Michael Schumacher

With being an F1 fan my thoughts are with Michael Schumacher and his family at this time, especially as I had similar brain surgery when I had my initial stroke. He won't know anything about what is happening at the moment but his family will be having a dreadful time.

Once he is conscious again, the long road to recovery really starts and it is a hard road but he will have to stay strong.

Happy New Year to all my followers and all the best for 2014.

 

Therapies

The standard package for a stroke victim is 6 weeks of physio and 6 weeks of speech therapy. This is ridiculous and very inadequate, one size does not fit all. For example in my case I couldn't learn to read in 6 weeks. Also I was eager to get movement back in my arm and working hard with Sarah the physio but the system says sessions have to stop.  Someone needs to sort this out!

After 6 weeks of the speech therapy which I felt was not helping, I was told I would have to have 8 weeks off before being considered for more therapy. 

Physio was stopped after 6 weeks but Sarah suggested I self referred for more therapy. During this time my arm started to move which was very exciting, then Sarah dropped the bomb shell that I couldn't have any more therapy as I had already had too much! More annoying was a fellow patient was over 19 stone and was receiving therapy because she was struggling to walk and had to use a wheel chair. My view is this type of person should be given a diet sheet and told to come back when they have lost a few stones.

I was extremely frustrated as I felt I hadn't progressed at all with the speech therapy I had received, over the 8 week break I was given similar exercises to complete.  I showed these to Ann a friend who comes to see me each week and she agreed they were not what I needed.  She came up with a number of ideas and suggestions to help me as she realised my problem was a type of dyslexia caused by my brain injury. Not being able to read or write is very frustrating and I suppose it is difficult for other people to understand this when normally it is something we just take for granted. Ann has been brilliant because she does understand and has really tried to help me.

I couldn't wait to start at the aphasia centre in Newcastle University and just hoped they would be able to help me.

Life after hospital

Just to let you know what state I was in when I got home. 

> my right leg was heavy and stiff

> my right arm did not move at all

> my speech was not very good

> my sight had been affected by the stroke

> and I could not read or write

I felt that the future did not look very bright and I kept having my black days. 

After one of my doctors visits I was referred for speech therapy and physio, but disappointed to learn that I was only allowed six sessions of each. I started physio at at the Richardson hospital with Sarah, The first thing she did was to put my arm in a sling as she was concerned about my shoulder. She ordered me an arm brace which would support my shoulder. The next day out I had speech therapy at Darlington Memorial Hospital with Rosamond. The first session was to assess my needs. 

At the end of April Jill from the Stroke Association starting to make weekly visits to my home. I looked forward to these visits as she was very good. 

I was getting frustrated with speech therapy as I felt I was not making progress. 

As I was not able to read Liz got me some talking books I would listen to these books for an hour each day  Liz suddenly realised that I was starting to talk more and could form sentences. Listening to the to the books was obviously helping. 

Whilst I was in hospital The speech therapist Claire had referred me to the Tavistock Aphasia Centre at Newcastle University so I was pleased to get invitation to go for an assessment. This was on 5 June in Newcastle. The assessment took 2 1/2 hours, it was only after two hours that they realised what my problem was. I could not read or write because I did not know my letters, I was dyslexic because of the stroke. They offered me a place there and then to start in October. I was really looking forward to this. 

Back Home

There wasn't too much snow in Bishop Auckland but there was big snowdrifts in Bowes. I didn't recognise the route we took as it was all new to me but fortunately the girls knew the way and they kept telling me where we were. On the approach to the drive the car got stuck in the snow but we managed to reverse and continued down the drive at the second attempt. We got into the house and all was quiet and then Liz came through followed by a little dog. At first Megan did not move as too many people in the kitchen, she saw me and then went mad really excited to see me. 

I then had to do some tests to prove that I was able to manage at home. These were passed with flying colours The nurses then left me. The dog was still a bit unsure of me and was sulking because I had said I will not be long when I left her in February to go shopping. 

It was strange having to learn where every thing was in a house like what was in each cupboard and where  each room was. But it was nice to be home and sleeping in my own bed, we had to swap sides so I could get in and out easier. On the evening I was able to watch the news on television for the first time since my stroke as there was no television in hospital. This felt very strange but I soon got used to it again. My biggest problem was that I could not read and therefore I could not catch up on my magazines. 

