Emily's annual review

We sat down at Rainbows with a collection of professionals in Emily's life today to talk about her progress and to map out the next year.

All in all, I think everyone involved - head of Rainbows, teacher, and therapists - were quite happy with Em's progress. There's obviously a LONG road ahead, but we're no longer in the starting blocks.

Sue and I got to air some of our concerns that we noted recently with Emily - mainly the flicking of book pages and stabbing her thumb through them and pushing adults out of the room once she'd got what she wanted from them - usually a book or a Richard Scarry video on the TV. Everyone involved is going to work on some strategies to help Emily overcome these "issues".

We have a four point plan that we're going to work against over the next year that will hopefully push toward fulfilling more objectives on her statement of educational needs.

Holly died a year ago today

Holly, one year ago.

It was exactly a year ago today (3 March 2012) that we raced like maniacs from Sutton B&Q to the resuscitation unit at St. Helier's. It was a year ago today we were told that Holly was brain dead and there was no activity behind the eyes. It was a year ago today we were THEN told she was successfully revived. It was a year ago today we began our month's residency with the amazing folk at Evelina Children's Hospital.

I keep thinking sometimes that in a parallel universe somewhere (OK, I've been watching WAY too much Fringe lately) Alternate Sue and I are visiting a grave today and wishing beyond wishing that what happened hasn't actually happened. I can't begin to imagine what our lives would be like, what mental state we'd be in had the alternate reality happened. Thankfully we haven't had to find out.

Not to say the past year has been without it's problems due to this - we've had medications, therapies as well as a diagnosis of Choreoathetosis, which is a type of Cerebral Palsy where there are too many unwanted movements. At the moment, we've been told worst case scenario is wheelchair and never walking - but that's worst case.

It's been a long year and we made it through. I'd like to thank everyone again one year on for their wishes and prayers and I would be utterly remiss not thanking all the professionals and specialists who have been working with us to ensure that Holly's little brain recovers as much functionality as it possibly can.

DLA application

There's nothing more disheartening than filling out an application for Disability Living Allowance for a child. You really need to pour it on thick - without lying - and explain how helpless, and utterly incapable of living a normal constructive life your child actually is. All for a measly couple hundred quid a year.

The problem isn't having to write it down, the problem is seeing a condensed booklet of your child's disability and everything it means all in one place. Reading how they can't brush their teeth, or dress themselves, or cut their own food, or go to the toilet by themselves or even communicate using more than one word.

It really makes your heart sink seeing it all ... written down.

Still, I hope Em's case is strong enough to enable her to continue to receive the scraps from the government.

UPDATE: Sue found a website that publishes a guide to help fill in the DLA. Hopefully this will help us navigate the minefield.