It was good to hear his voice and to hear him recognising me and recalling our events. I couldn’t stay on the phone long as I’m at work and my boss passed me in the hall chatting.

Jonny said he’s good for a chat Saturday mornings so I shall be calling for a longer chat then !

Much love to you both. Keep strong lady.

Lorraine xx

Apologies once again for not submitting news more often, reason I suppose for us is that this is how our lives are and we are more accepting, therefore there is not as much to say as often.

Jonny has made improvements cognitively and with his short term memory. Physically he is at a level. Cognition is the key to improving physically. He has started going in the hydrotherapy pool and is able to do a few strokes assisted, this must be great freedom for him. He is also more interested in work these days and does feel with the concept launch of the new product, Hive, he has missed out a little. Awful that he has, however the emotion of missing out is a good sign.

James (eldest) and myself have really struggled emotionally and psychologically in the last couple of months. Whether this is bereavement or acceptance I am not too sure – to be honest I have become a master at face on/face off. James however being 9, is not as good at this and we have had had more than a few distraught nights. As we all know time is a great healer…James however being so much younger thinks time is an age…

Whatever happens, one does not know, there is not a crystal ball, and we are still half way through the majority of Jonny’s progress…it would be lovely to be able to make plans, but one cannot…

Anyway – Jonny is still very much into being visited by people who know him and to see new faces..if you Google, STAR Foundation Rotherham, this is where is he. Or even a phone call – this is where he responds best.

Have a good weekend xx

Well it has just taken me 12 months to pluck up the courage to go on facebook…needless to say I am unsure of placing any activity as I don’t really do much except work, kids and jonny… However would like to say, thanks to all those people whom have sent me some lovely comments that I have now responded to!

Jonny has been pretty down in the dumps…that he has the choice at his new place, means he is being lazy sometimes and choosing to stay in bed. Yesterday I told him that if he was not going to talk to me, I may as well leave, he then laughted and started talking to me (now some things do not change!).

He has been too weak to bring home lately, and if we had tried it would have been too hard on all of us. The new place is lovely and things are starting to come together now better than what they were. He has completed his initial OT and Physio assessments and now the “enablers” will be able to be trained up to work with him too.

I have just ordered him a box of tricks so when people visit him there are lots of activities to do with him…he needs lots of challenges – so if you do go visit – do not let him get away with being lazy!

Back from hols, lovely to see Jonny yesterday – was in good spirits. Off to give him a spruce up today for some one-one time, which he seemed to like the idea of yesterday – think it gets a bit too much when we all pile in with him. Nathan seemed to like the place very much, flickin the lights on and off, stealing all the apples in the fruit bowl, resetting the timer on the oven – just all the normal things.

Message to pass on for visitors – pls no visitors from 2-4, this they are going to leave as bed rest time for him…. So thanks for your understanding…

Give some more news once he has completed his Physio and OT assessments.

Once again apologies for not having written anything sooner, but I have been waiting to get some concrete news! This we have…

Jonny is moving from Pinderfields to a place in Rotherham (Meadowhall exit) called S.T.A.R. Foundation. It is a family run NFP organisation who specialise in transitional rehab. It has all the bulk of the therapy he needs (OT, Physio) plus a hydrotherapy pool and is really one of a kind on this type of rehab place. Recently it won a Centre of Excellence award. We are doing a visit on Wednesday and the moving date is Good Friday. Not necessarily brill for us as we go away the next day to Cyprus.

Jonny has been a bit up and down recently. More to do with the fact that he has recall on his situation and obviously it does not put him in the best of moods. I had a lovely afternoon with him last Thursday, two way conversation for about an hour (very good for J), then since he has been quite low. Am sure he would benefit from seeing a few new faces (prob sick of mine!). Strange to think that this time last year we had a great family hol in Cyprus, for us to get back to this the day after. Its harder at the moment as well with Jonny knowing more about his life now, and you just cannot compare this and previous.

Lil James said a couple of night ago, “We are doing ok without Daddy, aren’t we Mum?”, Yes darling back to him, and thinking, yes but it would be so much better if he was here too.

Happy Easter

Still stuck in the midst of all the protocol but things are moving on. Have been looking at another rehab home for him – this one near Meadowhall, so well catered for wifey too! Its a brand new place and they have the therapy he needs on tap at this one, which is much better. I have requested an assessment for him there too which is this wednesday and friday.

Jonny is pretty down at the moment – I think he has full realisation now that he has had the accident, yet to be confirmed but think he is out of PTA and the “acid” phase has worn off…He is very aware that being home full time is not the right place for him yet, knowing that he needs more physio and other rehab needs.

Just recounting a couple of conversations when I went to a friends 40th on Friday evening (first time out in 3 months)! Someone asked me, how I was coping “considering your life was hard enough before”, I asked them what did they mean by before??? The implication was having an autistic child… Have to say I have never thought this at all. Jonny or myself would never have it any different…throughout all of this, Nathan has kept me level headed and calm by the way he lives his life, his black and white ideals, does what he wants without worrying what other people think or care. He is the happiest person I know – we have a lot to learn from autistic people.

Another conversation I was party to was based around someone else who was also having a tough time at the moment and that they did not ever want to break down in public and friends were saying they should….Should we? Jury’s out perhaps, but I know what works best for me!

Summary of the night out – easier to stay in (??!!), hoped it would have been a night off from it all….not so!

When I first saw you I wasn’t sure you knew who I was, but no doubt about it this time. Looked me straight in the eye and smiled. Also I was pretty sure you registered everything I said. Also great to hear you say my name when Merriel asked you who I was.

What a tonic your friend Zack is. You certainly have some good mates.

Love from everyone in our family and keep up the progress.