Thursday update
18 July 2019
Bart had an MRI scan at Hutt Hospital on Thursday and this showed that the clot is diminishing in size, which is great news. Knowing the cause of the clot (see Wednesday's post about the hole in the heart) we can now focus on recovery.
Bart will be discharged from Masterton Hospital on Sunday and will be returning with Izzy to the Karaka Road house in Eastbourne, and then attending the ABI clinic as a day patient for the next 30 to 40 days.
Message from Izzy: "Visitors are awesome and important for Bart’s spirit but it’s really hard to deal with people dropping in. I’m planning our days carefully around rest and rehab and exercise and personal cares, so an unplanned visitor can really throw things out of whack and cause a lot of stress. However, planned visits are LOVELY. And the enjoyment of anticipating a visitor gives really nice structure, and Bart can think about what he would like to talk about, and even practice peoples names. Text is best: 027 3808 123 Then I can get back to people in my own time. Suggest a couple of options for dates and times that would work for you. If you are dropping off a meal you can combine that with a 45 minute visit, or stay and have dinner with us.”
If you want to help out with meals or transporting Bart and Izzy to and from the ABI clinic please check out the Support Crew page via this link: http://bartcoxnz.homestead.com/
As we’ve said previously we have been completely blown away by the level of generous support that everyone has shown, and the speed at which the initial target of $30K was reached. In addition to the ABI costs we’ve subsequently realised that there will be a whole pile of other costs facing Bart and Izzy (who was supposed to be going to the UK to work there for three months, and who is now is assisting Bart with his recovery full-time) such as transport, and day-to-day costs such as power, rates and the mortgage. We are requesting to Give-a-Little that they change the goal from $30K to “open”. We’re also requesting that the “Use of funds” statement be updated to: "Funds will be used to pay ABI for the 30 to 40 days of therapy that will be required and for the many other expenses that Bart will face during his recovery. In the event that there are surplus funds these will be given to Stroke Foundation NZ."