Being at home meant I could go outside to see my land and buildings and the sheep we still had huge snowdrifts which lasted for weeks, they were as high as the summer house roof. 

I had achieved my first goal for getting home before the lambs were born so I had to set new goals. My first goal was to get walking again. I challenged myself  to walk to the end of the drive which is about 250 meters this was quite a challenge as it is uphill 50% of the way. I did this very slowly with the little dog by my side. 

Writing on my blog

I thought I would put a note on how this blog is written.

My Aphasia means i'm having to learn to read and write again. Liz and I agree the contents and Liz then writes it up longhand for me. I read it back to her and then I dictate it to my iPad using the speech function. 

Any errors or misspellings I then correct. This takes time but hope you are enjoying my blog. 

I welcome any comments. 

Coming home

Sat in my hospital ward in Bishop Auckland I was unaware of the problems people were having because of the snow. The nurses told me they had struggled to get into work and that buses had been cancelled etc but it did not register with me. I could see snow on the rooftops but it didn't seem too bad.
As part of my preparation for going home Liz John and myself had met with social services, they were keen to send carers round three times a day to get me up, make my lunch and to put  me to bed. Liz was not keen but thought perhaps my condition was too bad she would  not be able to manage, (at the rehab hospital relatives are asked to leave at meal times and not there when patients get up, showered etc. it would be better if partners were also shown what to do. 

Liz had received a phone call on the Friday morning from the carers saying they had done a risk assessment early because of the snow and would have to come early to put me to bed. Liz told them I had not come home and there was no way A 50 year old man would go to bed early in the after noon. She cancelled the arrangement. 

On Friday night the snow came with a vengeance roads were blocked huge snowdrifts the poor sheep farmers who had started lambing were having dreadful problems. 

Liz came to see me on the Saturday but had to come by taxi as she couldn't even get the Land Rover out of our driveway. Good job I wasn't at home as I may have been waiting for a carer to get me up! 

I was worrying I wouldn't be allowed to go home until the snow thawed but I think Liz was determined to get the drive dug out. On Sunday morning Liz was digging  snow when a Graham from the village arrived with his wife Sue and a another friend Gillian to help dig the snow The drifts were very deep and it took a long time but the Land Rover would now come out. 

I was beginning to get nervous and excited about going home. It had been a long time since I set out to go shopping one Saturday morning in February. I was also a little nervous that I wouldn't pass The home assessment and would have to return to hospital. One of my neighbours on the ward had gone home but couldn't manage the stairs and had come back. 

On the Sunday afternoon Liz' brother Tony came and they set about giving me a shave as they said I looked like  Robinson Crusoe this is one of the downside all being in hospital a long time - no one gives you a shave. 

The big day arrived 25 March 2013 I can go home! 

Setbacks

You will remember one of the goals I had been set by Liz was to be home in time for lambing.  Time was getting on and the lambs were due in April.
My physio was coming on well with my leg but there was no movement in my arm.
 I was getting very concerned about my eyes and both Liz and I kept trying to ask what exactly the problem was but all we were told was it is normal with a stroke.
One afternoon the speech therapist told me and my three neighbours that we were all going to a group   speech therapy session. I didn't want to go but there was no choice. I certainly didn't enjoy the session as my speech or lack of speech meant I couldn't join in very well. My talkative neighbour  made up for all of us!
When I got back to the ward I collapsed, I felt really ill and very very cold. The nurses came and took my temperature and said that it was very high.  I had a dreadful fever. They are brought a fan to cool me down but I was complaining because I felt so cold. For days I was very ill, I had antibiotics intravenously but when Liz asked why she was told it was just a precaution. 

Physio and one of the speech therapists stop coming to me. But the good speech therapist kept coming. 

After two weeks there was talk of me going home! At last! 

Occupational therapy discussed with Liz a date when they could visit my home to see what equipment I would need.

This visit went ahead and a date was fixed for me to go on a home assessment trial to see how I got on.

If I could manage I would be able to stay. But what ever happened I would see my little dog.

The day I was due to go home  Liz had a phone call to say I couldn't leave hospital and by home visit was cancelled for medical reasons.

