Chris had his eyes open only the first half of the afternoon, his arms were very stiff again and nurses started him on anti-spastic medication to prevent the stifeness. I brought the computer and showed several pictures but he did not react to them. Also played Chris Rock CD Fabio made and music. I shaved and clipped nails - and massage plus usual exercises, he was asleep and more relaxed when I left today. Urine also seemed fine.

There's no blood on his urine anymore - thank God. Arms very stiff so physios worked on it today. Chris was asleep most of the day.

Tracheostomy was "plugged" today with Swedish nose, which means Chris is breathing through his nose like all of us - I believe this is part of the process to get him out of the tracheostomy.

Played Maureen & Geroge's tape for him - no reactions to it though. Showed some pictures - he seemed to deviate his eyes as if not wanting to look at them.

Chris seemed to get agitated watching video with Gabriel. Heart rate bit faster - but Chris seemed he was avoiding looking at the video, he deviated his eyes from the screen a couple of times.

There is blood from his urine - doctor seem to think that it is a side effect from the anti blood clotting injection. Sample sent to lab to rule out urinary infection. Chris asleep portion of the afternoon, he is getting very strong reactions against the suctioning.

Chris was more awake towards the end of the day but very very tense and stiff in his arms.

Chris was asleep most of the time today, seemed peacefully resting in deep sleep.

Chris got a haircut today from Matt. He looks gorgeous - like one of his modeling pictures.Chris was on the wheelchair for almost 2 hours today, but did not hold his head up and straight, it was bending sideways.

More active in the morning according to Jen, but did not do anything at Dr. Pambakian's request.

Fabio/ Matt report Chris was very slowly turning his head to them at request. In the afternoon, Chris seemed very tired.

Relatively “awake” today although a bit more tired than normal and sleeping at intervals. Arms seem less stiff, more relaxed today. Arms and legs were moving more.

Fabio arrived today and was “tracked” when leaving the hospital. GSC back at 8 (there is a debate whether Chris is “flexing” or “withdrawing” to pain, withdrawal would put him on a 9, while flexion would keep him at 8).

Next week, balloon inside his tracheotomy will be taken out in preparation to removing the tracheo completely.

Dr. Pambakian came to see Chris today and said he seems to be on the right track. Social worker Rickey Godding also said Chris seems to be more awake than others (she is following).

Chris was asleep and was given a smelling salt under the nose - he woke up after smelling it which means he is breathing through his nose and also has sense of smell. It seems the next milestone will be to take him off the tracheo.

Afternoon Chris was relatively awake, counsins Jen, Mat and Andrew visiting today and Chris tracked Matt with his eyes. Showed photo album to Chris and he focused on some pictures. Chris moving his mouth more, sticking tongue out and making movements. I shaved him today.

Chris had his eyes wide open the entire day today. Burped a couple of times with big noises and I think these are the first sounds we hear out of his vocal cords.

He was also moving his mouth a lot and caught his eyes tracking me when I went away to wash my hands. Physiotherapists put Chris on a wheel chair and left him there for 45 minutes – good change of position but felt he got tired at the end, his legs were shaking.

Language/ communication therapists have been assigned to work with Chris for the next 2 weeks; they came to do a first assessment and said it was very positive that Chris was able to swallow on his own. But to do more from here, his tracheotomy needs to come out, it seems Chris is breathing through his nose so maybe that will happen shortly.

Chris does not seem to want to sleep the whole day, he had his eyes open until we left him at 8 PM, only bad thing is that his arms are very stiff. Chris also moved his toes and legs today.

Maureen had a very good morning with Chris, reported that he squeezed her hands 3 times, blinked at her request and made real eye contact. But in the afternoon Chris was very tired and asleep so I could not see any of that.

He was very cold on his hands and feet probably due to the cold environment, but sweating a lot as well. Today his body was the stiffest I have ever seen. Nurses say it is all normal.

Physiotherapists came over and put him on a sitting position, he refuses to open his eyes every time he is put on that position. Gastro doctor came to examine him and Chris seems to be OK on the digestive part. We showed video of X-Mas to Chris. Today Chris gave a big burp and also had hiccups for the first time.

This morning Chris was very active in the morning for Kim when she saw him before leaving, moving his arms & legs a lot. He was shaved today and I noticed that Chris has been developing facial expressions, something like a smile for Maureen, many different "looks" (i.e. baby-like, pissed-off, scared, etc).

Chris had a scary experience with the tracheostomy today, he was coughing more than normal and reacting very bad against the suction. Doctor was demanded to come to examine but he could not pinpoint anything ... he was peacefully asleep when I left but during the crisis, he sweated a lot, cried tears of pain and bit his lips really hard - it got cut on the lower side.

He had some jerky movements in his legs also which I found a bit unusual although I have seen them before.

Dear all,

(Sorry if I am missing anyone in the mailing list, please feel free to forward this to those I may have missed).

It feels like a lifetime but it’s been only 16 days and I figure I should give all an update and an outlook of what to expect. We had another conversation with our neurologist Dr. Pambakian today.

Chris has made some improvements in the last two weeks which keeps him in the right track regarding his recovery process. I have been keeping written records of everyday changes and have just transported them to the attached spreadsheet where you will know everything that has happened in these last 2 weeks in detail.

Although all these tiny developments are very positive and give us enormous amounts of hope, the reality is that his potential recovery is likely to take months and the final outlook is absolutely impossible to predict at this point in time. What I believe is of critical importance is for Chris to come out of his coma state and that is also another unknown factor.

