Home at last

It is now over six weeks since Jim's accident. At lunchtime today, I had a meeting with the professional rehabilitation staff at the Wilson Centre, and we agreed that it was time for Jim to return home. The original plan was to meet and assess him on February 10, but we all agreed that his recovery has been so rapid that there was no need for him to stay in the Centre at night from this point onwards.

The plan this weekend was for Jim to visit home for two nights, and we were all very pleased to learn that this visit is to be permanent. He will still return to the Wilson Centre each day during the coming weeks for specific therapy and school lessons, but will eat and sleep at home. On February 10, this plan will be reviewed again.

Physically, Jim has essentially returned to his old self. He has several scars (on his skull, chest, arm and neck) but these are fading fast. He will wear his neck brace for another two weeks, after which we expect it to disappear. His only medication is now two penicillin tablets per day to ward off infection that a spleen might have prevented. He appears to walk and balance well, and has essentially regained all physical motor functions.

The next big challenge for Jim will be dealing with school. It is in this environment where his recovery will be tested. He will get tired quickly and find that his memory recall will frustrate him at times. We were also told today that he may have some difficulties in scheduling and planning activities. In the past his memory recall has been sufficiently powerful that he has not needed to keep a diary for school. As he goes into Year 12, his penultimate year of high school, he will find that this won't work anymore, and he will need to learn a whole new set of techniques for organising his time and his life.

This weekend will be a big celebration in our house, as the Philpott family feels complete once again. We have nothing but unqualified praise and admiration for all the expertise and courage of paramedics, surgeons, ICU doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation professionals for helping get Jim back to us. Jim will be saying thank you in person to many people over the next few weeks.

As I write these sentences, I realize that it is time to draw the About Jim blog to a close. I hope that it has helped everyone keep up with what has been happening. I have found it very therapeutic to write, and I know that Jim will appreciate reading about two and a half weeks of his life that he cannot remember. What our family have appreciated more than we can say are the posted comments, emails, and other support that we have received from everyone reading this. Your faith, prayers and good wishes gave us the miracle we hoped for.