Monster Update 2024/2025 - New Brain Bleed and post recovery

Well, 2024 went by very quickly but also very slowly for us.  Mark's recovery was coming along so well, that the Neurological Team decided it was time to intervene with clipping a Brain Aneurysm that Mark had. The only way this was possible, and not many Dr's wanted to actually perform such an operation, he had open Brain Surgery back in May 2024.  This operation went very well and was only in hospital for 5 days.  However, the Anesthesia did cause a lot of confusion in recovery for first few days.  This operation involved cutting open his skull tapping on the bone and it opening up like a trap door, clipping aneurysm with great precision.  Dr Lui Did a fantastic job.  

In weeks after the operation Mark had to have stitches removed from ear to top of head, his previous medication of Aspirin was re-prescribed. Unfortunately, we believe now that a vein may have been clipped exiting the skull, and with adding Aspirin into the mix this caused a brain bleed. When we finally figured out something was wrong Mark was given a CT scan in Busselton Hospital, and I was then told that we would require RFDS to fly us to Perth. 

In 7 short weeks in hospital, 2 blood infections, COVID-19, 3 Code Blues, we finally got out of hospital bypassing the State Rehab facility at Fiona Stanley hospital because we have so much NDIS support and all things were already in place, ready to start up again.  We were discharged late July 2024. 

It has been a very slow recovery with 3 Emergency Room Visits in the first weeks out of hospital, UTI, and blood infection coming back. But today February 2025 we are sort of nearly on our way back, Mark's stamina is coming back, spending more time out and about.   

Marks week consists of Neurofeedback Therapy, VR Therapy, Red Light Therapy, Gardening, Resting, PT session, Swimming Laps in Community Pool, Exercise Physiologist, preparing meals, and lots of re-learning of things like making a cup of tea and getting breakfast ready. 

We feel like we are starting to turn a corner on our way back to where we left off January 2024, taking Driving Lessons in a car and holding conversations.  This is a long way off, but we are on our way, and we see the light at the end of the tunnel.