Support Mick Clarke in his recovery from brain surgery

We’ve had a whirlwind 36 hours since being told that our Dad (Mick Clarke or Clarkey as most people know him) was in an ambulance from Gloucester to Manning Base Hospital late Sunday night with a suspected bleed in his brain after what he had thought was a migraine that lasted a week.

Once the Doctors in Taree confirmed that an aneurysm in his brain had been bleeding he was rushed to John Hunter Hospital.

During the night a Neurosurgeon advised us that he’d had a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage and also a clot in his brain, they would be operating first thing in the morning (Monday) to stop the aneurysm from bleeding and sort the clot out.

After 2 hours of testing, over 7 hours of surgery, 2 more hours in recovery and visiting hours long over Katie and Uncle Ben, who wouldn’t leave without seeing him, were finally allowed in.

While still highly medicated Dad was still able to talk a little bit and tell us that he’s tough and strong. He was able to lift his arms, move a few fingers and knew who we were.

We haven’t spoken to the surgeons yet to find out more details of the operation, what they found, how long the aneurysm might have been there or what they did exactly.

Hopefully we’ll be told that as we and the rest of his family head back to John Hunter today (Tuesday). Jordan has spoken to Dad on the phone this morning. His speech is getting a bit better, he’s starving and wants Maccas but he’s also a bit confused thinking he hasn’t had the surgery yet.

The road ahead for Dad is a long and tough one. He’s not out of the woods just yet. There are a lot dangerous post brain surgery complications that the Doctors have warned us they’ll be watching for.

He’s now in ICU, then the Neuro ward for 2-3 weeks, with at least a 6-8 week (possibly 6 month) recovery time to get back to somewhat normal.

We’d like Dad to be able to just concentrate on getting better, without rushing to get back to work to earn money. This is where you all come in…please help us take the financial pressure off Dad with normal living costs that keep going even while you’re in hospital, by supporting this Go Fund Me we’ve organised.

While we’ve been advised that it’ll be at least 6 - 8 weeks recovery, as a concreter we’re not too sure he’ll be back to such a physical job that soon.

Hopefully between us all chipping in a bit of money each, we can give him a good few months of recovery and rehabilitation without him worrying about money.

From all of his family, thank you for your support and well wishes for Dad. We’ll keep you updated along the journey.

Update from Tuesday 2/7:

Dad’s hungry, but could only eat a couple of bites. Swollen from surgery and uncomfortable being in hospital.

Today he started having spasms in his brain (cerebral vasaspasms - narrowing of blood vessels in the brain) which is fairly common after his type of surgery, but not good to have. He had to have another angiogram because of the spasms, which he said is painful and has to be nil by mouth.

He’s still in ICU.

Update from Wednesday 3/7:

Dad didn’t have a good night. There’s now a one on one nurse at the end of the bed all the time.

He’s poked and prodded every 20 minutes.

Nil by mouth again today waiting for another angiogram. He has to go 2 days in a row of no spasms showing, to get out of ICU.

His blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels are all too low. He was happier to be sleeping today.

By the time visiting hours finished he still hadn’t gone for the angiogram.

Update from Thursday 4/7:

A much better day. The angiogram results came back good. Blood pressure and heart rate both good. He finally ate and drank and he’s giving people cheek.

Update from Friday 5/7:

And he’s up! Showered and dressed. He can finally lay on his side again now that they don’t need an open artery in his arm.

Eating and drinking more. Doctors/nurses are happy with his progress.