Final Blog

Time Line for Noel Martin January/February 2010

Friday 08/01/10
Noel had a heart attack while at the gym- remained unconscious.

Day 1 Saturday 09/01/10
24 hour cooling, not able to wake him up.

Day 2 Sunday 10/01/10
On life support, sedated most of the time temperature up and down has chest infection.
Noel opened his eyes while his brother Paul was in the room, looks like Noel is responding to voices, nurses saying not conclusive needs to be consistent.

Day 3 Monday 11/01/10
Ps. Scott asked Noel to blink if he loves Jesus and Noel blinked, again Ps. Scott asked Noel to blink if he loves Jesus and again Noel blinked. Noel opened his eyes wide when Sally told him Ps. Paul and Ps. Maree was coming to see him.
Nurse asked Brian to stand on the opposite side of the bed and speak to Noel to see if he responds. Brian spoke to Noel and Noel turned his head to look at Brian
.
Day 4,5,6,and 7
Tuesday 12/01/10, Wednesday 13/01/10, Thursday14/01/10, Friday 15/01/10
All the details I have in my journal are scriptures and what we were walking through with God, these I will keep for the book.
Family meetings with the doctors over these days gave us information that things did not look good for Noel, brain damage and possible very long term rehabilitation, they made the decision to withdraw life support on the Friday.

Day 8 Saturday 16/01/10
Life support was withdrawn, the doctors expected Noel to die within hours.
Ps. Paul and Ps. Neal were with Noel when this took place. Ps. Paul spoke to Noel and he responded by making a noise. After some time (a few hours) we gathered around his bed and sang one of Noel’s favourite songs “From the inside out” then prayed. Noel was responding to voice and touch and was answering by making noises.

Day 9 Sunday 17/01/10
Noel recognized his brother Paul. The nurse asked Noel who his visitor was and he said “my brother”, the nurse asked him what is his name and Noel said “ Paul”
(Sally) Noel spoke to me when I went in. I asked him if he was tired and he replied “I’m exhausted” , filled up when I told him people all over the world were praying for him. The doctors said he had improved even within the last five hours, one doctor was calling him Lazarus.

Day 10 Monday 18/01/10
Eating a soft diet, recognizing people.

Day 11 Tuesday 19/01/10
Ultrasound on Noel’s heart and he was assessed by the neurology team. Long term and short term memory loss also getting left and right mixed up.

Day 12 Wednesday 20/01/10
Held a cup and drank by himself.

Day 13 Thursday 21//01/10
Sat in the chair for a few hours, the nurse said he is doing very well.

Day 14 Friday 22/01/10
Walked to the door with a nurse on either side, talking well and sat in the chair for over four hours.

Day 15 Saturday 23/01/10
Had a shower, asking about going home and to church. Two nurses came from ward 48, the intensive care ward. When they saw Noel they said he was incredible.
Noel is able to read what Karen wrote on the whiteboard and can read the clock.

Day 16 Sunday 24/01/10
Noel stood up and with a little help turned around to sit in the smaller chair. Noel gave me (Sally) a hug before I left, my request.

Day 17 Monday 25/01/10
Walked to the shower with the support of one nurse.

Day 18 Tuesday 26/01/10
Consultant said Noel is doing extremely well after what he has been through.

Day 19 Wednesday 27/01/10
Noel has been moved to a different room, continues to improve a little everyday.

Day 20 Thursday 28/01/10
Noel is able to walk around the ward, a bit unsteady but doing well.

Day 21 Friday 29/01/10
Went for a walk around the ward twice and sat in the chair for quite a while.

Day 22 Saturday 30/01/10
Noel has been transferred to Middlemore Hospital for rehabilitation.

Noel is in the Cardiac Care Step Down Unit, continues to improve every day. After a few days Noel, Ps. Neal and Sally went for a walk to the café for a coffee. This became a daily routine.

Day 28 Friday 05/02/10
We asked about Noel being able to get out for a few hours on Sunday to go to church. The nurse suggested weekend leave meaning one night out of hospital and to church Yea!

Day 31 Monday 08/02/10
Noel has been moved to the rehab ward.

Day 31 to day 42 rehab going well.
Noel on weekend leave from Friday 19/02/10 to Sunday 21/02/10.
Discharge date set for Friday 26/02/10.

DAY 49 FRIDAY 26/02/10
NOEL DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL
PRAISE GOD