Sunday, happy sunday..

Just realising most of our European friends are, in fact, somewhere else in Europe... really miss the Easter holidays...so perfectly timed and just too much choice...

Well, things are progressing at a pace here... Doug's waltzing around the periphery of the four sectioned square of the ICU on his zimmer... nurses in hot pursuit...

Ringing me at intervals, just checking in about the agenda...better start sending in more reinforcement...visiting free for all !!

Drain clamped and big removal tomorrow and then he's off to acute care for next part of his stay...bring on the physical therapy...and a very short stay...

I left Doug to the moaning echoes of his 84 yr old room mate (there's a curtain) just wanting her husband, poor love...not sure if Doug was that sympathetic after listening to it all day...either her - or he will need some heavy knock out pills....

Meanwhile, Easter bunnies short changed us a little this year...

A hot hot saturday...

Poor Dougy, missing the hottest, driest weekend on record - know he'd love to be on those skis in the mountains... but he's sitting out a little more, eating up a lot more and taking significantly less medication...
I'm topping up his hospital meals with all things nutritious - although, i hadn't bargained on him tucking into the tub of 'avocado' body cream i'd left near his tray ready for a massage. I was alerted when he screeched "aggghhh are you trying to kill me" oops ... well these potions smell/look good enough to eat these days - clearly dont taste it though!! Note to self...must take in his glasses!

Main focus now is getting those poor shrinking limbs moving... physically, it doesn't look as if this 'stroke' has done any permanent damage thank goodness....

Hopefully 'brain drain' out tomorrow, now it's been clamped 24 hours...

Good Friday..

It seems that Doug managed to do such a sterling job of twisting his head drain into a work of art that photos were taken and experts called in to try and unravel it - rather like knitting i expect. No sooner had they finished than he sat up and snapped it...  Crises narrowly averted after significant csf loss and hopefully this is the last day he has to have it before it is removed...then, if all stable he may move to 'acute' care on Monday...
He enjoyed a Skype chat with darlings Jilly and Howy - able to catch up with footy news back home - now, how do I access the Chelsea v Man U match for him to watch on Monday? (So that's really why you're not leaving till Tuesday Howy!)...
Finally sitting out of bed...not the easiest of tasks...and quote of the day -
as Doug's nurse and I were helping to stand him with his arms round us, he lent to give me a hug , scratching his bum at the same time prompting Patrick to tease "hey, you can't scratch you're butt whilst hugging your wife" so Doug responded with " thats nothing, we have photos at home of far worse"!   I doubt if either of us will leave here with our integrity intact!  Never a dull moment!

Two weeks on

Two weeks ago today i received that terrible phone call from a distressed Miles that sent our lives (and many of yours) into a tail spin. So much, and yet really, so little has happened since then...
Doug is still in ICU, still laying on the same bed, same revolving nurses, same threat of vaso spasms and same consistently sunny days.. but he is now down to a couple of IV cannulas and a head drain.. a plethora of lines, feeding tube, weeing tube, breathing tube are all gone as he tries to make sense of this absurd, immobile world he's been thrust into and move slowly out of it through a blur of fairly strong and mind altering analgesia.

I was laid low today with a bug that i've been fighting for the last few days so dependent on visiting friend/fam reports from the hospital... first day up in a chair which didn't go amazingly well, not surprisingly... sounds like a fuzzy. painful day for Doug where night and day just blur into one...

meanwhile they've started the three day preparation toward his head drain removal and soon as that has gone he'll be out of that bonkers, beeping, bleeping surreal world he's in...

Many of you are off on a well deserved easter break - enjoy...i'm trying not to be too envious :) - can't complain - we have a sunny 67 F (19.4 c) weekend to look forward to...

Thank you for the feedbacks from this 'updating' service...i know many of you appreciate it and are thankful not to feel as if you're "pestering me" - friends have made many comments about it - from my "British stiff upper lip" (ha ha - not sure about that) to emotional outpouring but think Ted summed it up best by saying "it's just one continuous string of consciousness"...i like that, so am going with that one!

