Update! my 6th grade cousin is in the hospital.

[Deleted]

he was playing basketball tonight with some friends and apparently "hit his head twice" - it's all a clusterfuck and I'm getting 3rd hand and very vague information. no one can tell me what time the actual injury occurred (only kids were present), if he actually lost consciousness, or what his current cognitive state is.

I know he did not recognize his own mother (at what point? no one knows) and he still might be suffering from TPA for all I know, and anyone who's studied TBI knows that time is such a huge factor here.

Also the first small hospital they took him to in rural Indiana doesn't have a neuro team, so they wasted time and had to transport him to a bigger city (still inside IN). I just wish someone would tell me what's going on instead of talking to my mom -- she doesn't understand it and jumbles the message and all she keeps telling me is that he hit his head twice.

I was supposed to visit them next weekend.

[Kore]

Thinking about you & your family. That's scary.

[Deleted]

Thanks Kore.

I think it doesn't help that 1) I am a generally anxious person and 2) every TBI patient we're presented with in our SLP classes is worst case scenario.

I would just like some info so I can somewhat gauge how much I should be worrying right now.

[yellowbrkrd]

I'm sorry, that sounds scary. I'll be thinking about your family.

[ellipses84]

((hugs)) My nephew had a similar situation, but had been hit by a car. He didn't get immediate care and had to be airlifted to a bigger hospital with a head injury. I'm telling you this because he was completely fine a couple weeks later, so there are definitely better outcomes.

[Deleted]

Nov 13, 2012 22:43:29 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

((hugs)) My nephew had a similar situation, but had been hit by a car. He didn't get immediate care and had to be airlifted to a bigger hospital with a head injury. I'm telling you this because he was completely fine a couple weeks later, so there are definitely better outcomes.

my heart sank until I got to the last sentence. I'm so glad he's okay.

[rikki]

Hugs! Keep us updated. Your family is in my thoughts.

[pitterwoo]

I hope he's ok and you get word soon!

[isabel]

Hope he's alright!

[morningmania]

I hope that things turn out good.

[juliahenry]

How is he doing today? I hope he's ok!

[Deleted]

you guys are awesome! thank you for the support.

his mom texted me this morning and says that he now not only remembers her, but he remembers me too! THAT KID BETTER! I changed his diapers and would stay with them for weeks at a time during school breaks, lol. kind of funny story: he was so excited last night to find out he has a little dog at home (they brought her home last Christmas.)

I don't want to push for more details because I don't think she's slept all night, but they're still at the hospital and he was going to get a neuro eval at 8am EST (so probably happening right now). she said the doctors are really hopeful, so that is awesome. much better news than last night! thanks again!

[Kore]

Yay!! I'm so glad he's recovering quickly

[bunnysmom]

Great update! I hope he continues to improve and recovers fully!

[Deleted]

I just called and my aunt said he "passed" his neuro eval and that's all the info I got. it's really killing me, lol. but I know they're not as interested in all of the details so I'm trying not to push. I really want her to send me the report, but perhaps I will ask at a later date.

I talked to my cousin - he did not sound like himself at all but it's still all so new. I tried to see if he'd guess who I was if I told him it was his "favorite cousin" but I quickly realized he's pretty exhausted and not ready for memory joggers yet, so I took it easy on him and just told him my name. I tried joking with him and I told him to milk this injury for all it was worth re: chores at home, but he wasn't ready for humor yet either. it's okay though - everyone is hopeful, and his mom is just so grateful for how quickly things have turned around. she said last night he had no idea who she was, had no clue he had siblings, and did not remember his own name--and this was hours after the injury.

I want to send him a movie and candy now, and I'm thinking a 4lb bag of skittles might do the trick. hey, our brains need glucose!