"My Brother's Care"

My brother was taken ill in 2021. He suffered a massive blood clot to his lung, two to his brain and had a stroke. I was informed he wouldn't survive the night. He did pull through. After around three weeks being stabilized in hospital, he was transferred to a respiratory ward, where a few days later, he contracted Covid and also sepsis and pneumonia. Despite this he survived, but as you can imagine, it has left him with all kinds of problems. 

Once home, he was visited by the stoke team, who worked for a short time with him. After that, he was diagnosed with having seizures. He is on a multitude of medication. 

I was recently put in contact with the social prescribing team. They quickly realised that my brother needed help after all this time and quickly things swung into action. They contacted various organisations, who have all pulled together and have made a huge difference to my brothers care, medical needs and help with adaptations to the house. 

I must say everyone has been amazing and in particular the frailty practitioner, Michelle. She has supported both myself and my brother, co-ordinated the various organisations and made herself available whenever needed. For the fist time I am feeling positive and optimistic for the future. She really has made a tremendous difference to us both. Her skills and knowledge and pure humanity has taken so much pressure off of me. I have been caring for my brother for a long time and Michelle understands the physical and mental strain placed on me. I wouldn't have known who to contact or seek help from. without her.

My brother will be having a wet room installed, a new boiler, have access to day care and I will be able to get help towards a break, which I so badly need. Through Michelle's efforts and her colleagues, I have been signposted to so much help, and the various organisations are really improving both our lives with visits and phone calls. I will never be able to thank Michelle and everyone else enough for the difference it is making.