This was the day Liz flipped! She came rushing to the hospital thinking the worst. Liz demanded to see the head doctor to find out what was going on. Apparently the medical staff and occupational therapy had not had a discussion about me going home. OT did not know I had an infection which the medical staff were worried about. Liz pointed out we had also not being told this and asked what it was. Streptococcus bovis she was told (A symptom of bowel cancer) (it is also very prevalent in sheep !!) Liz was really cross and said if we had been told we could have told them we keep sheep.

As I had is missed my visit home I would have to wait until after the weekend, this was very disappointing but only a few more days.

And then down worst thing happened SNOW!   Even though it was late March the worst snow since me 1970s arrived blocking  roads with huge snowdrifts. Living on the North Pennines this was a major problem.

A funny story

Liz and I were on the Quayside bus in Newcastle this week on our way to Newcastle University, sat opposite us on the bus were a rather elderly well dressed couple who were very loudly discussing the benefits given to disabled people!

The lady suddenly announced that it was ok for people who had had strokes to get help because that "rather nice gentleman on the BBC had had a stroke"  apparently he speaks very well as he had obviously been to Eton and then Cambridge.

Liz and I found it very difficult not to laugh out loud!

Thank you Andrew Marr for making strokes respectable!

Speech Therapy

I had 2 speech therapists whilst at Bishop Auckland and one of them would come and see me each day.

We mostly concentrated on having a conversation and also looking at picture cards and naming what was on them, I think to help with my memory loss.

One of the therapist was very keen on using IT software and we would use either an iPad or laptop, she was very good and arranged for me to have a laptop by my bed.

I was increasingly frustrated with my speech as many times I struggled to say what I wanted (at least the swear words were under control!) Many times I would just give up and keep quiet.  My neighbour in the next bed could talk for me!

The speech therapist asked if I would be interested in taking part in an intensive aphasia therapy at Newcastle University - I said of course I would!  So she said she would send my details and ask for a place but couldn't promise that I would get one.

Going outside

My neighbours had taken to going out into Bishop Auckland in a wheelchair but I was determined I was not going to use one so Liz and I decided my next goal would be to go for walk outside.  Liz had hoped to bring my little dog Megan to see me, but the weather had turned so cold it was not practical to leave her tied up outside.

Therefore we decided to just go for a little walk beyond the front door.

I managed as far as the bus stop outside the hospital and we joked about where I could run away to!

The fresh air was wonderful despite the cold.  It made me determined to get home.

Goals

Liz set me a number of goals - the first one being I had to be home in time for lambing!

In order to go home I had to show I could walk,  so the physio set me the goal of walking the full length of Bishop Auckland hospital.

The main corridor runs the full length of the hospital and the stroke rehab ward is at the back if the hospital and the main door is at the other end (the cafe is also at the front of the hospital!)

The physio would take me along the corridor each day getting further each time.

It was a wonderful feeling when I got to the front door and I had achieved my first goal!

I was very proud when I could show Liz and John what I could do and we celebrated with a cup of coffee in the cafe!  My first adventure out of a hospital ward in nearly 5 weeks.

The next goal was to go for a walk outside!

My Neighbours

Although all four of us in my room had suffered a stroke we all had very different symptoms which shows how no two strokes are alike.  Therefore treatment needs to be designed for the individual.

                              One size does not fit all!

In bed one, the guy had had a stroke on the right side of his brain, therefore his speech was not affected and he talked all the time, but the music part of his brain was affected which was sad as he played an instrument in a brass band.

In bed two, the guy couldn't talk at all and struggled to walk, his family had to take him everywhere in a wheelchair.

In bed three, the guy had to also use a wheelchair but he could talk.  His bed was lowered almost to floor level as he kept falling out of bed and he had tried to "escape" a number of times!

First memories

Thank you to my wife, Liz for filling in the gaps when my memory does not recall.
I have very few memories of the first few  days at Bishop Auckland hospital. My first memory is of being in a room with three other men who had suffered strokes.
At first I was having physio daily the main push for this was to get you walking so you could go home, therefore physio concentrated on legs with very little exercise on my arms.
I received speech therapy from two therapists on my ward mostly based on looking at picture cards and naming them.

One of the therapists was interested in using IT and arranged for me to have a laptop and then an IPad. I found this very difficult as I couldn't concentrate for very long.

Still very sleepy.

Animals

In case you are wondering what was happening to all our animals whilst we were in Newcastle, they were all being well cared for.

