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H E A D W A Y G A U T E N G
Dedicated to assisting people with brain injury and their families
Dear Members
FEEDBACK FROM OUR MIDMAS FUNCTION:
As I have said on many occasions, parties are part of the ‘scene’ at Headway and the Midmas Party has become an annual event on our calendar. This was held on 28th June at our Hyde Park Centre and was thoroughly enjoyed by all of those who braved the cold weather to attend. The food was absolutely delicious and a big thank you to Caldow and Delmont Caterers who supplied it at a very reasonable cost. Of course, the main person to thank is Eric who organises everything, from food to balloons. Eric stresses for weeks before the event and cannot be reassured until the evening is over and everything has (as usual) worked like clockwork. This evening would not be possible either, if it were not for several anonymous donors who donated money specifically for the party. We would also like to thank Rashid Akhalwaya and family who brought scrumptious samoosas and chilli bites.
FEEDBACK FROM THE MEETING ON 31ST MAY 2007:
(Notes by Kath and Charles McRobert)
Andrew Hofmeyer whose accident happened 13 years ago, wanted to tell his story to give testimony that there is another side to TBI. Andrew was a final year student at Stellenbosch University, when he and some friends travelled by motorcycle to see the flowers in Namaqualand. On the way home Andrew was involved in an accident. When the paramedics arrived they could find no vital signs. He was resuscitated, stabilized and transported to hospital, where he lay in a coma for six weeks. At this stage his parents were told the prognosis was extremely poor. He sustained many injuries and endured many operations, leaving his left arm paralysed, which still gives him a lot of pain.
It is very unusual to remember anything when one is in a coma, but amazingly enough Andrew can remember having an ‘out of body’ experience. He had the feeling that someone was holding him. Calmness came over him and he somehow knew that everything would be alright. Andrew recovered well enough to make the decision to continue with his studies, and even though he was advised by a lecturer to try something else, he graduated three years later with a BSc. Degree.
Because Andrew felt he was treated differently by family and friends he decided to leave home and went to Britain as a teacher. Unfortunately this did not work out so he came back to South Africa where he went into the IT industry. Although Andrew was able to do the job, his brain injury ‘caught up’ with him and the long hours of concentration became too much for him. He then remembered a contact he had made the International School. He phoned that person and was lucky enough to be given a position at the school.
Andrew said that a quote from the movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ made a big impression on him - ‘Get on living or get on dying’. He realized then that living is a choice. You have to make commitments, keep your choices fresh and always be aware of them. Everyone’s lives are full of challenges. A decision has to be made as to how you are going to go forward - to live for something and walk with your challenges. Do not sit around expecting things to fall into your lap. Andrew has said that for him to be comfortable with life he has to have three things - Meaning, Purpose and Passion. His physical pains take over if these are not present.
Andrew ended his talk by saying that we should all find out what our calling is, and go for it.
Thank you Andrew for this inspiring talk. You are living proof that Brain Injury is not the ‘end of the road’. Thank you Kath and Charles for once again taking very comprehensive notes.
GLASGOW COMA SCALE:
In a previous newsletter I said that I would explain how the Glasgow Coma Scale works. I have taken this out of the books “Living With Head Injury. A Guide For Families” by Richard C Senelick and Cathy E Ryan and the “Catastrophe of Coma. A Way Back” by EA Freeman.
“The standard measurement of coma is done using a scale developed by the Neurosciences Department of Glasgow University in 1974. It is now widely used, and an attempt is being made to introduce it as a universal standard for the measuring of brain injury. On the Glasgow Coma Scale the lower the total mark is, the more severe the brain injury. The lowest total mark on the scale is 3. The highest total mark is 15. As a patient comes out of coma, the mark he gains on the scale rises. The scale is as follows –
Motor Response obeys command 6
localizes 5
withdraws 4
abnormal flexion 3
abnormal extension 2
nil 1
Eye Opening spontaneous 4
to voice 3
to pain 2
nil 1
Vocal Response orientated 5
confused conversation 4
inappropriate words 3
sounds 2
nil 1
A patient with a total rating of 3, 4 or 5 is regarded as having a very severe brain injury. A person with a rating of 6, 7 or 8 has had a severe brain injury and is still in coma. A person with a rating of 9 or more may be out of coma, but still may show evidence of brain injury. The three major factors which are measured are eye-opening, motor response and vocalization. Each of these is important, but the most important appears to be the motor response.”
