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Scrooge Famous Grouse
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 6966 | TRs | Pics Location: wishful thinking |
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Scrooge
Famous Grouse
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Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:41 am
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Almost eight years ago, one week after his high school graduation, my grandson Willem was in a car accident and suffered serious injuries, including severe brain damage. At first not expected to live, he was completely comatose for more than a month and spent almost two years in hospitals and nursing homes.
However, a small miracle had occurred in the nursing home: Willem 'came to' and regained some physical control of his body, plus some limited ability to communicate. After a year of rehab, he was well enough to go home. ..... That still wasn't very well. His mother, a doctor, had to give up her practice in order to care for him, full time.
Willem continued to make progress, physically, but his mental progress hit a plateau. The problem was seizures. The medications needed to try to control them put a damper on his thinking. Reducing the medication level to try to let him make the kind of mental progress that seemed possible just resulted in more seizures. For five frustrating years they fought a slow moving battle, switching medications to try to find some best combination.
Nothing worked, so a couple of years ago they decided to try a somewhat experimental implant, a device that could be used to deliver a shock to the brain when a seizure seemed about to start ..... and it worked! Most seizures were stopped, or cut short, and a second miracle occurred. Willem began to make progress on all fronts.
He now participates in the Special Olympics, in both basketball and soccer. Last summer he was able to play a full, 18 hole round of golf. That's great, but it seems almost trivial compared to the mental change taking place.
Willem can never be 'Willem' again. That element of identity was lost with the missing brain tissue. But, he is becoming a 'person' again, a thing we'd pretty much given up hope on. He talks, he smiles, he laughs and even makes jokes. He pays attention to what's happening around him and takes part in conversations. It's still hard to get him to say what he likes, or get him to make choices, but those may come.
Willem will never be completely independent, but he's back to being part of the family. ..... It's a lot more than we'd hoped for, for a very long time.
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This post is actually the continuation of a very old thread.
https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7975859&highlight=scrooge%27%27s+grandson
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
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I'm Pysht Member
Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 517 | TRs | Pics Location: Pacific NW |
That's good to hear.
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grannyhiker Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 3516 | TRs | Pics Location: Gateway to the Columbia Gorge |
I'm glad to hear this, Scrooge! Thank you for the update on Willem's considerable progress!
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.--E.Abbey
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bobbi stillaGUAMish
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics Location: olympics! |
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
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Fri Mar 24, 2017 3:16 pm
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fantabulous!
where there's a will, there's a way!
your family's love for Willem is apparent!
love and hugs
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
bobbi ૐ
"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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Bernardo Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 2174 | TRs | Pics Location: out and about in the world |
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Bernardo
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Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:06 pm
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Good news. Thanks for sharing. Remarkable perseverance. Hoping for continued progress.
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Damian Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 3260 | TRs | Pics
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Damian
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Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:23 pm
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David that's great, and also coincidental. I was talking to my brother from Wenatchee just the other day (you may remember his son John was friends with Willem). I asked how Willem was doing. The report I got was that Willem had shown remarkable improvement and was working on his music again.
I visited Willem's site regularly until long after the accident. You may not remember this but after the accident I told you I had printed Willem's picture and placed it on my office wall next to a picture of one of the greatest and most inspirational musicians of all time- The Reverend Blind Willie Johnson. So I'm not surprised by Willem's return to music . Upon retiring I moved those pics to a wall in my shop where they still reside.
Great news and thanks for the update!
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JimK Member
Joined: 07 Feb 2002 Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics Location: Ballard |
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JimK
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Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:13 pm
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David, I'm glad to hear the progress Willem has made. I remember the original thread. Best wishes to the family. I hope to hear more updates with more progress.
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:58 pm
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good news scrooge. best wishes to the whole family and may progress continue.
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Ringangleclaw Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2010 Posts: 1559 | TRs | Pics
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Good to hear things are improving.
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Wow. News I never thought Id hear. That's wonderful. God bless.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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the Zachster Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 4776 | TRs | Pics Location: dog training |
That is GREAT news, Scrooge! What a journey you all have been on. I'm so happy for these positive changes and progress. Best wishes and prayers for more to come!
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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Tom Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 17835 | TRs | Pics
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Tom
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Sat Mar 25, 2017 4:35 pm
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Scrooge, good to hear.
And helps put the minor speed bumps of life in perspective.
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Bedivere Why Do Witches Burn?
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7464 | TRs | Pics Location: The Hermitage |
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Bedivere
Why Do Witches Burn?
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Mon Mar 27, 2017 10:09 pm
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Well this has to be about the best news I've read in awhile.
Good to hear Scrooge! May Willem's journey continue down the path to further recovery and a better life!
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LizzyRN Member
Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Posts: 204 | TRs | Pics Location: Mount Vernon |
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LizzyRN
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Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:22 pm
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Excellent news! It's amazing what one can accomplish with perseverance and a great support system.
LizzyRN
Where's my inhaler?!
LizzyRN
Where's my inhaler?!
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