The day started at 6am. I was up, showered and ready. There was no looking back now. It was the day. I had made peace that I did all I could to prepare and that what will be will be. I couldn’t have done more. My legs were symmetrical, strong, my core was primed; I was in the best shape possible – physically and mentally.
Various friends of my inner counsel had messaged early so that was and is a massive source of my strength. With those by my side; i am unstoppable. With my core family unit always together on top of this; there is nothing I cannot overcome.
I arrive to oaks early and within 5 minutes I am called through to the ward. It was almost remarkable to see that the other side of the posh reception was an actual proper hospital. I sent a friend this picture and the reply came was: “Divine! NHS and you’d be sat in an overfilled waiting room with a load of dossers phlegming over you”
I am taking to the room and settle in quickly.
The nurse does my check in, the anesthetic arrives soon after and then followed by the hero that is Dr Alam. I am marked up and he said “dont worry your knee will be better than before. If there is MM damage i would like to fix it. Its better long term vs short term longer inconvenience
Then the lovely theatre manager comes and they take me down to the anesthetic room in which I see them all again. I joke to dr alam that the marking he did on my leg would make a great tatoo. He said “ill draw my face on too if you want”
The anesthetic starts, I breath in gas and that’s it. I dont remember a thing. I wake up in the recovery ward; comfortable calm and no pain. I’m taken back up to the room where I eat lunch and begin messaging my various friends and family.
I was able to wiggle my toes, do heel pumps and single leg raise. I thought this was meant to be hard.. I suspected i wouldn’t be so cocky once the block wore off. Dr Alam came into see me and said the op was textbook perfection and that my graft is 14mm thick. He fulfilled his promised that my knee would be better than before. “Do your rehab; you’ll be better than ever”. Legend!!!! And that’s exactly what ive been doing. I waited 13 days to write this as its been busy with rehab rehab rehab.
Home i went and it was start on with cryo cuff and quad sets and proper food and sleep. It was a long day!