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Get Fergus Home

  • How Fergus is going now.

      1 May 2017
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    Hi all, We haven't thought to update this in a while but we are as always thankful for all that was done for our Fergus. We have had a lot of people ask for updates as it has been a really long time. As most people are aware, he is at Laura Ferguson for Brain Rehabilitation. The progress is steady but it's a long road to recovery. This is the most recent update.

    Fergus was recently visited by Dr Deb Mason, a renowned Christchurch based neurologist who has been working with Fergus since he arrived back in New Zealand. It was a really positive visit for us, Fergus and the Laura Ferguson team. It was noted that the rehabilitation so far had been very effective. Dr Mason was blown away by how well he’s doing, he managed to stand on his tilt table for over an hour and he was responsive to her questions. He showed that he had really strong movement in his left index finger which could be a means for communication by ways of a bell which Dr Mason will bring in for him. He also is going to be reviewed by Opthamology to check his eyesight. The level of care at Laura Ferguson is of an incredibly high standard and Dr Mason has said that it’s in best interest to stay there in order to keep that high level of care and rehabilitation. We are as always beyond thankful for all the staff at Laura Ferguson, our family and friends and Dr Deb Mason for believing in Fergus.

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  • Family Update

      6 August 2016
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    Fergus is in good hands with the staff at Laura Ferguson Trust who are dedicated and enthusiastic team and who provide excellent advice and kind words and support as we go along this difficult journey.

    As we watch him heal we have started to see that Fergus has started making progress towards communication. Some days we can gauge answers from a blink or a long gaze into your eyes and some days he pushes himself up in bed to try and communicate. Most recently Fergus has started to show his abilities again in his left (most dominant) arm by trying to lift it. We have also noticed that he is trying to speak as he has begun moving his mouth and making noises with his throat. The constant enthusiasm from the Laura Ferguson staff is really enabling us to believe in his healing process.

    Ferg is a fighter and we can see his determination in his eyes as he is slowly starting to show us signs that whilst we know this journey to be a long one, we must always believe in him, which we all do.

    Fergus is in good hands with the staff at Laura Ferguson Trust who are dedicated and enthusiastic team and who provide excellent advice and kind words and support as we go along this difficult journey.

    As we watch him heal we have started to see that Fergus has started making progress towards communication. Some days we can gauge answers from a blink or a long gaze into your eyes and some days he pushes himself up in bed to try and communicate. Most recently Fergus has started to show his abilities again in his left (most dominant) arm by trying to lift it. We have also noticed that he is trying to speak as he has begun moving his mouth and making noises with his throat. The constant enthusiasm from the Laura Ferguson staff is really enabling us to believe in his healing process.

    Ferg is a fighter and we can see his determination in his eyes as he is slowly starting to show us signs that whilst we know this journey to be a long one, we must always believe in him, which we all do.

    As always, we appreciate your ongoing love and support and dont know where we would be without our family and friends.

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  • Fergus's progress

      16 June 2016

    After a lot of questions around Fergus's recovery we thought it would be best to give an update on his progression.

    Fergus is now in his new home at Laura Ferguson Trust in Ilam, Christchurch. Through his recovery at his new home we have found his progression to be well supported by the team there and his family and friends. At present we have implemented different types of systems and various methods in order to enable his slow but steady recovery. We have found that he has found his own way to communicate and express how he is feeling and what his comfort levels are. He also shows us that he can hear what we are saying and he is listening. We are developing further methods around this. The team at Laura Ferguson have proven to be nothing short of passionate and professional and we take a lot away from their enthusiasm and hard work with Fergus. We also have involvement from Dr Deb Mason who is a consulting neurologist who is positive reinforcement for his recovery. They share with us the small and big steps Fergus takes frequently.

    Fergus recently has been fitted for a new wheel chair meaning he will be more mobile and more comfortable. We get a few smiles from him now and then and whilst the road is long, we remain positive and proud of how far he has come.

    We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Laura Ferguson Trust and Dr Deb Mason for their hard work and enthusiasm for Fergus's recovery. We would also like to thank our friends and family for the continuing support for Fergus and all of us as. Thank you, we are so grateful.

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  • Update

      7 December 2015

    This week we have seen 2 communities raise funds for Fergus Chetwin-Kelly. On the other side of the world in Dingle, Ireland there was a get together with food and performances. A very generous community raised a €1000.00. In this part of the world Fergus's Aunty arranged a movie night in Wellington. We are forever humbled at peoples kindness and thoughtfulness.

    Today it is 3 weeks since his arrival in nz. So far it has been a lot of kicks to the stomach as we see a long road ahead of us. Fergus is in neurological ward at Christchurch hospital and receiving excellent care from nurses and staff who are credit to their profession. As a family, we are in total awe of the care and love Fergus receives on a daily basis. He is resting and healing and we hope every day that will wake from his coma. We are taking it one day at a time and look after each other in this hard time. We keep being hopeful and positive along with all the many friends etc who constantly think of him. Thank you so so much. The money we have raised so far as helped him get home and pay for some of the care he has received but the continuing costs are unknown as we continue down the road of recovery for Fergus.

