Fundraising for Brigitte Bullen's Recovery

11/10/2015

How’s that photo! Brig is looking just as fabulous as the Cover page, which was taken a month or so before the crash. We took this photo just before we ventured off on our first child free outing. We went to the Opera house to see our lovely friend Claire play a number with the SSO called Sibelius 2, they ripped it.. afterwards we shared a drink in the sun with Claire and Mitesh at one of the Opera house bars (name??) We had a great day and Brig’s final comment was ‘I almost felt normal’

As a quick update on how she’s travelling, she’s moved from one walking aid to another arriving at a single leg cane, this is the end of the line for aids although it’s looking like it’ll be around awhile. Brigitte is still reliant on a carer or myself assisting her, holding her hand, she has been trying to shake this kind of dependency and learnt the hard way by wandering off on her own and having an awful fall in the bathroom, hitting her face and head on the frameless glass curtain, nothing broken thank goodness, just a very sore ear and new found appreciation for the care provided.

Learning to walk again is taking a lot longer than I ever imagined, particularly because there doesn’t seem to be anything really wrong physically, the nerves and bones are fine, we are dealing primarily with rewiring the brain communication with the body. Brigitte’s current condition is she has pins and needles on her right side and a permanent ache in her foot like the one you get from stepping on a piece of Lego only X that by 10. Some of the treatments offered are she had 2 large needles of Botox injected into her foot, the result achieved is her toes don’t clench up anymore which makes her foot placement a lot better, also Royal Rehab are looking at strapping a Bioness brace to her calf, this very expensive brace gives electrical stimulation to her muscles which will help her knee function, it’s still being tested on whether it will be useful, we don’t have one of those yet (they don’t work with everyone). Brigitte has also started Hydrotherapy + Gym classes 2 days a week at a recovery hospital in Dee Why called Delmar, with a lot of hard work she’s going to regain her independence.

Eyesight, speech, OT etc, I won’t write the details this time, they are all still being worked on, plenty of progress is still being made.

We’ve had amazing support from family and friends, Brigitte gets weekly visits from her local friends and regular weekend visits from city friends. Today Alex Walder and Amelia Teasdale came for a long lunch, Brigitte laughed a lot and admitted to having ‘fun’. Next week a bunch of my city friends are coming up for a working bee, I’m so looking forward to it.

I’d love to write more but it’s a very busy time having Brig back home, I thought I’d given up night work when I quit being a waiter! How life can change.. it’s still a good one thou.

Good night and good luck
Nigel

10/10/2015

Taking the husband out for a long overdue date.

09/05/2015

I thought I should write a quick, long overdue update, so much has been happening.

Royal Rehab is an impressive rehabilitation centre (best in Australia) nevertheless when you’re an inpatient with so much to live for in the outside world its prison! Brigitte did her best while in there and was given a lot of good feedback on just how well she was recovering, particularly the mental side of her injuries, she’s much the same girl now as the one who hit that pole! Physically we still have some way to go, which is exasperated when you’ve got your marbles back.

Back to the journey – Brigitte had a goal of going home full time for the school holidays, although this was against recommendations and not a medical discharge, all the staff at Royal Rehab worked hard to facilitate and put systems in place for Brigitte to come home and continue therapies here at home and in the community.

Discharge was April 2 just in time for multiple Easter egg hunts! We spent a few days with the Andersons at home before heading up to Gail’s at Crescent Head for the school holidays. It was great being there with all the family around, the cousins re-bonded and had a wild time as they do. Brigitte did a lot of walking on Gail’s front lawn with her good arm slung over my shoulder, we looked like a new couple who can’t keep their hands off each other. I took a few risks and let Brigitte shakily walk unassisted for 20 steps or so (this is not in my rule book, but exciting, don’t tell the physio!)

Now that Brigitte is back at home, LTCS provide us with ongoing support, we have met 3 attendant carers who are sharing the role of assisting Brigitte with all her normal life activities/ functions. They come morning and afternoon Monday to Saturday with a few hours break in between. Sunday, we’ve nominated it to be an attendant free day for family time (visitors welcome). On top of the attendant carers Royal Rehab continue to send therapist out, Physio, Occupational, Recreational, Speech, Social worker, Psychologist and others like GP, Case manager etc… Brigitte had a hard first week adjusting to all this in the home environment, it was also really hard to only be an onlooker to all the family routines. This week Brigitte’s spirit has lifted and she has worked really hard at walking, walking is now the no.1 big goal, with the Physio visit once a week and a weekly program she’ll get there, hopefully by the next time I write an email.

