Over the course of the next few weeks, Ruby began to walk without assistance for short spells, returning to her wheelchair for longer distances. Although she continued to have some right-sided weakness, she was finally deemed fit for discharge, with follow-up treatment required from Occupational Therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy.
‘Although we know that there’s still a long road ahead,’ says Jane, ‘we’re just so grateful for the progress that Ruby has already made. She's a little inspiration – and those are the nurses’ words! From having virtually no communication and very little movement, we’ve watched in amazement at how our daughter has overcome so many restrictions. Over the course of the first few days she made so many tiny, but heartening steps of progress. She learnt, for example, to trace the letter ‘T’ with her left finger on her left thigh in the isolation ward as a cue for when she needed to go to the toilet. Then we got our first smile, then a thumbs up for ‘yes’ and a thumbs down for ‘no’. She also had to learn to feed herself, draw, and dress herself with her left hand (she was right handed) and then to stand, to walk, and to relearn how to talk. She’s now relying on her wheelchair less and less and is chatting away. It may be a bit jumbled at times, but she’s chatting all the same and is now going to school two hours a week.
‘I always knew our daughter was a little on the stubborn side but there’s no doubt that it’s been that stubbornness – that sheer determination and willpower – that has got her – and us – through this.
were practically incoherent, not to mention absolutely terrified for Ruby. We just couldn’t understand what could possibly have caused her to go from healthy to hooked up on machines and unable to talk or move her right side.
‘There was so much uncertainty and we just felt utterly helpless. We didn’t even know that a child that young could suffer a stroke and were constantly asking if she would ever walk or talk again!’
(The healthcare professionals who treated Ruby told Jane and Iain that the stroke had probably happened as a result of Ruby’s chickenpox. Where countries such as the US, Canada and China vaccinate as a matter of routine against the chickenpox virus, the UK and Ireland do not.)
The next few weeks were something of a blur for Jane and her husband, with daily trips to the hospital to spend time with Ruby and watch for signs of recovery.
‘It was Ruby's sheer fight and also caring for our son, Adam, who’s just four, that kept us going,’ Jane continues. ‘We had to stay totally focussed on being as positive as we could (at least in front of Ruby and Adam). Plus, it was almost Christmas and seeing the Ruby and the other children in the hospital in a way gave us some perspective. So many people go through hard times, but children somehow find the resilience to be not down hearted. Spending time at a hospital for sick children certainly makes you snap out of yourself and get on with things the best you can.
‘We were also very well supported by family and friends. From coming home to find home-made dinners in foil on our doorstep, to receiving heaps of cards and pressies for Ruby and Adam - people's kindness and generosity really were quite humbling.’
Thankfully for the couple, from the moment that she was admitted to hospital, Ruby began to show a steady but gradual improvement. Within 48 hours, she had not only begun to regain some speech function, but her face and limbs had begun to show some signs of movement.
Modernmum 51
‘The busy outpatient programme of rehab therapies will continue for a long time, but that’s no problem. Ruby is learning new coping strategies every day and we’re sure she will continue to fight this all of the way. We’re just so happy - and so thankful - that she's come this far.'
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
