F e a t u r e s
Second Chance M
by Ada Harwood
y husband, Flight Sergeant Gerald Harwood’s story begins in sunny Akrotiri.
We were enjoying our third year of detachment in the beautiful birth place of Aphrodite when all of a sudden Gerry began to suffer recurring headaches.
The headaches intensified in duration and severity and became a constant migraine. On return from our holiday of a lifetime to Florida, with an intolerable migraine raging Gerry underwent a series of investigations for a number of serious conditions. The investigations took time, and as the months went by Gerry’s health declined.
In the September, he began to feel sharp pains in his shoulders. Despite the many types of pain relief, his pain continued and intensified spreading to his neck. At the beginning of October, Gerry began to feel fatigued as well as suffering the body pain and migraines. This was followed by sleep disturbances for which he received sleeping tablets, but all proved futile.
By mid October, Gerry had begun to experience funny smells and tastes. This was closely followed by more complex ‘funny feelings’. Following a collapse at work, Gerry was put on sick leave, pending tests results. At home the ‘funny feelings’ intensified in frequency and duration, peaking one sunny afternoon towards the end of October when Gerry suffered a collapse at the wheel of his car. He was admitted to the local military hospital, where he was diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and told he needed a brain scan.
We requested to be sent back to the UK but were told that the procedure for a scan would take much longer and we were advised to remain in Cyprus. A scan was organised in less than a week, and the results arrived three days later. They showed brain lesions and general swelling, common to a range of very serious illnesses.
At the beginning of November, Gerry was told he needed to see a neurologist. It was now mid November and he had deteriorated
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rapidly. Faced with a husband that could no longer function, I contacted the local SSAFA officer who advised me to write a letter to the Station Senior Medical Officer.
Gerry was airlifted to the UK. We left behind our three children in the care of Gerry’s Warrant Officer and his wife and SSAFA’s emergency fostering service in Cyprus. None of us was prepared for what had yet to come.
On arrival in the UK Gerry was admitted to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Selly Oak. He was by now extremely ill. On admission Gerry was given epilepsy treatment. Rather than helping him, the medication exacerbated Gerry’s problems plummeting him into severe confusion which required isolation and 24 hours psychiatric nursing care for over a month. He could not remember big chunks of his life. This prompted a new series of tests and help was sought from doctors in Ireland and Scotland.
The breakthrough came at the end of January, when we were told that Gerry had Limbic Encephalitis (LE), described to us as an incurable and rare brain inflammation. We were told he had between 6 and 12 months to live. Preparation began for his transfer to a hospice. At this point, SSAFA’s help became dramatic. In the UK the local officer supported me with end of life issues such as drafting a Living Will and a Personal and Health Power of Attorney and with planning my return to UK.
Despite the bad news and the consequences it seemed to have, and encouraged by the support shown by SSAFA, the Unit and our many friends in Cyprus, I set out to research the condition on the internet and found the Encephalitis Society. I learnt that there are many types of LE, some effects of which are more curable than others, but all are treatable. And this gave me the courage to initiate a discussion regarding Gerry’s diagnosis and treatment. The doctors at the QE were receptive and after much discussion, Gerry’s treatment begun and he responded well. It was by now mid February.
Gerry’s recovery was so remarkable and quick that it took the hospital by surprise.
Summer 2009 9
I refused to allow him to be admitted to a hospice, I needed somewhere that could grant Gerry some familiarity and routine. The military hospital, Headley Court came to mind and Gerry was accepted at the end of March 2008.
On admission to Headley Court (HC), things took a turn for the worse as the migraine and body pain returned. The staff and consultant at Headley Court became uneasy about Gerry’s condition, his diagnosis and prognosis and began to feel Headley Court may not be a suitable place for him. In the anguish and confusion, again SSAFA provided a safe haven, Norton House, a beautiful home close by where I could retreat and find a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. The house and its staff offered respite to my children, too.
At the beginning of April I returned to Cyprus. With the help of SSAFA, Gerry’s local unit and many of the station personnel, we finalised plans for our repatriation, finding a suitable quarter back in UK and schooling for my children, two of whom have special needs; and organising the return of Gerry’s pride and joy – his boat. SSAFA staff and volunteers helped me to organise a series of jumble sales to quickly shift the belongings we had which the new quarter may not accommodate. The sale raised over 2000 Euros which was donated to the local SSAFA.
Gerry was battling with increasing pain and fatigue. I became very worried as the symptoms seemed to replicate those in October 2007. But I was miles away and liaising with HC was difficult. Gerry failed the HC rehabilitation programme and we were
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