Home and reflection

Home following an unbelievably full, low, creamy moon after a lovely evening and delicious meal at Bob and Joanies watching the sunset reflected in the space needle from their wonderful condo downtown...

and just had a phone call from Doug (from hospital phone so that freaked me out) just asking what our itinerary was for the rest of the week... didn't seem too impressed with what i had to offer...!!

thinking of how to spice his dietary intake...today, i took in some cubed mature Irish cheddar and apple...which prompted a "well, what this really needs is a nice glass of Claret".. still, he was drinking grape juice, which seemed to suffice...

Jilly - i gave him your sweet 'love you' heart so he turned to me and said "doesn't this make you jealous"?

wow, the brain can take some knocks...and it returns in twists and bounds..

night all x

Nearly out of danger #14

This should be the day we no longer need to worry about these dangerous vasospasms but the buggers are still lurking there this morning...just not many...another ct scan tomorrow ...

Doug continues to answer his location with London...I guess home really is where the heart is!! Hopefully he can sit out tomorrow if all stable but he says that " he's not too impressed with the venue"!

Franks famous mushroom soup has played it's part in the recovery process but even that was no match for cookie dough ice cream!
Spent most of the day sitting quietly next to the bed whilst he sleeps and trying to not nod off myself...
Visiting slots are filling for tomorrow as Kurt arrives back in town - will he enjoy seeing the vast improvement in his brother! And Matt booked in sometime too....doug was wondering what his itinerary was for this week!!
Talking much about a full fitness program when he gets out of here - still doesn't seem too keen in coming along to yoga with me though...

Best note today was from Rich ....

Hi Jane

Great to hear things looking up for Doug

Hope you are able to get some rest from the anxiety. I have an image of him in my mind staggering out of a nuclear explosion, dusting himself off and saying 'woah....heavy man'

When I read him that, he was laughing so much I thought he was going to burst his brain drain'.

Just one small corner and we're on the long road to rehab....

#13

Move onto solid food! Well, that would be a biggy in my world...although Doug seems quite content with the mush so far... although, i can relate to that too...

and the lovely, attentive young Neurologist agreed to letting him sit up in a chair...whoop, whoop...

huge leaps - now just to get this mac our friends kindly lent us to work so that he can watch Top gear (sorry Lis - and after all you've done)...

oh, and a 3 day gradual removal of the head drainage tube...but that might be too much information...

looking at leaving our friends in the icu this weekend...

survival kit of maltesers and jaffa cakes arrived this morning...thx Jilly xxx

A beautiful Day # 12 - full of icecream and hope

One small step...one giant leap for mankind...know just how Neil feels now. The tubes, lines and thus beeps and bleeps are disappearing rapidly - Doug demolished his dodgy hospital mac n cheese lunch so convincingly in Streeter-hoovering up style that his NG was swiftly removed - much to Miles's unwitting horror and ultimate disappointment that it wasn't captured on video....the TJ's strawberry-coconut milk icecream was unsurprisingly, very well received too...
We are marching onwards and upwards dear friends but as his Neurologist 'god' (who i finally got to meet today) Dr Kim (funny, in UK when they reach that top tier of the ladder, they revert to mere Mr mortals again - clearly the 'Dr' label is too vulgar or something) says "the recovery only begins once he leaves ITU" - they're just there to over-see the crises stage ...for 2 weeks infact! In just 2 days we should be out of the danger-zone - final hurdle - hopefully, no trace of a vaso spasm and head drainage tube vamoosed....
Our conversations continue to be challenging, wonderful, and just bleedin' bonkers...Doug is already compiling a list of philosophers/poets that jack must read "and it's not homework" - just for fun... and i'm compiling a list of quotes that he may never want to hear about again...

BUT I'm finally feeling we have turned a huge corner knowing the road ahead is l-o-n-g...

In the meantime, i'm pampered and spoilt by this small but unbelievably attentive group of pals - another massage today (thx Kimberly ) - so 2 massages and 2 wonderful yoga sessions = nearly functioning body... now, i just have to wake up feeling as if i've really had 8 hours sleep...which i have!

hope this makes sense - i'm cream-crackered....