We have wonderful farmer neighbours who from day one took over looking after the sheep and chickens.

Chris's sister Dianne had sent a text on day one asking what she could do, offering to take the dog and even the sheep if necessary!   So Megan went to stay with Dianne and her husband Dave for a wonderful holiday.
At this stage Liz would like to apologise to John and Ceri's dog! She is not called Stella but Senna because of her grace and speed! Sorry Senna.

Newcastle Ward 41 Acute

After the friendliness of the staff on ITU  I was a little surprised at the atmosphere on the acute ward, although extremely efficient and nothing lacking with the care shown to Chris, I felt a little unhappy because no one spoke to me very much.  It wasn't until Chris had been on the ward for a few days that things began to change and the staff became more friendly, I later learnt it was because they didn't think Chris was actually going to survive!  But then they don't know Chris like I do and he is a fighter!

Whilst on the ward he had help from the physiotherapists and also the speech therapists, his speech was much worse than it had been prior to surgery, at first the only words he could say were Yes, No and a few swear words, much to my mothers surprise!  His memory was dreadful and he was unable to tell me if or who had visited, so I left a "visitor" book so people could leave their names.

Chris had no interest in newspapers or magazines, at first I thought it was because he was so sleepy but we learnt his aphasia meant he could not read as he had forgotten how to and did not even know the alphabet. We later found his sight had been affected by the stroke and he is now registered as partially sighted.

This was making him more and more frustrated and he was becoming increasingly unhappy, although John and I were visiting him daily it was always Ceri who got a beaming smile!

Sheer determination was keeping Chris going, his speech was improving and we made him ask for anything he wanted and let him take his time to get words out, he was also doing well in physio, I arrived one day to see him "walking" down the corridor, a therapist on either side but we were on the road to recovery!

Never a romantic person I was completely shocked one evening when Chris took my hand and kissed it!  If John had not been there to witness it I think I would have thought it a dream! Have to admit both John and I were a little misty eyed.

One of the highlights of his stay on ward 41 was when I brought him one of his favourite Costa coffee's, he drank it and then announced " that was the best cup of coffee ever". The man in the next bed cheered because Chris had said a full sentence

On the 26th February Chris was transferred to Bishop Auckland hospital for rehabilitation, only 14 days later than first planned but what seemed a whole life time later!

Newcastle ITU

Chris was in ITU for 4 days, at first he was kept heavily sedated on on a breathing apparatus, he was being fed a liquid feed direct to his stomach. Gradually the sedation was reduced and then the fun started.  Although extremely unwell he did not like the ventilator down his throat or the tube down his nose so spent all the second night pulling them out! Louise told me she had been kept busy all night and eventually they decided to let Chris breath on his own. To stop him doing any more mischief he had to wear a large mitten on his good hand!

Communication was difficult, it mostly consisting of asking him if he was ok or wanted anything and he would "speak" with his eyes.  Obviously it was a very difficult time for Chris and we didn't know how much he could comprehend so all we could do was reassure him that we were there.  One morning he was desperately trying to tell me that something had happened to his head, he kept raising his "mittened" hand to his forehead and "speaking" with his eyes he indicated that it hurt - all I could do was tell him I knew and that he was not alone.

Only John and I went into see Chris whilst he was in ITU, Ceri as John's wife could have gone in to see him but she was by then suffering from a heavy cold so we left her in the waiting room where we had spent the first evening, unfortunately this was then also occupied by another large, noisy family who took over the room!

One afternoon I was asking him if he was ok and he quietly said "yes" I asked him if needed anything! he said "no".   I told Louise, she said that was good.

However, I hadn't realised that this meant nothing as the hospital staff needed to hear him speak (they needed to know he wasn't brain damaged and a spouse could say they heard him speak to make them believe he was ok). So that evening the Matron Angela spent hours with Chris making him speak, when I went in the next morning the staff were so excited as he could say Yes and No.

I was sad but pleased when they said Chris could be moved onto the acute ward, it meant we were moving to next stage of his recovery but they had been so wonderful in ITU.

Day four

Liz continues:

It was now Tuesday 12th February, when I arrived at Durham hospital I was told Chris was to be transferred later that day to Bishop Auckland hospital for rehabilitation.  I was rather surprised as he had seemed so unwell the evening before but pleased to think he must be on the road to recovery.  However, when I went into his room I was extremely shocked to see how unwell he looked, he was dressed in a hospital gown and his skin was as white as the bed sheets.

