19/08/2019
Hi All,
First of all I would like to say thank you so much for all the cards, messages, calls, visits and support over these past few weeks while I have been in hospital. I was deeply touched and during some very dark moments your words helped get me through. I was often lost for words at the love and efforts you all extended to myself and the family during this difficult time. I couldn't have got through it without you all. I am truly blessed to have the best friends anyone could ask for. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Jo Marston, Niki Thompson , mum, Jennifer Laura McMahon, Chris Bolton, Simon Spencer for their extraordinary efforts in helping not only myself but for the hours of advice, visits and support they gave in all aspects of the problems I have been facing including in some cases very late phone calls and messages...all to make sure I was ok. And that brings me to the here and now.
As Some of you knew I had a routine hernia op booked months in advance. On the day of the surgery I walked into hospital confident of the doctor’s advice that I will need 2 weeks after to get back to normal. Surgery seemed to go relatively ok, but I was in agony once in recovery. Although I was told it was normal, I could tell that something wasn't right. That was confirmed when the doctor called out to the house 2 days later took one look and me and immediately called the ambulance.
The following few weeks are just one big blur of pain, operations and masses of drugs, conflicting information and awful treatment my many of the staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The pipe that runs from one of my kidneys to the bladder was stupidly severed and not noticed in the original operation and it took many days of scans etc. before they realized.
Unfortunately the corrective options require specialised robotics and careful planning due to the high risk of such a surgery so as it stands I am due to meet with a specialised surgeon in late September as that was the earliest he can see me. Most people know me for being very laid back and a confident person with who I am and my goals and passions. Through this complete failure I have now been left with a tube exiting my back with an external kidney bypass. I also have extreme lower body swelling that is beyond excruciating, very noticeable and no prognosis on how to treat it. To say my confidence and self-awareness has been knocked would be an understatement. I am not one to get embarrassed easily but there have been times i have looked at myself and wondered how i can go back in public. I know there is nothing I can do at the moment and through the love and support of my friends and family I know I will get no judgements and i am determined to get my confidence back and keep fighting for my health.
Although this is a tough and personal subject to have to explain to everyone i have always been an honest upfront person and so I will own this period in my life until the problems are fixed. I am looking forward to slowly returning to work. I am glad to be home. Most importantly I am glad to be still alive. I am still in pain, relatively immobile and the list of what is working often seems shorter than what is. I have a long road still ahead and I will continue to focus on the future and my recovery. Thanks again.
Jonathan
