Tuesday

Sam has been busy with the physiotherapists today. They are helping him with breathing exercises, to move around his bed and they have helped him to stand today. He had been busy with his Christmas decoration production and his room is looking very festive so he is quite tired this evening.

He had a break from the oxygen but his saturation has dropped too low so they have started it again. His gastric aspirate had reduced so they tried to put a small amount of build up feed down his NGT and into his tummy but this promptly returned and so Sam remains nil by mouth again.

We were feeling hopeful that we were turning a corner, but when it becomes apparent that things remain the same the disappointment sets in greater than you can imagine and it can be seen in Sam. This evening he has realised his body is not ready for food so the drips will continue.

Sam is very weak. His body is thin and curled to the shape of the bed in which he had been for far too long now. He looks poorly. It is surprising how quickly someone can become a 'sick hospital patient'.

Sam is a fighter and as soon as he can he will be back in action. We are desperate to have him home and to return to normality. It's so difficult living this split life. I have had to shut down to any distractions other than home and hospital and it is quite odd to know that life continues around us! Someone mentioned it was Christmas... I can't begin to think about Christmas until we get Sam home.

We have tickets to the mother goose panto at the play house on Monday... But the hospital don't think Sam will be ready to go... We are hopeful he might but really we should be passing them on.... (Also my parents now can't come as dad has had an op on Monday too) so 3 adult and 1 child ticket up for grabs if you are interested let me know.

- Joy