Bourne Family Quiz Night

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Well a lot can happen in…oops almost 2 weeks. Sorry for not keeping the blog updated, it has been crazy. School holidays providing a challenge for me, nothing I cant cater to.

On Wednesday 31st, Simon was released from the bars that were imprisoning his head, and was gratefully switched over to the neck brace and matching vest. On the regular appointment of tightening the pins, they noticed that the back pins were basically on 0, and should have been on 7 pounds of torque. After a quick call to the powers that be, it was agreed that the halo was to be removed.

Now although it was a relief to hear them say that it was to be removed after we were expecting another 9 weeks of the ever invasive contraption, Simon was warned that when removing the pins, it feels like they are being tightened. He isn't allowed to be under any anesthetic whilst that procedure is taking place, as they need to see if he reacts to a potential hit of a nerve etc. Apparently the painful howling was heard by all in the ward, and there was some concern for young Simon as this took 20minutes to remove.

April fools day was a big day for us as we met with Dr John Ker for our prognosis meeting. The moment we were waiting for but also dreading in the same breath.

We were told that Simons left hand will be back to 100% and is well on its way to proving that is the case. Simon has been scored with a common tool used by all Spinal Cord Injury Experts, called ASIA scores. They have a grading of sensory and motor responses. The grading is from A - E, A being complete impairment, B being incomplete impairment of voluntary function and then cascading down in severity through to E. Simon is classified as being graded B, so is an incomplete Tetraplegic. Dr Ker looked at us in his office and mentioned a 2% chance of Simon ever regaining full motor function of his legs.

Although being positive has been somewhat our way of confronting this issue, being realistic has to come into the equation. We were told early on that this could be the prognosis and to prepare for it, however, NOTHING that anyone says or how many times you go over and over it in you head, you are never prepared. I had tears streaming down my face and Simon was cool as a cucumber. We were then shown the X-ray’s from BIMC (Bali Hospital) and the repair of the Spinal column showing us a whole pile of metal work, getting Simon closer to bionic-man status.

Now we prepare ourselves for the next part of our journey, making sure our home life will be ready for Simons release into the real world. The days/weeks/months and years ahead will be challenging to say the least, but the evident fortitude he, and we, display will continue to help overcome anything and everything.