Life isn’t all homebound, we make sure Brigitte gets to go to all Rockets soccer practises and games, we’ve been to Emma and Toms for evening drinks, I took her to the beach at Crescent Head and dug sand chairs for her to sit or slump in.. when the rain stops more beach time is planned.

Thank you all who have supported us, everything helps, a lot have asked when would be good time to visit, Brigitte finds it hard to commit to much else but is always welcoming when friends arrive, so feel free to drop me a line and we can work out when’s best.


I hope everything’s well in our friends lives too, I’ve hardly had the chance to know anything but my own!

Love Brigitte, Nigel, Rocket, Lucette and Cassius

Btw. We had Tanya our friend and hairdresser around who dyed her back to its natural blond with highlights, she no longer looks like Don King. It’s amazing what a bit grooming can do for the soul (and amazing what husbands don’t know about their wifes!)

31/03/2015

Good day everyone. Just letting you all know that Brigitte GOES HOME TOMORROW. Not a day too soon for her- she is quite vocal in her desires and blowing rehab tops the list. Good luck Brig and Nige, happy hunting this weekend.x

11/03/2015

Juice for Health. Cleanse for a Cause. Check out Roxy Lancaster page.This Saturday 14th march Juice Farm will be at Bowral Markets. All juicing profits will be donated to Fundraising for Brigitte Bullen's Recovery for Brigitte English journey to recovery. Share this and tell friends and family to come to the Juice Farm stall. There will also be a donation box. Email roxlancaster@gmail.com for cleanse info or to pre- order juices. Drink away!!!!

05/03/2015

So we all know that Brigitte likes a good dance. So this year
Brigitte's friend Raelee organised for the dancing to come to her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2CYDRCpfEg&feature=youtu.be

27/02/2015

Oh and did you read the part where Nigel slipped in that it is BRIGITTE ENGLISH'S (BULLEN!) 40th BIRTHDAY today. I'm sure she'll be thrilled with this public announcement. Happy Birthday Brig.x

27/02/2015

Tennis. Like a BOSS!

27/02/2015

Hello,
Below is a letter from Nigel outlining Brigitte's progress. We have also had a request for a little information on what happened to Brigitte for those that do not know. I'll put the outline in after Nigel's note. You can skip my part but do read Nigel's note as it is lovely.

All
We are 6 weeks into rehab and it’s coming up 3 months since our lovely girl went off the road, Brigitte has come a long way, it’s amazing just how far she has come from that girl with multiple injuries and too many tubes and wires coming out and going in to remember. I can’t say she is not struggling but she is determined to get her life back and to be the one thing she enjoys best, being a mum.
Occupational therapy has been working hard with Brigitte which has meant she has been able to come home for weekends and she is progressing towards coming back home full time with attendant carers, if you ask Brig this is in 5 weeks ready for the school holidays, don’t ask anyone else because the answer doesn’t matter! OT have Brig dressing herself, feeding herself, washing herself, making herself a cup of tea and toast.
Recreational therapy has Brig playing tennis with her left hand, she does this with a few of the spinal injury clients, It’s a bit hard for her to express much joy here verbally, she comes from a classy tennis background but I can see that she enjoys it in her face. I’ve been asked to take her on tandem bike rides, they have these tricycle seat bikes which connect together, guess who’ll be doing the work uphills..
Clinical pshyc has been helpful. I can imagine the pressure her therapist is under. She's been suffering from anxiety and disrupted sleep but is working on resolving this with the clinician.
Physio has been great, Brig is really dedicated, there are various machines that Brig uses regularly to build muscle in her arms and legs. The right side as predicted is very weak. Brig has been walking around the ward with a walker and only 1 assistant, down from 2. Brig can stand next to a rail for 20 minutes, it doesn’t sound much but it is progress, we think that she’ll be able to make short trips unassisted (but with a walker) in 3 – 4 weeks and possibly walking in 3 months. Brigitte’s hand will take a lot longer to heal, it’ll be another 9 months before its useful, I have her using her left hand for signing docs, we’re having a laugh here, she’s seeing the funny side..
Btw – we went back to RNSH yesterday for a check up on Brigitte’s pelvis, they X-rayed it, I got to see the 2 screws they put in to help bind it back to her spine, it was a shock to see how long they were - 6-7cm each! Anyway the surgeon gave her the all clear the pelvis is fully healed the screws don’t do anything anymore. We have 1 more visit to RNSH for a check-up with the Neuro surgeon , no issues there either I suspect.
Speech therapy is going really well, conversation ability, use of vocabulary, clarity, all those good things are coming back well, only those close to her can tell any difference, new acquaintances would hardly think there was a problem I’m sure. Actually she has it together so well that I’m letting her do her own interviews with the attendant care providers, the rehab case manager will sit in but I get relief from this one! Yay
Optics Brigs right eye has been giving her issues, it also needs rewiring from the brain, this makes it very hard for her to read. Today an Optometrist visits and we think she will get a prescription for glasses in the interim. What we really want is for it to just heal as it’s driving her mad.
Apart from the 100 or so Ambulance/Hospital/Rehab staff that have been involved I want to add a big thank you to everybody who has supported us. All the family support has been great. Brigitte’s besties who have dropped everything to sit, talk, massage and generally spoil her - a big thank you to you and your understanding husbands. Another big thank you to all the sisterhood for the meals - these have been a lifesaver. Now that we have a more stable routine, with my mum, an au pair on hand plus because Brigitte’s coming home on weekends I’ve blocked out sat, sun, mon from the register. I need to start standing on my own 2 feet again. Thank you to all the generous souls who have donated to Brigitte’s recovery fund, it is cruising towards target. This has taken so much stress off my shoulders and allowed me to employ the au pair, replace the car and be with Brigitte for a few hours a day without financial worries.
There are so many people I need to thank for so many different reasons, this thought floats around my mind all the time, hopefully this email will get to you all.
Brigitte turns 40 today! We’ve decided to keep the party to a minimum, 2015 will be focused on healing so look out 41 there’s a lot of making up to do. Look out!
Nigel

