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Support for Joan

  • Update from Liv

      9 April 2024

    *UPDATE 9: My apologies for the delayed update. Joan is still residing at Puawai Rehabilitation Unit in Dunedin. She has recently recovered from Covid and is still being cared for by the team there.

    I am continuing to travel to see her as much as possible.

    Mum's mobility has improved and she is now able to move without hoists and wheelchairs. Unfortunately her cognitive function has not improved for some time so we are looking at her next space for her care being in a dementia ward rather than hospital level care. I have been trying to get her closer to Central Otago for some time but have met some obstacles with the level of care Mum needs, I am hopeful a vacancy will come up soon to lead to an improvement in Joan's quality of life.

    She's missing the gardens, pets, grandbabies and her friends and looks forward to visitors.

    We're so so grateful for all the support shown to us during this journey and as it continues.

    It means so much to Mum, myself and our family. I will let you know when I can secure a space for Joan and look forward to seeing you all when visiting starts closer to home 🤞🏼🤍

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  • February update

      19 February 2024
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    Thank you all for your loving support during Joan's journey 🤍 Mum is currently staying in Puāwai Rehabilitation Unit until a space is found for her to move to hospital level care for the foreseeable future. Joan has been working hard with the rehab team and had made great progress and recovery from the numerous injuries and surgeries on her brain. She still suffers with confusion and mobility issues which only time will tell what incapacities remain permanent. I, on behalf of Joan and our entire family cannot express how grateful we are for the kindness and awhi we receive from our loved ones and community 🙏🏼 Ngā mihi nui koutou. Sending you all our Love right back 🤍

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    • 19/02/2024 by Michelle

      Lovely to read that Joan is doing well. Stay strong Joan and all you kids x

    • 14/03/2024 by Paul

      Hi Joan, Hope your recovery is going as planned and things are getting better for, Thoughts are always with you Joan!

  • Update 7

      12 January 2024

    UPDATE 7: Joan has remained stable enough to be transferred to Puāwai Rehabilitation Centre in Dunedin. This is a live-in facility that will provide Mum with speech&language therapy, cognitive, occupational therapy and physiotherapy while ensuring her medical needs are also met.

    Joan has fought a huge battle since the 14th of December and we're continually amazed by her strength and determination. Thank you all for your unwavering support throughout this journey.

    It has meant so much to Joan and our family and will continue to as we see what the next weeks bring 🤍

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    • 13/01/2024 by Michelle

      Such great news. Keep up the fight Joan. Stay strong family. X

  • Update 6

      7 January 2024

    Joan has been transferred to Dunedin Hospital and has unfortunately been very drowsy with a low GCS the last few days.

    Her blood pressure has risen above where the doctors would prefer so they've given her medication to try to help with this.

    They are going to perform another CT scan to see if it can provide any answers towards Mums healthcare plan.

    The staff are hoping she is not declining and are providing her with all necessary support they can at this time..

    Please contact Liv directly if you would like to visit Joan and I can provide details. Thank you 🤍

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    • 08/01/2024 by Michelle

      Hang in there Joan.

      Sending love and hugs to you all.

      Stay strong xx

    • 08/01/2024 by Chris

      Sending lots of love your way, thanks for the updates… Chris

  • Update 5

      3 January 2024

    UPDATE 5: Day21: Joan sure is a strong woman! Mum has been transferred back to the neurosurgery HDU after her stay in ICU. They've been working on keeping her blood pressure up without the help of medication now and currently Joan is responding well 🙌🏼

    The plan is to keep her stable enough to transfer to Dunedin Hospital in the near future 🙏🏼 We are hopeful and encouraging Mum to keep up her strength and determination to get home.

    What a rollercoaster it has been..Thank you so much for your love & support during Joan's journey 🤍

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    • 03/01/2024 by Paul

      Oh that's great news to hear, She sure is a fighter alright🤍

  • Update 4.

      30 December 2023

    *UPDATE 4: Joan has undergone 5 Brain surgeries in her time in Christchurch Hospital.

    When Mum came out of yesterday's surgery (where they inserted a permanent shunt from brain to abdomen) she was struggling a lot more to speak.

    The doctors picked up on this along with tremors and weakness. They've taken her for an angiogram and discovered she has gone into Vasospasm.

    A vasospasm is the narrowing of the arteries in the brain, caused by a persistent contraction of the blood vessels. This means blood is not flowing in her brain properly and affecting her speech and function massively.

    She's now in I.C.U where she will spend at least 2 days undergoing a procedure to raise her blood pressure lots to hopefully help with the current vasospasm damage.

    There's a big risk of mini strokes, which she possibly has already been having..or rupturing her aneurysms...however this is the only option she has to save her life right now so the doctors have to proceed.

    Here's hoping for better news in 2024 🙏🏼

    Thank you all for your Love 🤍 It is such a support for us all x

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    • 02/01/2024 by Paul

      This is all so sad, My heart goes out to Joan and her family, Hope 24 is alot better for you all, Fight it Joan🤍

  • Update 3

      24 December 2023

    *UPDATE 3..Joan has faced many hurdles over the last 11 days, with 4 procedures on her brain and her condition fluctuating a lot. She's still in HDU fighting hard 💪 😍 We've had small moments of awakeness which we are so grateful for. Joan's team of Doctors, Nurses and HCAs are absolutely fantastic and she's getting the best care possible 🤍 Our family is taking each moment as it comes and hoping for a Christmas miracle 🙏 Thank you all for your ongoing love, kindness and compassion during this journey. Your support has been so generous, Mum knows how much she is loved and missed 💖 Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas with your loved ones, don't forget to tell them how much they mean to you 🌈

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    • 27/12/2023 by Paul

      Thinking of you and your family Joan, Such hard times for everyone, You have got this Joan🤍

  • Latest update

      21 December 2023

    *UPDATE 2: Mum has been fighting hard since her second surgery on Saturday but unfortunately has had a tough night last night after another brain bleed resulting in fever and seizures. Today she has gone in for another surgery to attempt to resolve the cause of the new bleed. Please send Joan all the good vibes you can. healing and strength. 🤍

    Will update more when I know. Thank you so much for your support for Mum and our family xxX

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    • 21/12/2023 by Paul

      Thinking of you Joan and family, Hope all goes well with your next operation X

  • A message from Joan’s family

      18 December 2023

    *UPDATE. Joan's second surgery has gone as well as possible 🙌🏼 The surgeons have done an amazing job and Mum has been so strong 🤍 It's take each moment as it comes now.. I would like to thank you all on behalf of Joan and our family for your kindness, love and support. It means so much to us, more than I can explain.

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    • 21/12/2023 by Shirley

      So sorry to hear your latest news. Sending special thoughts and prayers from the Bell family for your precious Joan.