But as good a common denominator as it is, the Glasgow Coma Scale does have its limitations. Yes, it does its job of predicting early outcome – and it certainly helps determine whether someone will live or die. But the scale can only measure neurological deficits; it cannot predict how someone will eventually function in the outside world and it does not predict independence. Other predictors of outcome are needed ……………I will discuss these other predictors in the next newsletter – Watch this space!!
ANNIVERSARY OF ACCIDENT/ILLNESS:
“The picture of health requires a happy frame of mind.”
The following people have anniversaries of accident this month –
Peter Bezuidenhout 1995 Debby Lapidos 1981
Tanya Erwee 2001 Thomas Varitimos 2005
Renay Funk 1995 Gary Purcell 2001
Peter Glass 1997 Jan Seabi 1995
Mark Godrich 1994 Jacques Theron 2000
Bryan Harmuth 2001 John van der Merwe 2005
Natasha Kimm 1999 Warren van Straaten 1992
Eddie Koch 2006
NEW MEMBERS:
We welcome new members Sophia Christoforakis, and David and Sally Coulter to Headway and hope that their association with us will be a long and happy one.
GET WELL SOON:
Vernon Klopper who is our woodwork volunteer, is recovering after an operation. Get well soon, Vernon. Everyone at Headway is rooting for your speedy recovery.
NEWS OF OUR MEMBERS:
Dylan Prinsloo who was once an attendee at Headway and who is responsible for the “Never Give Up” motto on our T-shirts and key rings has always been a star pool player and he has now passed the Pool Referee’s Exam with a mark of 85%! Well done Dylan. (We still have some of these Headway Key Rings in stock and they do make super gifts. They also have the “Never Give Up” logo on them and cost R25.)
Mary and Nikki Janse van Rensburg from Middelburg in Mpumalanga popped in to see us the other day. Nikki used to be an attendee at Headway as well, and it was lovely to see him looking so fit and happy. They brought us a special treat – absolutely divine koeksusters! Not very good for the waistline but delicious nevertheless.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
This month we celebrate the birthday of a very special person. Eric Delmont is turning 60 on 17th July. I am sure you will all join with me in wishing him a wonderful birthday and many more happy and healthy years to come. In fact no one is more delighted than me that this birthday has finally come around. We are the now the same age, (my birthday is in March) and he will no longer be able to tell everyone that he is so much younger than me!
NIGHTINGALE BATH LIFT:
Cathy Martyn has an electrically operated ‘Nightingale’ Bath Lift which has proved to be unsuitable for her bath. She is willing to give this away, the only cost being the removal of the lift and the reinstallation. If you are interested please phone Cathy on 082 467-9545.
CAREGIVERS LOOKING FOR A JOB:
As we all know finding suitable caregivers is almost a ‘mission impossible’ so I was delighted when Rosemary Falcon phoned in to tell me about three caregivers who had been looking after her elderly mother for 6 years until she passed away recently. Rosemary said that they were all superb. Their details are as follows – Agnes Khumalo – 076-296-8741, Patience Moloi – 083-425-1392 and Jabulisiwe Mbunquka – 073-207-5711. Phone Rosemary on (011)783-4231 for more information and/or references.
THANKS FOR DONATIONS:
RB Hagart Trust gave us a sizeable donation last month. We are extremely grateful for their continued support of our organisation.
We thank John van Reenen of Van Reenen Steel who gave us a R15 000 donation specifically for our outreach programme, Caxton Press - R3000, The McCrone Trust - £500 (approximately R6800) St George’s Church – R4000 and Joan Chernotsky R1000. (Joan is an estate agent who got a large commission and decided to give a donation to Headway). Headway would not be able to survive if it were not for the generosity of people and organisations such as these.
Our grateful thanks also go to Andrew and PJ Delmont and David Graham who have set up stop/debit orders and donate on a monthly basis.