I was walking back to the desk to ask what was wrong with him when I met the Sister who came back with me to Chris' room, she said she had just come on duty so would go and find out!  I was later told Chris had been sick earlier which was why he was wearing a gown, I remember saying he would need to be changed into pyjamas before he went in an ambulance.

Lunch arrived and he didn't want anything, all he wanted to do was sleep, his blood pressure was sky high but no one came to check on him.  A couple of times I tried to rouse him from his sleep but he was sound, I thought he is at least getting some rest.

The ambulance arrived to take him to Bishop and I was asked to leave the room whilst they got Chris ready to go.  I waited outside with the 2 ambulance men, they were trying to get away to beat the traffic.

Next thing the alarm was flashing outside the room, nurses and doctors were running in all directions, the ambulance men were told "he's not going" apparently he had been sick again.

I was taken to the relatives room and told Chris was unconscious and that they were taking Chris for a CT scan.  John and Ceri arrived, and we waited for news.

The ward doctor arrived and took us to the sisters office he told us there was a serious problem, the pressure in Chris brain had built up to a dangerous level and that he was now in a life threatening situation. We had a choice, they could take Chris to the Newcastle RVI hospital for brain surgery to release the pressure, this would mean the damaged part of his brain would be removed, but this could mean he would be permanently damaged, or we could do nothing and let nature take its course.  We were asked what would Chris want, would he want to be permanently disabled and perhaps unable to communicate?   

We were given 5 minutes to decide as time was of the essence.

The doctor then asked if we wanted to see the CT scan to understand fully what was happening, this was extremely useful as it showed how the pressure had built up since the initial stoke, he showed us what they would try and remove but how within the brain, damaged and good brain looks the same hence the risks.

There was no real choice of course we were going to grasp every chance for Chris.

The Durham ITU team arrived to prepare Chris for the trip to Newcastle, he would be put on a ventilator and transferred under blue lights with a police escort.

In the middle of all this my brother Tony arrived with my Mum, Ceri left to go home to organise their dog Stella, her father was on his way to collect Senna, as fortunately Ceri was thinking ahead, and was preparing for me to stay at their house.

Tony drove John and me to Newcastle, it was snowing.

We arrived at Newcastle A&E and were expected, the receptionist took us to a private room and brought in 2 steaming mugs of tea!  

The surgeon joined us in the room and once again asked if we wanted to go ahead with the operation, outlining the risks.  We said yes, she asked if Chris would cope with being paralysed on his right side and unable to communicate, I said he would hate it (wouldn't anyone).  

We were taken to the ITU waiting room as this would be where Chris would be taken after surgery.

The surgeon returned and asked us again, she said they were taking legal advice as I had said Chris would not be happy being paralysed........ John got angry and said if they were taking legal advice so were we..........

The next time the surgeon returned she was with a senior ITU consultant, I feared the worse and thought they were going to tell me Chris had died or they would not operate.  But no the consultant said she thought they needed to get on with it!

John and I then settled down to wait, we were told it would be a number of hours and that they would let us know as soon as they could.  The matron Angela from ITU came and introduced herself.

John rang Ceri to tell her where we were, he told her to say she was his wife when she got to the hospital so she would be allowed into our waiting room .....such a romantic if that was a proposal.

At about 1am the surgeon came into the room and told us the operation was over and that Chris was in ITU and about half an hour later Louise arrived, to say she was the ITU nurse who would be looking after Chris and would we like to see him.  I did but John didn't at that time.

Chris was heavily sedated, on a breathing machine and his head heavily bandaged, there seemed to be pipes and wires all over him, but he was alive and in very safe hands.

Thank goodness for Ceri, she was an absolute hero and took charge of both John and me, driving us back to their house, and insisting on tea and something to eat!

Day two and three

Liz continues:

As it was the weekend not much happened on the Sunday, Chris slept most of the time which was perhaps a good thing as he was very distressed about what was happening to him.  We spent a great deal of the time guessing whether his blood pressure would go up or down when the monitor recorded it every 15 minutes.  The only people he wanted to see were myself, John, John' s partner Ceri and my brother Tony, I think Chris didn't want anyone to see him in hospital at that time.

