(9:54pm) 6 minutes later…
Melbourne – Hospital – Casey's Room
Once everyone was in Casey's hospital room and Casey was back in bed, Brax then said: "So, what else do we need to know?"
Doctor Williamson looks at the room's other occupants and then answers: "Well, the issues I said that Kyle would face can also affect his personal life. As people who have experienced brain injuries may take longer to do cognitive or in English, thinking tasks associated with memory, for example coming up with the correct change in the checkout line at the grocery store or just placing an order at a restaurant."
"He's the manager to the family restaurant and he's the best we've had." Casey points out.
"Well there's no guarantee that Kyle will suffer from something like that."
"Ok, anything else?" Ricky decides to say.
"Family relationships will almost certainly change, and in some cases the patient will be totally dependent on their caregivers."
"Totally dependent?" Tamara repeats loudly.
"Yes, for some patients but thankfully, that looks like it won't be the case for Kyle." Doctor Williamson points out "The fact remains that at the end of the day a traumatic brain injury will be a life-changing experience for many patients and there's not much that can be done as there isn't an instant cure for this situation."
"I guess that's one thing we can be positive about right Tam?" Bianca says the young girl.
"I suppose so." Tamara says but then turns to the doctor "You mentioned disabilities early, what type of disabilities?"
"Well the ones just from looking and talking to Kyle about what's happening to him, there's a chance that he may have: difficulty simply carrying or moving objects like boxes, there's a chance he could have problems with his vision which could result in him wearing glasses then the loss of his fine motor skills, such as buttoning a shirt will become difficult and difficulty with social relationships could also become a problem for Kyle."
"Well he doesn't really have any friends back in the Bay." Casey mumbles thankfully not loud enough for anyone to hear him.
"I definitely think he's going to have difficulty with his thinking and remembering things which can be common with these injuries."
"What about walking?" Tamara asks as she remembered reading that walking can become difficult for people.
Dr Williamson sighs and looks at the girl: "I think Dr Murry was right you should read a medical textbook. Until we get Kyle out of bed and moving, we won't know. However, Kyle has just had major surgery to fix the damage from the branch if I'm correct so to be safe, we aren't going to get up him out bed for at least a couple of days just to allow his body time to heal."
"Why does everyone keep telling me to read a medical textbook?" Tamara sighs causing everyone to smile.
"Now I should also warn you that people with moderate to severe also have trouble with making and keeping both professional and personal relationships which in turn can cause issues with social gatherings and activities."
"So mum is no longer coming to family gatherings then." Heath exclaims.
"Really Heath?" Brax and Casey says at the same time.
"Well you know she will just have a field day with this."
Casey looks at Brax and agrees: "Heath does have a point Brax. She already hates Kyle; do you really want to give her more ammunition?"
Brax nods his head in agreement then waits for the doctor to tell them more information.
Picking up where he left off, Doctor Williamson goes on: "As you can guess if social activities are going to be a problem then so will any other type of activity, whether that be for fun and for work. But there are ways around all these problems."
"Like what?" Brax asks him,
"Well writing steps down for tasks that way there is always something for Kyle to refer back to when he forgets something. It's basically just learning to do every he has done before but a different way, which can become frustrating for everyone but there are people who are there to help and support not only Kyle but yourselves." Doctor Williamson tells them.
With that he goes on to tell them that he will get some leaflets that contain all this information so they can read up on Kyle's condition.
(10:15am) Next day…
Melbourne – Hospital – Kyle's Room
It was now the next day and Kyle had been moved to a more private room away from the ICU.
After the night before everyone including Kyle had had a chance to think over everything they had been told and were not getting their heads around the fact that live was probably going to change not only for Kyle but also themselves.
Tamara was currently in the room with Kyle, when he speaks up: "If you want to break up with me, I would understand but can you wait until I've rebuilt the relationships, I have with my brothers first."
"Kyle, I'm not going to break up with you for something like this." Tamara tells him "Besides you didn't with me."
"I know I didn't. That's because April had said you would get them back."
Tamara smiles and looks at him.
"What?" Kyle says confused.
"You remember that?"
"Yeah I do." Then it suddenly clicks, like someone had just turned a light bulb on "I remember that. TimTam I remember that!"
"Yes you do Kyle." Tamara laughs as she sees her boyfriend's face light up "What else can you remember?"
"Discharging myself from hospital then me and Casey arguing but I can't remember why we were arguing."
"That doesn't matter that you can't remember what you were arguing for as it will come back, but we will definitely be having a talk later about you discharging yourself from hospital." Tamara explains to him.
Just then Brax and Ricky chose to enter Kyle's room carrying a change of clothes for Tamara and food.
"What's this about discharging yourself?" Brax asks Kyle.
"Kyle just remembered that the other night after he hit his head that he discharged himself from hospital. So, don't worry Brax he won't be doing that right now." Tamara informs them "Also, that's not the only thing he can remember."
Kyle tells them how he can remember what April had said about Tamara.
"That's great Kyle." Both Ricky and Brax say together.
Ricky walks over and hugs him: "That means your memory from the last year is starting to come back but promise you won't try and force it like this one did."
Kyle promises not too. All four of them hope this is the start of Kyle getting better and secretly praying the doctor was wrong.