Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 129, April 2020 | Page 23

Thumbs after
another op
we both burst into tears as the reality and fear of what
was to come dawned on us. Thankfully, family and
friends came to support us that evening.
My operation took place the next morning and lasted
five hours. When I opened my eyes in the ICU ward,
I remember waking up with excruciating pain and my
epidural was then increased. The ICU was a scary
place for me, as I had pipes in my nose and throat,
was fed TPN through my neck, and had a catheter,
on top of the surgical cut running the full length of
my stomach! I really struggled during those two
weeks. Naadia would sit alongside my bed for hours
to support me – I remember her marking test papers,
and the kind nurses brought her a desk to work on.
She was my rock through this entire process.
I was then moved to the gastrointestinal (GIT)
ward, as the surgeon was happy with my progress.
Unfortunately, during the early evening of my third
day in this ward, I experienced intense pains. My
wife came to hospital after 11pm that evening and
I remember saying to her that something is very
wrong. The next day my wife came from work and
our surgeon informed her that my blood work had
trebled overnight, and for this reason he would need
to operate again – and that I would need to have an
artificial stoma on my stomach and would need to
wear a colostomy bag on that for 10 months. This was
my biggest fear, as I had been told about needing the
bag if leakage occurred after the main operation. I
had a two-hour operation and was taken back to the
GIT ward, and then a few days later I had a bug. I was
isolated for a few days, and visitors wore aprons and
gloves, but a few days later I was discharged!
Naadia and Sean hospital selfie
Doing the Hard Yards
The photographs of my stoma are definitely not
recommended for sensitive readers, nor those of the
abscess that formed near the top of the surgical cut,
but this is the reality of cancer surgery and stoma
bags. I had many visits to the stoma services for the
abscess, and thankfully I was treated by an amazing
lady who assisted in the treatment of it. This is where
my wife learnt how to clean the stoma, and every
Sunday evening she would remove, clean and put on
a fresh base around it for the week – it had to be stuck
to my stomach with a special paste. The bag would
then be clipped on to the base and changed when
necessary. More changes of the base were required at
times. My abscess took a while to heal and fortunately
after a few weeks of visits, it looked good.
A few weeks of recovery for the abscess hole to close
up was required before my six-month treatment of
oral chemotherapy could begin. Thankfully, I noticed
that everyone receiving treatment intravenously for
hours on end in that room was still smiling and happy.
However, I decided to go for the tablet form, because
I could take it in the comfort of my home and this
made it easier for work. I had two weeks on and one
week off, and before I started the next course, I would
have to go in and have blood tests done.
The side-effects of the chemo I experienced were
diarrhoea and hand-foot syndrome, which caused
terrible swelling, pain and itchiness. I suffered greatly
with my feet, as there were days I could not walk
well at all. Unfortunately, these symptoms became
progressively worse, which was my biggest challenge,
as I still went to work every day. I tried going to
The stoma bag that Sean had to wear
gym, but I felt beyond exhausted when I got home.
Other side-effects were restlessness and a loss of
concentration, and my memory seemed to be limited
during the last few weeks of the chemo course.
Nevertheless, I decided to investigate what I would
feel if I went for my first run during the first weeks
of chemo and while still wearing the bag. I bought a
special banded bag that secures the stoma system
and is designed to allow you to enjoy an active lifestyle,
and I managed to run 5km! I also managed to get out
with friends for the first time in ages, including a walk
on Boyes Drive with Craig, a walk in Tokai Forest with
Adrian, and even fishing off Cape Point with Warren.
The Next Chapter
Towards the end of 2019, the long journey was
close to complete. I underwent my course of chemo
and then we set the date on 29 November for the
operation to close up my stoma. Naadia and I were
super nervous, but we both agreed that we were more
emotionally prepared as we had gotten through a very
scary time earlier that year. I was overwhelmed with
emotions when they wheeled me into the theatre, and
we both had a good cry.
The operation was successful, and I must admit
that it was a funny feeling not to have the bag any
more. Naadia and I still spent most of the end of
year holidays visiting the wound expert, though, as I
developed two holes on the original surgical cut that
required treatment to prevent infection. Thankfully my
first colonoscopy was done on 9 January this year,
and all was clear, so my new life could begin. As you
can well imagine, I’m raring to run again!
Slow walks now in order to get back to
running and races!
Heartfelt Thank You
Naadia and I would like to thank all our family, friends, bosses and colleagues for all their help, support, calls and visits. It is wonderful to know we have people who
care for us so much. Also, to Kingsbury Hospital and my surgeon, you saved my life. Thank you for the professional care you showed me, and this hospital has the
most amazing nurses! Lastly, thank you to Dee Waugh Stomatherapy Services – my healing was successful due to your care.
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