1-MAY-2010

It's amazing to think about the simplistic tasks that Simon is currently undertaking, that anyone else would not even give a second thought. They are simple yet vital in his ability to become as independent as possible.

Simon has been given more and more challenges as he progresses with his rehabilitation. His Occupational therapist Joe has had Simon putting on his shoes, shorts, and learning to transfer from his chair to a car. They have a practice car at Shenton Park for the learning process. He even had Simon making ham cheese and tomato toasties. The next challenge is a lasagna. Which evidently Alexandra says is the one thing she misses about Daddy's cooking, his lasagna.

Simon has been diagnosed with an overactive bladder, which just quietly hasn't come as much of a surprise considering the overactive organ attached to that part of his anatomy, pre and post injury.

So, as a result of the overactive bladder, Simon has been on Oxybutynin which is a medication used to relieve urinary and bladder difficulties by decreasing muscle spasms of the bladder. This medication gives Simon a very dry mouth, and with the fluid restrictions of 125ml every 2 hours, it clearly isn't a medication to continue to take long term.

As they continue to monitor the activity of the bladder, there is the option of a current trial/study on Botox, which is inserted into the bladder walls to control the muscle spasms. Normally if this treatment is required, patients wouldn't receive the botox until 6 months post injury, but seeing as "Simon's bladder is the most overactive they have seen for a while" as mentioned by Jen, he will be put in earlier.

The Miami J, which is the name of the neck-chest brace, is due to come off in 9 days...but who's counting!! Once that goes, well, there's no stopping him !

Simon came home again early on Anzac Day, and it sure was more relaxed second time around. We were all geared up for the great match of Essendon v Collingwood....sorry, I'll start again. We were all geared up for the great match of Fremantle v Richmond....and if I say too much more I fear for my life.

Now that I am being trusted with Simon's safety at home, he is able to come home once a week. The girls have made a list of a million things they want to do with Daddy whilst he is home.

Before Simon was allowed home for the first time, I couldn't figure out which was harder, leaving Simon at the hospital at the end of the night, or coming home and not having him there either. Now, I have a new contender, watching him leave our home at the end of a visit...it feels like someone has ripped my heart out.

Some people say 'It will get easier', some say 'It will get harder before it gets easier'. We have learnt that easy or hard, it doesn't matter unless you have each other, because you imagine the hardest day you've had....then imagine if you didn't have each other, how much harder it would be.