This morning didn’t start well. Woody was restless and agitated overnight. He’s finding it virtually impossible to sleep even though he is exhausted.

But partway through the night, he would drift off and then wake with a start and seem very scared and shaky. And that’s how he was when I arrived this morning. Needing desperately to sleep but as soon as he did, he jolted awake and was howling with fear/pain/distress. It was awful to watch.

We waited so long for doctors to see him (there was an emergency in another room) and I just had to sit there and comfort him as best as I could. I felt pretty useless though and so stressed.

Then, literally as the doctors came in, he changed. I was chatting to him and he seemed to respond a bit to what I was saying. Mostly I was talking about his favourite programmes and his favourite snacks and he started to listen and respond with smiles and enthusiastic noises. I think he actually said “mama” at one point too. My heart pretty much burst.

I still don’t think he can see much but I love that he’s responding to things – things that would normally excite him. It’s really encouraging. But as is always the case with Woody, I can’t get too excited just yet.