Once again we have to say a big thank you to all of you who donate groceries. Rozanne Gevers came in the other day with a load of groceries including some really yummy biscuits. We also thank the Eales and Arendt families who support us with groceries on a regular basis. If anyone out there has contacts for things like toilet paper, roller towels, soap etc, please let us know as these are things that we also use a lot of. Photocopy paper would also be another request.
A big, big thank you to Office National Connection, our stationery suppliers who bring us in a box of biscuits every week, as well as to Margie Lockwood, one of our volunteers, who also brings in boxes of biscuits on a regular basis.
Our thanks to Woolworths in Hyde Park who donate ‘waste’ food to Headway every week. This ensures that the attendees at our Outreach Programme in Alexandra get a hot meal.
Thank you to Stuart Sutcliffe (Margaret Sutcliffe’s ‘little boy’) of the Orange Print House in Republic Road who goes the extra mile when we need something printed. He always gives us a very good price and nothing is too much trouble.
FUNDRAISING EVENING:
This is another reminder of our fundraising evening at the Barnyard Theatre in Cresta on Wednesday 26th September. The show is called “Tonight’s The Night” and is a tribute to the greatest male vocalists of all time from Frank Sinatra to Robbie Williams. Tickets costs R150 per person. Drinks and food can be purchased there but you may bring your own food if you wish. For more information or to book tickets please contact Elaine 082 647-0957, Rozanne 082 568-4100 or Barbara 072 234-412. This should be a fun evening so why not make up a party and support Headway?
LADIES’ LUNCH:
This event proved to be extremely popular last year. So much so that we are doing it again! The lunch is scheduled for 13th October - ladies please put this date in your diaries. We will let you know further details closer to the time, but suffice to say there will be lots of wonderful prizes and a super guest speaker has been arranged.
MEMBERSHIP FEES:
Thanks to everyone who have paid their fees and especially to those who have paid the voluntary donation to the Chairman’s fund. We also thank those who add on something extra – it all adds up. The last accounts have been sent out for this year. If you have not paid your account at this stage we will presume that you no longer wish to be a member of Headway. However, we have picked up quite a few internet payments that do not have references, so if you have paid and are still getting an account please contact Eric on (011)442-5733 and we will try and sort this out. Please also contact the office if you have a financial problem and wish your membership to be sponsored.
HFC MEETINGS:
The next HFC meeting will be held on Thursday 26th July at our Headway Centre, 85 1st Road Hyde Park at 6 pm. The meeting will be facilitated by Sylvia Birkhead a well known Occupational Therapist and someone who is very familiar with the problems associated with brain injury. All are welcome to attend, including family and friends. A light supper will be served after the meeting.
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Editor and Compiler – Annie Coe JJJJJ
Thought for the Day :
“Common Sense is genius dressed in working clothes” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I thought that seeing Eric and I had got to this advanced age I would put something about old age into the newsletter. All the youngsters may just ignore the following!!
LOST IN THE DARNDEST PLACES:
An elderly Floridian called 911 on her cell phone to report that her car has been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: "They've stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!" she cried.
The dispatcher said, "Stay calm. An officer is on the way."
A few minutes later, the officer radios in. "Disregard." He says. "She got in the back-seat by mistake."
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FAMILY:
Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house together. One night the 96-year-old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?" The 94-year-old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses "Was I going up the stairs or down?" The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful, knock on wood." She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."
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OLD FRIENDS:
Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years, they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards. One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, "Now don't get mad at me... I know we've been friends for a long time, but I just can't think of your name! I've thought and thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is."
Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her. Finally she said, "How soon do you need to know?"
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SENIOR DRIVING:
As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Interstate 77. Please be careful!"
"Heck," said Herman, "It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!"
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DRIVING:
Two elderly women were out driving in a large car - both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along, they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red, but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself "I must be losing it. I could have sworn we just went through a red light." After a few more minutes, they came to another intersection and the light was red again. Again, they went right through. The woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous. At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was red and they went on through. So, she turned to the other woman and said, "Mildred, did you know that we just ran through three red lights in a row? You could have killed us both!" Mildred turned to her and said, "Oh, heavens, am I driving?"
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