On December the 18th, I experienced an event that was to change my life completely.
After finishing an opening shift at the gym where I work, I headed up to train as usual at the Strongman gym in Crafers. I had an awesome session with my training partners Evan and Cloe, and finished the session with a new exercise that we learned from Doug Young, after watching a few of his tribute videos on Youtube.
I didn't feel any different than usual, it was quite a warm day, and I had forgotten my post workout shake and may have been slightly dehydrated. I drove down the freeway towards my home, planning to get showered and ready for my afternoon clients. As I neared a big intersection on Glen Osmond road, I must have had a blackout or fainted, as I remember being shocked by a massive impact. This impact was unlike anything I had ever felt before, a deafening smash and huge shock to the system. I barely realised what had happened, all I remember was seeing smoke, lots of blood and glass. I looked down at a enormous gash in my knee, the heat from the engine further intensifying the gloomy haze. I groaned in pain, only half conscious. A figure appeared at my window. I later found out that this was the lady who was driving behind me, she stayed there holding my hand and comforting me as I moaned, feeling as if this may be the end. The thought of dying went through my mind, and I was actually prepared to meet the reaper. After 30-40 minutes, the emergency crew arrived, paramedics and fire brigade. It took these heroic souls 90 mins to cut me from the wreckage, having to cut the roof off from the car and pull me out from the top. I was finally out and in the ambulance on the way to the RAH.
I was wheeled through the emergency room, I have vague recollections of being transferred to a bed where scans were taken. The surgeons were picking glass out of me for quite a while, after washing the gashes in my knee and leg out. They said that, remarkably, I was going to be OK and my leg was the biggest of my problems. Dr. Bautz, the head of the trauma department was just heading home for the day when he passed 2 radiologists commenting on my scans, something about my muscle mass. This caused him to turn and look. He asked if they had noticed the perforations in my abdomen, and promptly decided to inspect me. I complained to him of my very sore abdominals, and he expressed concern with what internal injuries may have occurred. Dr. Bautz decided he would assemble a team and perform an emergency laperotomy. I clearly remember having my phone in my hand, actually messaging back my worried client and assuring her that I was OK. I kept texting people as the surgery team assembled, signing forms in between. "Last text" mum said, to which one of the surgeons replied light-heartedly: "That won't be his last text". Mum had to sign the final form for the anesthetist , as I lay down and went of to sleep. A 5 hour surgery followed, to repair my ruptured duodenum and intestinal wall. I had also badly torn pelvic and abdominal muscles.
I awoke in ICU. I later found out that my Strongman training crew, my brothers, had been waiting the whole time in which the surgery lasted to come see me. This touched me so deeply. Apparently, at 2:30am or so, after just waking up the guys were told they could not come see me; I demanded to see Evan for some reason, and sure enough he came back in to see me, although I was extremely drugged out and can barely remember this. The next day in ICU the guys came to visit me, along with other friends, relatives and colleagues. I was wasted though, on morphine and ketamine, what the HELL have I done?.....
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| Still managed to have a laugh, a somewhat painful laugh.... |
So, I had a ketamine and fentanyl drip, dispensable directly into my bloodstream at the push of a button. I could only push this button every 5 minutes, however. These drugs made everything seem like some weird dream, a complete haze; they were needed for the pain of my injuries though. I also had a catheter and a "Bellovac" draining fluid from my abdominal wounds. I felt half-dead, covered with bandages, tubes sticking out all over my body.
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| Day 3, moving out of ICU. |
The next few days were a drugged out haze, I was being overwhelmed with visitors (probably because I posted the above pic on facebook), I couldn't really give them proper attention. The pain of moving around was immense, I needed 2 nurses to assist me with everything (toilet, showering). Luckily these nurses were just absolute angels, and I had an unlimited supply of drugs. Nights were particularly difficult, it was hard to sleep and the pain seemed to become more intense as the body tried to go to sleep. This was really getting to me mentally now, as thoughts and the realisation that I would not be able to compete sunk in. I remained stoic, knowing that it would just take time and reminding myself I should maintain a positive outlook.
I was on a completely liquid diet for the first 7 days, including Christmas day. On the same day that I was allowed solids, I also came off the ketamine and fentanyl. I was now given large doses of Endone (oxycodone). That day was boxing day. My good friends Austin and Chantal came in to visit, they brought me a massive bag of cherries, venison carpaccio and an iced coffee. It felt absolutely amazing to eat this, I actually felt human again!!! Feeling somewhat revived, my will grew stronger, the fire burned within me and I became determined to get better. At that point I decided I wouldn't let this beat me, I was going to stay positive and undefeated. I believed I could get back to where I was. Soon I was walking the hall, listening to my music, on a walking frame, bellovac attached and all.
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| Xmas day 2013 |
I must not discount the immense support I received from my family and friends throughout this ordeal. Especially my training partners, the strongman guys and other people I train with. Of course, mum has been my first line of support through this time, and there is no way I could have recovered this rapidly without her. I was very emotional during this time, and the support I got from my close friends just made an amazing difference.
I eventually got to a point where i needed less care, and could go to the toilet and shower by myself. I felt stronger and more independent. I was able to get in and out of bed myself, giant leg in tow. It was important for me to stay active, to prevent pneumonia, chest infections and DVT. I had several scans and X-rays over the next few days. I became more and more mobile, strolling the halls listening to Slayer, treating it the same way I would training, pushing through the pain and regaining my strength. I smiled at the nurses each time I walked up and down, and they got to know me very well, commenting on how well I was doing.
On the 12th day I was finally able to go off ward. I was allowed to go outside! Evan came to pick me up and take me outside. We struggled finding a wheelchair and were stuck with some huge cloud chair. Evan managed to get one from a room he found which was full of them. As I neared the entrance to the hospital I got so excited. The doors opened and the warmth hit me, the suns glow was just amazing, and the colours of the sky and trees were incredibly vibrant. I managed to burn through Rundle street and Rundle mall, picking up a few shirts and some new sunnies, a bit of belated Xmas shopping.
The doctors became very pleased with how I was progressing. The first talk of discharge started coming about. My injuries were still very painful, right leg was extremely swollen and numb in several places. My bottom lip was and is still numb, as is the area where I tore my pelvic muscles. Also an unpleasant stinging pain that was affecting my right hip, to do with nerve damage. I began cutting back my oxycodone dosage, and the doctors started saying I will be discharged in a few days. The nerves may take some time to repair, they said. So after 14 days I was discharged, sent home with a bag full of meds and told absolutely no heavy lifting for 3 months! I have to follow up with lots of physio and scans etc. Next entry will be all bout the 3 weeks leading up to the present.
Discharged!
31/12/2013
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| Mmmhh, 117kg. I am 10kg lighter now!!! |
