Sharon Thomas

Hello! Sorry for the radio silence, but lots to update; good things have been happening. We haven't quite got on top of the epileptic seizures, and 5 months in the medicines are still being tweaked. The dosage actually increases today, so hoping this can prevent them happening so often, if not at all. At the moment, they are every couple of weeks without rhyme nor reason, so hard to control and plan around. After a bit of understandable fearfulness about leaving the house, Rosa has returned to Active Neuro, where she is making literal strides. We have also found an incredible gym for disabled people pretty close by, in Gateshead - the aptly named Gym Possible. We are going to start going weekly at first and working with the great physio there, too. She had some brilliant online counselling from Epilepsy Action and some music therapy from Nordoff Robins; it has been good to talk through things. She is also doing the Same You support work when we can make that happen, and has had a few sessions that were challenging in a good, healthy way. In very big news, Rosa pushed through her fears and went on a holiday to Poland, to see Mac's parents and grandparents and go to a small wedding! She flew, which was quite the challenge, given her anxiety. Rosa is hoping to move into her own place this year, as after 7 years of independence, living at home is a bit trying. So when the epilepsy is more controlled, we will be taking steps to make that happen. I also want to mark a year of this incredible fundraiser, set up by my sister, Lyndsay. It has been so wonderful and thanks to each and everyone for the support. Bye for now and note Rosa's hair is growing back at last after all those surgeries.