PS apologies if i caused a mass of shock with my opening two words yesterday....apparently i did!

Home...Sunday eve

Doug passed the swallowing test...taking in icecream tomorrow...

Meanwhile soup and bed for me...xxxx

Day # 11 - visiting for today

I know many of you want to visit Doug and he'll so love to see you . As i mentioned quiet time is between 12.30 and 2.30 pm so i'm discouraging all visiting during that period. Jane and Alan are going at 2.30pm. I'ii be heading down mid morning so if if anyone wants to swing by before 12 or this evening (depending how he is) give me a bell/text 206 4466332. Oh and just a reminder there's someone else in the same room not well so hush hush... also you can park free on teh streets around the hospital on a sunday!!
Hoping he'll be assessed by a speech therapist today and his NG tube removed...then we plan to give him his longed for ICECREAM!

And really, thank you again for everyone's support - walking Dora, leaving goodies, massages, messages, yoga, dinners, flowers, chocs, grocery deliveries...meals on wheels (so glad you're all amazing cooks!)  - if i haven't said thank you personally - forgive me - i really can't say thank you enough - it has helped Miles and i endure this terrible ordeal...and here is the link that many of you have asked me about (should you ever need use of it for someone else)
http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=JUNL6697

more later..

End of day # 10

Sat here on my I pad whilst Doug slumbers peacefully after asking for "bubbly ice beer"! Thinking that sounds pretty good. Jon just left but he and good friend Greg had an entertaining and educated day talking with Doug by all accounts! Thankfully his 'Darth Vader' oxygen mask is off and he's maintaining good oxygen sats with just a loose mask hanging round his neck. He just needs to pull through the next few days with no repercussions from these bloody vasospasms...they seem to have it under control by increasing his BP... I know, it seems contradictory.
Miles spent time massaging Doug with the gadgets resembling torture devices Kimberly kindly lent us - they both seemed to get a lot of pleasure out it! Sooner we can get him off this bed the better...
He appears to have turned into an old slushy, holding my hand and telling me how female they are and how they just "waft over him in waves" whereas Jon had " male hands which establish contact,  grip, charge..." ... So I told him he was getting very poetical on us ... To which he replied "I don't know if its poetry but I know I'm fucking right" ... And promptly knighted Jon! Henceforth to be known as Sir Jon-James Bond. Asking if he wanted me to rub his back, he told the nurse "you wouldn't know it looking at her but she was a great fullback with the rugby 7's".
On hearing the nurse talking to the doctor on the phone attempting to get him come talk to us...doug piped up " tell him to get here now, I'm going to die in 10 minutes! Never a dull moment and good to see flashes of clarity returning with remarkable memory...although we're enjoying all the barmy bits too!
Now I'm off on this warm, sunny, springy day to be fed and watered by more dear chums and Doug wants to know why he cant come with me! keep that energy flowing...

Message to Dougie from Howy..

PERSONAL MESSAGE: HOWY TO DOUG

(to be read out in a Black rap poet style!)

Douglas, Douglas, my man....where you bin Dood?

checking out like that - man that's just rude!

We thought you gone left us, without saying a word

Left...no goodbyes.....gone....just absurd.

I swear next time you pull a stunt like that,

I'm gonna tan your arse with a big cricket bat!

Where d'you go to anyways Dougy....was it heaven or hell

Cos I heard sometimes it's quite difficult to tell

Were you chasing the dragons in a hot fiery hole

Or was you shooting some hoops with the Lord in a celestial super bowl

Were you mixing with sinners and beggars and thieves

Or in concert with Jimi packed to the eaves?

If the place was full of bankers and politicians on the take

Then Dood, St Peter, he made one BIG BIG mistake

You deserve better than that with your life full of virtue

Sin free, clean living and things 'tween just me and you

like the time at La Push when we fired up and drank

And Jack joined us too, till the three of us sank 

But never mind where you've been these last few days

You simply left us all in a bit of a daze

I know you got brothers - all right and propers

But I'm your bro too you know - let no one try stop us

I is yo bro man - deeper than skin

Talk about Streeter clan - hell yeah - count me in!

