are able to do more tests on him.

Thanks again for the support.

Mechele and Marcia will be back to Bermuda Wednesday, February 16.  Maurico will be here with his father, so pray for Maurico to have the strength to deal with this and for Maurice to gain more strength day to day.

Beginning of Maurice's Journey

Welcome Family and Friends

We have decided to create this blog in order to update everyone and allow you to follow Maurice's recovery.  We appreciate all the love, prayers and best wishes, it has been an abundance of love sent to Maurice and the family and we feel encouraged.

Administrators of blog will be Marcia (sister), Maurico (son) and Mechele (daughter)


Tuesday, February 8

Maurice had a massive stroke approx 6pm.  Bleeding and pressure on the brain.  We were told he may not survive.

Wednesday and Thursday

Was in Bermuda ICU.  Thank you to the medical team.

Friday, February 11

Maurice was flown out by air ambulance 11pm, Maurico flew with him and the flight medics.

Saturday, Feb 12

Mechele and Marcia flew out to join and support Maurico.

-----

Medical Update presently

Maurice is not out of the 'woods' yet but there is glimmer of hope.  He is unresponsive and mostly under sedation.  His pressure went up again last night so they sedated him more.

Please pray for Maurice to get strong enough to take the tube out of his throat.  He is breathing on his own but they are assisting him due to the damage and stress to his body.

He also has pneumonia now so is on antibiotics.

Maurice is unresponsive on his left side but if we ask to wiggle his toes to respond to us he does, which is positive.  He definitely can hear us.

There was a little bleeding from an ulcer in his stomach but it stopped on its own.  The Dr's are not going to intervene due to the pressure and bleeding on the brain.  This is their main priority in order to have Maurice completely stable and breathing on his own.

Thanks again for the continued support, we will try to update daily, late at night or early mornings.

We are happy to receive comments here.

Lots of Love