Initial accident/injuries
Brigitte was involved in an horrific single car accident on Eastern Valley Way. She did a few spins and wrapped herself around a tree, taking the full impact through the driver's side door - and straight into the right side of her body. No airbags. Pictures of the accident made the papers.
She was airlifted from the scene and suffered serious multiple injuries. Broken pelvis, lacerated liver, 2 punctured lungs, flailed chest (all ribs on her right side were broken) and most problematic - a very serious Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Brigitte was in a coma for 3.5 weeks. Initially it was induced but she continued to remained in her own little state of suspension for a couple of weeks more. All in all she was in a state called Post Traumatic Amnesia (this is the global term encompassing a state of coma as we know it and then the 'waking up' process that follows) for 7 or so weeks. To put this into context you are categorised as 'severe' (most serious) if you are in PTA for more than 1 week.
As you can see Brigitte has 3 small children at home - 3 year old twins and a 6 year old. It was incredibly frightening - they were telling us her injuries were pretty dire and that they could not predict what may happen to her. Nigel was told to brace for the worst and if she did recover that there was no hope for a full recovery and that there is aways a 'fallout' when dealing with a TBI.
As you will read from Nigel's note below Brigitte is making a remarkable recovery. Yes there will certainly be a 'fallout' but she is alive and even though she doesn't feel like celebrating, we are. Hers is a good news story, but it was so very close to being very much the opposite...

11/02/2015

Dear all,
Brigitte had a lovely w/e at home with her family. It was pretty hectic and obviously a pretty poignant time for everyone. Everyone was pretty emotionally and physically exhausted by Sunday night but such a success that they're doing it all again this weekend.
The house has been modified with a ramp to give Brigitte wheelchair access (thank you so much Sam!) but doctors still asked for 100% supervision. Hmm do they know a 6 year old and twin three year olds live in the house too!!
Brigitte received the news today that she is still a couple of months off walking. No walking, no leaving rehab. She's pretty disappointed (she thought she was weeks off leaving) but hopefully will be back feeling determined tomorrow.
Again thank you so much to everyone who has donated, it really will make such a difference to the Bullen's. For those of you who have forgotten to pop some money in please be aware that the amount doesn't matter, any amount will be gratefully received. Remember the annoying sounds of your father to your little self - "Many hands make light work". Yep that old chestnut. Well that old adage fits the bill here. Thanks Dad. And thank you all for your help and thoughts.xx

04/02/2015

Dear All,
A quick thank you to those very sweet souls that have made a donation so far. Just a quick update to let you all know that your gifts are making it to the correct account!
Brigitte has pushed and pushed and is able to go home for an overnight visit on Saturday... The family is pumped! All going well she will be able to continue this in the future. Thank you again for your incredible generosity thus far. A more detailed update will come next week after Brigitte's home visit. Fingers crossed and many thanks to you all.xx

27/01/2015