The Brain Doctors BBC2

[difficultpickle]

Amazing but hard viewing.

I thought it was an amazing programme. I haven't had experience of the JR neuro department (mine was in Southampton more than 30 years ago) but I have had cause to be very grateful that the JR is our local hospital.

Just watched this. Amazing stuff and great work by these people that we are lucky to have.

I watched this programme and it really troubled me my twin had a car accident and spent time in intensive car with almost identical injuries to Tracey the Midwife - It was a miracle that my sister made a 99% recovery after 3months in a coma! If anyne has any more information on Traceys recovery I would be really interested to know, also Lelose I am so glad your husband has made a recorvery seems we are both extremly lucky! x

I thought last week's was difficult viewing but tonight's is almost too hard to watch

I thought that was a doll. It's baby Jensen.

Raj's parents have such a hard decision to make.

Dr Jay has balls of steel to do that job. Very good with the parents.

god how heartbreaking

Amazing clinicians, awesome programme.

sas2013 you are of course entitled to your opinion but unless you have been in that position yourself you really don't know what decision you would make. Saying things in the abstract is pretty meaningless.

Lovely to see little Raj running around again!

The doctors looked very young for what I assume is such a specialist area of medicine. Was it 16yrs training or something?

I suppose they benefit from still having the stamina to cope with such intense surgery all day.

I didn't see last week's episode, but was very pleased to catch it tonight. I remember watching the series about cranio-facial surgery a few years ago and I think Jay was one of the surgeons featured there. They are amazing people.

sas2013 my husband and I were saying similar things watching footage of that young man, but we were also saying that when your baby is 30 weeks gestation, you have been able to feel them move inside you for weeks, they have become a real little person to you. To choose to terminate that life would be an incredibly hard decision. I'm not sure I could bring myself to do it. I agree with bisjo that you don't know how you would react until you have actually experienced it.

Amazing programme. Really puts things into perspective.

Lelose I think you and your family was amazing last week. You were so warm and loving your son and Dh are v lucky.

sas2013 sadly doctors can't say with 100% certainty what level of disability a child will be born with from scans. If you thought the child you were carrying had a chance of a happy life wouldn't you find it hard to terminate. I think your 'black and white' attitude is simplistic and unkind.

Ds was born early and when he was a week old I was told that the doctors didn't expect him to live. He had a lumbar puncture and was put on a ventilator and I sat there helpless sobbing silently and praying he would survive. He didn't have to have any major operations but I had to make lots of different decisions regarding his treatment. If you had told me beforehand that was what would happen I would have said I couldn't do that and wouldn't be able to cope. It is amazing what you can do when you have to. I have no idea how I would make the decision that Raj's parents were faced with.

Sas, it is very rarely as simplistic a choice as you imply, you talk about no quality of life, but you are basing this judgement on a few snippets on a tv documentary.

Just watched the second episode of this, really brilliant prog. Raj's parent's were in such a horrible situation, so lovely to see that he at least had a chance and has use of his limbs, wonder why they didn't confirm which tumour it turned out to be, although if he was having chemo then hopefully it was the less aggressive type.

I can gather what sas's comment was, Jensens Mum already said in the programme that terminating or miscarrying a later term baby was her worst nightmare, so on balance they couldn't possibly say that her child would have an awful life, I can fully understand why she chose to continue. I would think that I would do the same tbh, not sure though never been in that situation.

Dr Jay was brilliant, also his reg I think it was, he is certainly the type to inspire confidence in his abilities.

Lelose The devotion you showed to your husband was inspiring.

Hi all,
My son Raj who was in the 2nd episode and is doing well. It was a very hard decision but one I am so glad we made, because without the surgery Raj wouldn't be here now.

Oh rajmum I am so glad to hear that! What a dreadful decision to face. I hope he continues to do well. He is such a beautiful little boy.

Rajmum Raj is gorgeous, I love his laugh :) I thought you and your husband were amazing the way you kept it together for Raj on his way to theatre.
I wish all the best to your family and please give Raj a big kiss!

Rajmum -so glad he's doing well. He came across as a lovely spirited wee boy.x

Raj was lovely - I was so happy to hear at the end of the programme that he was doing well.

Rajmum - I agree with other comments -Raj is just gorgeous! I don't know where he is in his treatment plan, but if you're in need of any support there's a lovely thread on here called Children with Cancer, in the Children's Health section. Lots of mums with children going through treatment for various cancers, all happy to share experiences and offer support.

I hope Raj is coping with his treatment well and things are looking positive for you all.