Could you hear all our prayers from this side of the pond?

What Presidents past called our own special bond

But it's more than that - it's love - of that there's no doubt

I love you like a brother; there - I've come out!

We don't talk much Dood do we - with you miles away it's so tough

But when we get together we're ignited  - and maybe that's enough

When you get better and you're back on your feet

We gotta arrange Greece - and there we shall meet

We can do what we do best, talk, drink and rest

And remember our holidays and discuss which was best 

There's France, Croatia, wet Spain, Camper trips

To remember with fondness and wet our whistle and lips

So Douglas, my man - my friend - my brother

You is without doubt,like no one else - no other

Stick at it Bro - get stronger, come see us

We'll once again ride in a VW Camper Bus

maybe round Ireland and sink lots of Guinness

or Greece or HOT Spain - our travels to finish.

Love you Douglas!

H

So, I couldn't convinced the male nurse on duty from the Dominican Rep to do it for me (well he was the blackest person I could find) so it was left to me..not sure if squeaky, Yorkshire white female was what you had in mind but he chuckled away...you big old softie Howy...I'm thinking you're going to have to do this yourself when we set up a Skype chat !! He lerves you too honey...here's to sailing those seas in the not too distant future...love you j x

Not out the woods yet.

So sorry to be a pooper after my morning news... Doug is fine but the ultrasound detected some vaso spasms this morning - apparently heightened danger is for next 4 days...i thought we were mainly over it by 10th day but apparently not...
So, i'm going to have to be very strict with Dougies social calender for next few days - don't want to get him too excited!...i know all you lovely people are itching to get in and visit...but we're going to have to delay wine, women and song for few more days...if you're thinking of coming by please check in with me first and i can try to stagger the masses!! 206 446 6332... i know he'll be dying to see you all...

Well it seems Miles prefers to hoover than walk the dog...oh, okay then....

Another sunny morning...saturday day #10

Waiting for Miles to wake up - could be a while on this beautiful spring morning...and all the gorgeous  cherry blossoms are out
.Jon (from now on known as James) is with Doug and has just sent a great report on Doug's progress...he's talking up a storm (dialect to be deciphered later), watching documentaries on public tv saying "i'm bit of a nerd - if i'm just lying here i may as well be learning something"- better take in some slushy romantic comedies! Gave Jon a lesson in Chinese hospital design...hmmm - somethings clearly don't change!!
Meanwhile, i'd better finally unpack my bags, do some laundry and run a hoover around - whilst beaming madly...
time to release the visitors - in small, controlled packages...
enjoy your weekend dear friends...all looking good...X

End of day #9

Nice woozy day for Doug with just Jon, Miles and me to distract him. Not as frisky as when the tube came out last weekend, when he must have heard it was St Patrick's day and woke with a pretty impressive Irish accent wondering if someone had "stolen his brain"!
Back to his Anglo/American  lilt  and clearly set on teasing the nurse with jokey responses to his mundane questions ..." Of course I know who that is, it's my brother" ....so "what's his name"...."well, James Bond of course"....  I'm going to have to write all these down...some, I'm not sure he'd like me to share....but i'ii store it in my reserves for future dinner party entertainment...
Some wonderful doctors and I've targeted the two, young knowledgeable (oh and handsome) ones that will stand patiently and answer my long list of questions with a big smile on their faces until they ask 'if they can be dismissed'... Clearly, they are very happy with Doug's progress...
He was able to give Miles and us big, grateful hugs and 'FaceTime' with jack before taken off for his MRI scan and breathing comfortably on his own with just an oxygen mask.
We left buoyant and gratefully fed and pampered by the wonderful Friday night crew... Not that I have much of an appetite...
But hey, I'm 1/2 stone lighter (alas, not in the right places) ...not that I'd recommend it a a diet...!
Looking forward to a new day...X

A quick word from Jane's secretary

If you'd like to leave a message on Jane's blog:

1) Click on the orange coloured 'comments' text at the bottom of any post
2) Type your message into the white text box
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3) Click 'publish'

PS

Just want to say, don't worry if you can't work out how to leave a message as many of you have said...i'm getting your emails...thank you...but replying on here...(unless someone would like to employ me a secretary)

and yes Lis, Cupcake wine - kills two needs in one hit right? very efficient!!