By Monday he was much weaker, there was no movement on his right side, his speech had deterioted further, I found it difficult to understand what Chris was saying which frustrated him greatly as he felt he was speaking correctly.  Fortunately John seemed to be able to understand what his Dad wanted.  Chris' parents came to see him on Monday afternoon, unfortunately Chris slept through most of their visit.

John and I had a meeting with Chris' speech therapist and she explained that he had aphasia which would affect his communication, at that stage this was all very new to us and we thought it meant he couldn't speak, not understanding it would also effect his reading and writing.

Although Chris had managed to feed himself on day one he was now longer able to do this and I had to help him eat his meals.

Day one

This is my story about life after a stroke and how it occurred.
Before my stroke  I was a very active person. I played golf every weekend, I had a Jack Russell that kept me on my toes. I live on a small holding keeping chickens and rare breed sheep.
I trained as a joiner I have always worked in the joinery business. My other interests include Motor sports, Landrovers, DIY and mechanics.

On the 9th February 2013 my life changed completely.

It was a Saturday morning and as usual I had got up and fed the sheep, let the chickens out and was waiting for my wife Liz so we could go shopping, we always did the supermarket shop early to get it over and done with. Liz was moaning because she was tired after a busy week at work!  We set off with me driving and had got about half way to town when my hand suddenly ceased up and fell off the steering wheel, I thought this was very strange and Liz was telling me to pull over but I drove to the supermarket car park.  When we got there my arm had stiffened and I couldn't straighten my hand.

As it was a Saturday our doctors surgery wasn't open so Liz rang 111 to ask for advice. 

The 111 call was answered by an operator who insisted on asking all the questions on his computer screen, this went on for quite sometime so eventually Liz calmly but firmly told the operator that if he didn't either put her onto his supervisor or a nurse she was going to disconnect the call and dial 999. This did the trick and a nurse came on the phone, but she started going through the same questions!

Eventually she said she wanted me to go to the hospital and she could either send an ambulance or Liz could drive me to A&E.   Liz said she would drive - we had wasted enough time already.

I can't remember the journey to Darlington A&E but Liz tells me I was very aggressive and was shouting at her to use 6th gear (she has forgiven me) The last thing I can actually remember is walking through the doors of the hospital and after that I can't remember anything that happened for the next 4 weeks.

Liz's words:

When we arrived at A&E Chris was very quickly called into see an emergency doctor, he said he would go in alone thinking it would be fairly quick and we could get on with all the things we had planned to do that day.  Although a great deal had had happened it was still only 9.15am The car park ticket shows what time we had arrived at Darlington.

I sat in the waiting room for about 40 minutes and was getting rather worried, so decided to find someone to ask what was happening, as I stood up I saw Chris being wheeled past on a trolley, so I stopped the doctor and demanded to know what was going on!  They took both Chris and I back into a room and she told me they suspected Chris had had a stroke, she said she had just been putting a cannula in his arm when he collapsed, so they were taking him for a CT scan.  I went with the Chris and a porter to the CT scanner and was asked to wait outside the room, when they emerged it was obvious Chris had detoriated so the porter took him straight down to the emergency department and called for the Charge nurse.  I was told Chris had had a stroke and that it was an Intracranial Hemorrhage this meant he would be sent to an acute hospital very rapidly, there was then some discussion as to whether it would be the University Hospital at Durham or James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

In the meantime they wanted to know from me what medication he was taking  (Chris had already had a TIA in December). I didn't know and hadn't a list of his medication - we had only been going shopping.  I was told to ring our doctors for the list - in shock by this time I rang the number for the surgery but it was a Saturday and transfers - yes you've guessed it to 111 - the questions started again! I said thanks but no thanks and disconnected!

By this time my brother Tony had arrived which was wonderful as we both needed his support.  Chris was still able to speak at this time and chatted to my brother. It was decided to transfer Chris to Durham and I went in the ambulance with him whilst my brother followed behind.  

Our son John met us at Durham and as Chris was put into a private room we were able to spend all day with him.  By this time his speech had detoriated, he had no movement in his right arm or right leg and was sleeping most of the time.  His blood pressure was sky high.

I returned to Darlington with Tony to pick up our car and go home to organise the sheep, chickens and poor dog who thought we were only going shopping.

John stayed with his Dad and said he was impressed as he had been able to eat his evening meal using left hand.