My brother is very ill

[Twice-Shy]

Hello all, just a quick post to let you know why I've been so quiet over the last week or so. My older brother who has HD was taken into hospital last Wednesday. Basically, he was in respite for 8 weeks and he came home in an absolutely terrible state. He lost 3 stone, had thrush, two black eyes and nasty friction burns on the back and front of his knees that wouldn't heal. A few days after he came home he developed a fever so we had to get him hospitalised.

The ran some tests and have found out that his leg wounds are infected with a bacterial infection called MRSA. Because of the weakened state of his immune system his consultant has told us that his outlook is bleak. With a normal healthy person they would operate to clean up his wounds but because of the chorea movements associated with HD that is impossible. The infection could lead septicemia or pnenomia, which is one of the worst killers for people with HD.

We've been keeping a vigil at his bedside. He's a fighter.

If anybody has sent me an email, I'll get to read it ASAP.

Shane.

[moogle]

that's horrible shane, i'm so sorry.
you know we're here for you if you need us.

[johnadams]

I hate to hear this, Shane. I'm truly sorry about your brother.

[ASolitarySoul]

I always have a difficult time coming up with words that will
ease someone’s pain in a situation like this,
as, ultimately, there really are no words that will do that.

The only thing I can come up with is to remember him as he was,
and be grateful for the time that you had with him,
that he was a part of your life,
and made it that much better.


Solitary Soul
All about me -> users3.ev1.net/~solitarysoul/
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[Twice-Shy]

Hi guys, thanks for all the support. It really is like a family in here. Just to bring you up to speed, my brother is still with us. For 48 hours it was touch and go. He was feverish from the infection and his temperature was sky high. But he seems to have come through it. Its hard to believe that the same consultant who tolds us that Danny would not make it was the same man who came back to us yesterday and told us that the infection was dramatically abating, his temperature was almost normal and his bloods were getting back on track. It really has been a rollercoaster ride. He is still pretty weak and the next few weeks will be important but, fingers crossed, he's over the worst.

I am going to wind down for a couple of days but hopefully I will be back on the site by Monday. I try to read every post and every email. Keep posting.

[spiridon]

I'm glad your brother is better, Shane! I wish him a full and speedy recovery!

[Twice-Shy]

Thanks for that. We were over at the hospital twice yesterday. His strength is definitely coming back. The only problem is that as he is getting stronger his aggression and behavioural problems are coming back. But I suppose that is a good sign in a strange kind of way.