Our doctor today told us to have hope – and we do. She has also warned us about the seriousness of his state – most people on his situation do not survive or even come close to where he is at right now. We are lucky that he is clinically relatively stable (except for his high temperature) and he has a very long road ahead. For me, the only option available is to believe that he will recover 100% and that’s the assumption under which I am operating right now.

It is much more difficult to be so far away from our family and friends because it is important that he knows we are there for him. For those who are very close to Chris, I’d suggest that you tape your voice with whatever you would like to say and I will make sure that the nurses play it for him in the mornings. Please send it to my home address. Normal cassette or CD is fine.

I learnt how to drive in London and took over Chris’ job of dropping Gabriel off at school in the morning. I have been timing it and figured out a way of working it out so that I am able to reach the office at regular 9:00’ish hours. I am lucky that I do not have to worry about childcare as we have the most wonderful and supportive Alcione who lives with us, and is literally a second mother to him. She has time flexibility and genuinely cares about ensuring that she gives me all the support she can and I am deeply thankful and forever indebted for that.

I am capable financially to support everything and again am very thankful for that. Luckily the UK health care system is much better than the US and so far I have zero costs related to medical care. It is likely that his treatment will be funded by this government through the NHS at least in the short/ medium term. My private health insurance is also likely to back it up for another 6 months if necessary, and I have strong hopes that he will be much improved by then. Again, I am so thankful that he is getting very good medical care and all the professionals here have never denied us time, often spending hours in answering all the questions and concerns we have.

I am also about to resume work on May 16 after a 3 week absence time. Once more I am so thankful because everyone in my office has been tremendously supportive. In the last two weeks I have been sent groceries, money, well wishes, messages, tons of toys for Gabriel, all from people from my job. It touched me so deep in my heart to know that I have their support in this difficult time. Again, I am
so blessed to have their support and understanding. I have though decided to go back to work as the recovery process will be long term and I feel it imperative to have some sort of normality back into my
own schedule.

I have also discussed with the neurologist today alternative treatments, one being acupuncture. Provided that there is absolutely no harm on it, our doctor did not oppose it so I will get started as
soon as we overcome some bureaucratic procedures.

I listen to all the voice messages and read all the email I receive. Although it is overwhelming for me to try to respond to each one of them individually, please know that it warms my heart to know that you are praying for Chris, thinking of us and that there is this huge chain of love and prayers going around the world for Chris’ recovery. I am again forever thankful for that.

I will periodically send the updated report with Chris progress – but wanted to manage all expectations about the length of his recovery. As much as I want him to be up and running by tomorrow, this may be a long road and we all have to have a lot of patience. I also pray to have the strength to be always there for both Chris and Gabriel. I always remember what Chris would tell me during our difficult times… that for a couple to be together forever as we vowed to do, we have to really work out as a team through the difficult times. I tell him that everyday and how much I love him… and how much all his friends and family love him and pray for his recovery… I know he is listening, and fighting to come back to us. I can not put in words the emptiness I feel in my heart for not having him around, but am anxiously waiting for the day when he will be back.

I thank you again for your continued prayers.

Lots of love,

Koo

Chris more alert today. More blood taken out to investigate his fever - and also an X-ray. Chris has been grinding his teeth lately. Why? X-ray results are clear and no aparent infections.

Stiches from his tummy are taken out, Chris still has high temperature. Today Chris seems very tired. Nurses say it is normal, specially after a very "busy" day.

New physios from the neurological ward came for an assessment and said he has full range of movements. Chris lost a tremendous amount of weight but nutritionist says can not increase calory intake too much for now.

Chris pretty much slept the entire day. We also had second talk with dr. Pambakian, the neurologist. She says EEG is a non specific test and our observations are more important. Chris brain stem is OK and he is able to do all involuntary things, the important thing to watch is for purposefull and volunatry movement. Chris will get started in physio, ocupation, spech and language therapy. Her goal is preserve Chris clinical state: clear of infections. Chris will be very suscetible to pneumonia, chest and urinary tract infections.

Recovery likely to take month and she is unable to make any promises, but we should have hope.

Chris was strapped to a board and brought into full standing position by physios. He held his head straight up with eyes wide open. He also tried to lift his head while raising one of his arms.

This was the greatest improvement in days. His eyes pupils also seem to be moving around more as if tracking people's movements - it's not often more an improvement from the staring into space.

Chris cough is much stronger now and secretions sometimes are expelled out (while before it had to be suctioned). Also, Chris reacts to sudden loud noises.

Today is a VERY good day. He is also finally out of the ICU and moved to the high dependency section of the neurological ward. 11 West, Bay A.

Chris undergoes a procedure to have feeding tube inserted straight into his stomach as opposed to through his nose - it will make him more comfortable. Fever still high. Chris turns his head right and left while having petroleum jelly rubbed in his lips.

Chris blinks more when he has his eyes open. I brushed his teeth and it was clearly irritating as Chris' right arm raised as if trying to stop me. Chris is bleeding from his tracheo. Also I confirmed today that Chris moved his head from right to left in bed. I have been doing more research and found this interesting: "It can not be proven that there is no potential for recovery following brain injury, even in the most severe cases… because there is no known diagnostic test that can scientifically demonstrate that recovery of function will not occur… (therefore) every attempt should be made …"

Kim and Brian arrived today.

Chris clearly has his "sleeping" time and "awake" time when he has his eyes open. I brought Gabriel again today and he seemed to get a bit more agitated than normal. I think Chris may have moved his head - but not really sure.

Chris is very passive and non-responsive today. He only got very very agitated with the bed change. Otherwise, very quiet today.