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  • Romania - Christchurch

      18 November 2015

    Thank you all for your support in getting Fergus home. This page has been a great comfort for our family in this hard times. Without it we would have never been able to pay the huge cost involved with getting him home to good old New Zealand. I'm sure if were able to say himself he would be perplexed by the support he has received.

    We are now working hard for his recovery and have a number of great fundraisers running from some of the great supporters.

    Fergus is settling in for the start of a long journey and he is in a private room and still recuperating from his journey back home. Visiting is restricted to family at the moment as he gets settled. The Hospital have been of great help and have given us wonderful care and support. Thank you all for the phone calls, emails and messages - they are greatly received.

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    • 18/11/2015 by Stan

      Brightens my day to read how things are improving for all of your family and Fergus.

    • 22/11/2015 by Chris

      Thank you for the updates. You are often in our thoughts and will continue to be.

  • Bringing Fergus Home

      6 November 2015

    Hi all, so in the last few days we have seen some improvements with Fergus's health and a visit from Dr David Linton has proven a positive one and we can now say that Fergus is due to return home in the next few weeks accompanied by his parents, Dr David Linton himself and a nurse from the hospital he has been at. This is made possible by all of your generous donations, kind thoughts and exceptional medical staff.

    His condition is now considered minimal consciousness, meaning that he drifts in and out of consciousness and has been responding to familiar voices with blinking, trying to smile etc. although he has been trying to he is unable to talk as he has a feeding and breathing tubes in. Whilst this is happening he has also been having 2 lots of physical physiotherapy a day and upon his return to Christchurch he will begin neurological therapy.

    We want to send a big thanks to the North Canterbury community for the generous donations and Rangiora High School for putting together a fundraiser for Fergus. Thank you all again for your support in this troubling time.

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  • Latest update

      28 October 2015

    Our family has now been in Romania for 3 weeks. Cecily and Martin through the help,of the British Consulate were able to rent an apartment which is very close to the Hospital Spitual Floresca (check spelling). We continue to be by Fergus side everyday and he remains in ICU. His sedation has been reduced and he is mainly breathing on his own, except for a small amount through the tracheotomy. He is more wakeful and responds to voices. He has been having a physiotherapist visit him each day.

    We are helping Fergus become more aware by moving his arms and legs to assist the blood flow.

    Roisin is starting to play his favourite music, not to loud, to also aid the stimulation.

    His friends back in NZ led by Jordan Cooke have given us a video of messages which we are playing to him when we visit.

    We again express our heart felt thanks for your support and we look forward to updating you in the next few days.

    We are thankful of the advice provided by the hospital team lead but Dr Dana Pavalescu and Dr David Linton who are both working together to assist with our Ferg's repatriation

    Keep the faith

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    • 29/10/2015 by stuart

      so is he awake now?

  • Health Update

      19 October 2015

    Hi all, just another update on Fergus's health. Last week we were fortunate enough to meet with professor David Linton who is a director of the medical intensive care unit at the Hadassah University hospital in Jerusalem and his colleague Dr Eichle, who is the top neurological intensivist at the Hadassah University hospital. The main focus of this appointment was to see if Fergus would be well enough to fly home to New Zealand. Some tests were run to check his reaction time and whilst still in a coma the front part of his brain indicated a reaction. It has been decided to slowly reduce the painkillers and monitor his blood pressure and brain activity. A review of his condition will be done in 5 days time and his possible movement to New Zealand will be reassessed then. Dr Linton has confirmed that the care he is getting in Romania is good and his doctor, Dana Pavalescu, is doing an outstanding job. We are not sure how slow or fast this will progress but we now have something to work towards. Thank you all again for your support.

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  • Health Update

      15 October 2015

    There isn't enough words to say thank you but again, thank you all for your support. Fergus is currently stable but still in a coma. Whilst his burns are healing well and his face is now clear and he looks good, it's all about waiting. The doctors have taken Fergus for a CAT Scan yesterday and there has been no change. The main thing is that he is stable and has his parents by his side. It has been 2 weeks since the accident now so we have to be patient and understand that the doctors are doing their best.

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  • Health Update

      8 October 2015

    Hi everyone, thank you doesn't even begin to cover our gratitude for the unbelievably kind donations but thank you. We have just been in contact with our parents in Romania and Fergus's breathing is reactionary which means he is pushing back. Next week they will take him for a CT scan and his burns are clearing up well. We have been told that he is getting some incredible care in Romania and the doctors and the hospital are going above and beyond to care for him. Again, thank you everyone for the kindness and love you have Fergus. The Chetwin-Kelly's.

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    • 10/10/2015 by Chris

      Thats great to hear and good to have an update. We all keep thinking of him and all your family in this challenging time

      All the best

      Chris Spanton -(father to Daisy who was at Rangiora High)