I made it to yoga yesterday - thank you lovely Michelle - it was perfect - and helped my body/mind get through the day ...

what a support team...couldn't have done it without you... x

Cold, sunny, snowy day #9

Snowing here but Dora doesn't seem to mind! Good that she makes me get out and walk!

As hoped, they extubated Doug this morning. Jon (his brother) had flown in last night and is with him now...doesn't sound like he's putting on the show like he did for us last sunday!... after slight anxiety about breathing on his own, he is resting quietly and doing really well...everything crossed that it stays out this time...

An MRI today or soon will help ascertain the cause of this bleed - probably from a vein in the neck... and as i mentioned before, however hideous this is, it appears to be the 'better' type of haemorrhage to have had!!

Two days ago his room mate was wheeled away in a black box...so that was jolly :( ....makes me so thankful as to how lucky we are...

Sunshine out and a good day to feel sunny... off now to kick Doug out of bed :)

will update tonight...

thanks to everyone of you again..and a huge hug and insurmountable praise for my two other brave boys - Jack and Miles... you have been amazing...Dad will be so proud... love you all so much x

A joyful Day #8

Returned home with uplifting news...such a roller coaster...

Doug's angiogram still showed no evidence of an aneurysm and increasingly likely to have been a perimesencephalic  subarachnoid haemorrhage... so much better right! And indeed it is - basically, this means he most likely had a venous bleed (not arterial) and the chances/speed of recovery are so, so much better - with near zero chance of it repeating...yeah, im still trying to get my head around that one....basically, you and i have the same odds of it happening as Doug does again...hmmmm

Still, he has to go another night ventilated :( - but that too is progressing well...breathing better and oxygen sats good.. i'm promised they'll remove the intubation tomorrow if he continues the same as today...and his nurse is on my team... but no doubt he'll have plenty to say when it's removed!

I can't believe sitting on one's bum all day can be so knackering... wanted to share this great news before i collapse into bed after dining on Carston's delicious bolognese (and Cupcake wine!) ...we're so liking this 'meals on wheels' service..

grateful to have so much support here and back home...otherwise i'd have never coped...

just wanted to get this great news out before i collapse...

night x

Day 7/8

My darling friends Lis and Philip helped set this up back in England...this will help to keep everyone posted and alleviate the pressure of answering the many emails from friends around the world...thank you all so much for your concern...

I missed yesterday but Doug stable...heavily sedated due to the intubation ... neurologically all signs are good and having angiogram today. Only issue seems to be his breathing, not helped by the pneumonia and compromised lungs form previous embolisms...so want to get him off the ventilator....

Heading to hospital now...thank you all for you support...we can feel the energy flowing this way...

more later when i get home...

Day 6

Hi all

Trying to set up a 'bloggy thingy' so i can just write updates and you can write stuff too - but always seem to run out of time and energy ( I need a secretary) - but i know that you're all anxious for news..

I also attempted a 'caring and sharing site' offered by the hospital but soon rejected that on account of its 'Hey, lets share our lerve of Doug' with a little donation philosophy - and then it seemed just too bloody morbid with its "let's share our memories'... I figured I'd attempt a blog in the knowledge that he'll recover before i even had to do it! and i know he will...

A tough few days - he still has to be ventilated...because of the pneumonia.... and his poor lungs are compromised after two nasty embolisms ... the good news is ...his temp is down and no sign of vaso spasm - a huge problem with 2/3 chance it happening - (resulting in another bleed/stroke)... so i actually left the hospital happy...despite everything ...

