Hi all, some of you may have wondered why I have not posted recently, or seen me at any games. On the 05th August, I went to Croatia for my annual jollies, to a place just outside Split called Ciovo Island - near the town of Trogir. They all support Hajduk Split round there of course!!
On the last day of my holiday I woke up feeling unwell. I was offered a cooked breakfast in the hotel but could not eat it. It was my old nemesis Cellulitis returning, and the reason why I am often seen limping at games. The flight home did not leave until 2155pm so we were spending the day in Split. Never during the day have I felt so unwell, but I decided though to see the day through and get treatment at home. I could not face the thought of going to the casualty/doctors in Croatia, or trying to find one for that matter, with the complications out there also. Neither could I stomach casualty at Wythenshawe on a Saturday night, so elected to go the next am the Sunday after our arrival. However, when we got to the airport, the situation worsened and my lower left leg swelled to twice its size and turned a bright crimson red colour. I also had the shivers, loss of appetite and unusually a dryness in my mouth and incredible thirst. To say the flight was memorable was an understatement but I somehow managed to get back. I struggled to walk longer than 5 yards without a rest. We went through the airport process and joined the queue for the taxi. There were 9 of us in total and they all begged and pleaded with me to go to hospital as soon as we got home.
This I duly did, and my god I am so glad I did so. That superb hospital ran a blood test in casualty and found that during the flight home my kidneys had failed. Apparently, they became aware of what my body had been invaded by, and decided to go into a temporary shutdown to protect themselves. I think it is known as a kidney trauma, and explained my thirst, bad taste in my mouth, and questions by staff about diabetes.
I was in hospital for 4 days from Sat night/Sunday am until Wednesday, and am still very unwell. I am also a lucky b*****d. Had I not listened to my wife and friends I would have gone home for a comfy nights sleep - the beds in Croatia and hard and uncomfortable. At best this would have led to a blue light job during the night, at worst it would have cost me my life. Just one decision can be the difference between life and death. It has really shaken me up and made me think. I have lost all links with the club while in hospital and Radio Robins. I am also off work now until 30th August. I have a constant pain in my left leg which resembles the pain in the wrist after the dreaded playground Chinese Burn. You remember some junior kid skulking away, while some poor infant holds his wrist and cries uncontrollably. At Woodheys Primary they were banned when I was there when some 7 year old went home with a red wrist. Remember the pain and times it by 30, and you will get what I am currently going through. This is the 5th attack in the last year
I know some of you will possibly wonder why I have posted all this on line, but there is a lesson in there for us all. Never, ever ignore your health, or put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Had I decided not to go to hospital that night at 0100am, I may not have been here now.
I am very grateful to Wythy Hospital for the fantastic investigations in their Casualty, and for re-starting my kidneys; and for all the subsequent treatment by all their dedicated staff to at least stabilize me before finally sending me home. They have been brilliant.
To all my fellow fans and the club, I will be back end of August/early September. I will be in touch with Radio Robins as I wish to sponsor a game. The service they provide is going to be priceless to me.
Stick with the club, I do remember the start of the 90/91 season where we finished third. We lost the first game 3-0 at Wycombe!! We will be fine but I am gutted I have not yet been able to see them. I will be back when I am better, hopefully sooner rather than later.