Minimally Aware?

Today we had another meeting with all the staff looking after Mary. It sounds like she has made some slow progress health-wise, and has done better since she has been free of nasty chest infections. She is continuing the slow wean off the tracheotomy and now has one in the next ‘stage up’ meaning she can swallow for herself but still not breathe in and out through her nose and mouth (this will hopefully be the next few stages/weeks).

Mary still has an infection in the tissue on her left leg and so she is still prone to further infections until this goes. She has started some more antibiotics, which can at times leave her feeling a little poorly again, but they will hopefully do the trick! Please do continue to pray for the healing of this leg.

Mary’s recovery is lightly to be slower than others who have had similar head injuries, this is simply because of the extent of the injuries she suffered, and her body having to fight so hard to repair so much of itself over the last few months!

Clinically, Mary’s responses are showing that she is still only minimally conscious (although I can't help thinking that I'm sure she would be pretty offended by that medical analysis!). Mary seems to be most likely to respond to her name, visual stimulation and music. When she responds to things it is usually by a definite blink, moving her thumb on her right hand or moving her foot. We are still waiting for her to sit up and yell at us.

Mary’s responses are all still inconsistent. That means that at the moment none of these things can be used as a reliable way of asking Mary to communicate and none of them indicate that she is any more than 'minimally aware'. As its unlikely that Mary will be able to communicate her needs verbally any time soon, therapists are looking to see if these physical movements, if they can become more consistent, could be a way of Mary expressing what she wants or needs – even if it’s a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.