Keep sending those positive vibes over - I know how much you all care and how hard it is to be so far away - I want everyone of you here, now...but..miles and I seem to be coping...strangely, suddenly alone...

Helped by this very marvellous site that a friend set up which involves meal deliveries...left on the doorstep in a cooler...which has so far contained sustenance and refreshment in a bottle or two...oh how my local chums know me...they have been my rock...

Teri 'insisted' I went for a massage today...i feel there should be a donation site for that too......

I rattle on...but you all have to know he is in 'The top Neurological Hospital' in the world - so they say - and my faith is with them....even if his nurse seemed to be 120 today... but i have been very impressed so far - and i have my eagle eye on their every move, naturally...

Tomorrow is another day... and im positive it'll be a good one...

Thank you so much for all your love and concern...

Love jane x

Day 5

Just heading to hospital ...unfortunately Doug had to go back on the ventilator :( - due to breathing problems and low oxygen levels - it's going to be an up and down ride but least we know he has his old spark intact...

Will update you tonight when I get in

J xx

Unbelievable day...

Doug more animated as afternoon wore on...responding to us very enigmatically and with much frustration!!! ...realized he wanted a pen and paper...and finally he was able to communicate that his head was itchy!!!

And best news...his intubation tube came out...then there's no stopping him ...plenty to say about everything and everyone - and having the room in stitches ...finally getting cross when we told him he couldn't itch his head because of drainage tube...which led to a gyrating rendition of mc hammer ' can't do that'...you had to be there...clearly, humor and belligerence still intact!! Good for jack to witness before he headed back...

This is a quick synopsis..when I recall the whole performance I'll write it down...Which I believe Kurt did...

A very good day...our hopes are high...although he clearly recognizes the injustice of this happening to him again...

It's late but I wanted you all to know the good news
J xxx

Doug critically ill

Sending this as a group email - sorry if it seems impersonal - few of you know already what has happened (sorry if it was by notes left by concerned friends on facebook) and for many this will come as a shock - ...but wanted to let you know what has happened to Doug...

I had been back 2 days in UK (to help Mum after her heart operation) when i got a distressed call from miles (2am in Seattle) saying Doug had been rushed to hospital - he was lucid enough to call for an ambulance and tell miles to ring me as he was stretchered out. He had a blinding headache and then things deteriorated.

I was at my friend Flea's house - (who was just wonderful) and BA were just brilliant - so  I was on a flight back within 2 hours...longest flight ever (despite the much appreciated upgrade!)...I managed to activate 'the village' back in Seattle by text and arrived back to everyone on the scene including Doug's brothers and jack flown in from California. Quite a gang of incredible support had gathered...one unexpected concern is trying to contain crowd control now...can't believe how people (esp those he hasn't seen in years) are allowed to just wander into his room...trying hard to maintain doug's privacy and rest...

Doug suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage - pretty severe bleed and is currently in icu at Harbour View Hospital. (Specialist in stroke victims and care brilliant). Fortunately, the cause wasn't an aneurysm and the bleeding has stopped so he didn't need surgery. He's responding very well to treatment (and us) and we're willing him to full recovery but as they like to say ' he's in critical but stable condition'. We've been told this will be a long ride and huge mountain to climb - and not to expect 'full' recovery for 6 months. Unfortunately, he's now developed pneumonia so is now on antibiotics and can't come off the ventilator for another few days...we were hoping it to be today...:(

So, so painful seeing him like this ... I seem to be running on adrenaline, disbelief and hope...boys have been great but Miles was clearly traumatised after seeing his dad taken away like that.. it seems so unfair after him pulling through so well after his two episodes of pulmonary embolisms several years ago - apparently unrelated but the warfarin he was on clearly didn't help..
Will try to keep you all updated....thanks for your concern...keep those positive thoughts coming...

Please pass onto those you think will want to know...

Love Jane

My phone # are home 206 453 4198 mob 206 446 6332 ... We're 7 hours behind UK  -someone called at 4am yesterday - that didn't help!!

Now I hear mum's operation (I was back in UK for) has been cancelled due to another emergency!