My End Of Season Break
At the top of the femur
By Phil Westren
July 5 2012
Reaching the end of a rugby season one has mixed emotions.
If deeply involved then a brief end of season break is welcome, but at the same time the interest and excitement of watching your chosen sport 'live' will also inevitably be missed.
My main role, of a number for the Cornish Pirates, involves media matters, so making the RFU Championship final for a second year running made it another long season, culminating in the second leg of the twin-legged final which was scheduled to be played against London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, on Wednesday 30th May. London Welsh away at the Kassam Stadium? Hey, that's another story!
My wife Sally had a week's holiday booked, so we travelled to Oxford a day early, having enjoyed a brief stay there when we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary back in 2007.
Sally collected me from the office just before midday and we arrived in Oxford at teatime, when it is very busy traffic-wise. However, with the help of a kind local resident, we were given directions that enabled us to find our hotel where we quickly booked in and showered and changed in readiness for going out in the evening.
The weather was perfect and we decided to walk to the city centre and seek a restaurant for an evening meal. It was also quite balmy, so for me a refreshing pint of real ale was very much on the agenda!
As we approached George Street to eye up Jamie's Italian restaurant I felt a couple of 'clicks' in my left leg, which was not necessarily unusual. I had a total hip replacement 15 months earlier and odd clicks can sometimes be heard, but these were perhaps just a little louder than usual. I asked of Sally whether she heard anything, commenting that the noise could have been my hip or perhaps my knee.
We walked another 50 yards or so and all was fine, when suddenly my left leg just 'collapsed' on me, which was somewhat disturbing. Thankfully there was a barrier handy that I was immediately able to grab, but I also knew that something had gone seriously wrong and within 10 seconds asked a taken aback Sally to dial 999.
Not at all keen to be the centre of attention in one of Oxford's busy streets, it was thankfully not long before a paramedic car arrived and I was given some painkillers. The whole scenario seemed somewhat bizarre, as the ambulance and crew then arrived who assessed how to get me onto to a stretcher and into the vehicle. The time must have been about 8.45pm and within a few minutes we were on our way to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Arriving at the A & E department for assessment, various tests were quickly taken, including later a number of X-rays. It was all quite busy about, and an eye opener especially to witness a young lady who was proving very difficult to control. She was extremely abusive to staff and they were seemingly left with no choice but to make the call for 'sleepy time' to suitably sedate her.
Initially I had no idea what the plan of action was in relation to me, but a decision was ultimately made to transfer me to the nearby Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
It was now gone 3am, and after a careful manoeuvre back into a ambulance the topic of rugby was mentioned with reference to my presence in Oxford. The ambulance driver knew his rugby and was aware of the Cornish Pirates, quickly commenting that "Jonny Bentley is a darned good fly-half."
It was extremely quiet in the middle of the night as we approached the Nuffield OC and the entrance looked more like that of a hotel or a leisure centre than a hospital. Anyway, I was quickly taken to Room 6 in Ward E where further tests were taken and I was made as comfortable as possible.
By first light, without sleep and not knowing what lay ahead I mentioned that perhaps a rugby friend of mine, Dave Berryman, was also in the hospital. A check was made and 'Bez' was indeed close by, in Ward F. Having known that he was due to be transferred from Treliske Hospital in Truro to Oxford for an operation it had earlier crossed my mind that I could visit him on Wednesday morning, but not as a fellow patient! Hey, what were the odds on all of this, that two Pirates, and both Vice Presidents and Life Members of the club, would be in the hospital at the same time?
Dave was likely very close by but neither of us could get out of bed to see each other. I could likely have 'hollered' loud enough to be heard, but phone calls had to suffice.
By chance, and which would prove especially beneficial, Dave's wife Liz was also at the hospital, accommodated in one of the carer's rooms. When spotting Sally on Wednesday morning in the hospital entrance, Liz thought that she had come to visit, not realising my circumstances. Anyway, Liz was very kind and offered to go for a walk with Sally to see what bed & breakfast places there were in the area, for her to stay in. There were a few but Liz then came up with the brainwave to ask the hospital if Sally could share her room, which brought a positive and obviously very helpful response.
Come Wednesday evening my attention focused on the rugby match to be played, and was there any way I could watch it? Step forward Matron, who was extremely helpful to try and fix something up in my room. Unfortunately, however, despite her best efforts, including obtaining a transistor radio, should the game be covered by BBC Radio Oxford, it was not possible watch or listen to the game. Never mind, I received plenty of telephone calls and text messages from family and friends, which was much appreciated.
My first real night of attempted sleep proved anything but good, as it's never easy having to sleep on your back and it was also very hot. Painkillers were regularly taken, with the benefit kicking in when a wash was required or I had to be 'rolled' for the bed to be changed, as I was unable to get off it.
There would be no operation on Thursday but Friday was mentioned as a possibility. Staff members also seemed fascinated by my X-rays which showed a break in the metal of the total hip replacement that I had last year.
Photo shows the neck broken at the top of the femur
And post op
The frustration of not knowing exactly what was going to happen, or when, naturally grew, and then came the disappointing news that there would be no operation until Wednesday at best. It was also mentioned that a certain extractor tool would possibly be required for the operation and there is only one in Europe. Normally based in Milan, it was at the time in Belgium, so the delay was inevitable, although not helped that Monday and Tuesday were bank holidays in relation in part to the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations. Okay, some people will be aware that I'm not a monarchist, so was this their payback time?!
A small number of family members were able to visit who lived within an hour or so from the hospital, and I also appreciated visits from Graham and Helena Paul, Steve Tomlin and Rob McEvoy. My three children, Ryan, Megan and Murray also made a surprise appearance on the Wednesday, by which time we knew that there was another delay in the operation, it now put back to Friday.
On Thursday I had a 'proper' treat, and it really felt like it, as for the first time in nine days I left my room, when pushed on my bed out of the ward and to the X-ray department. Things were moving and it was a positive step forward. Bezzy was also making progress and arrangements were made for him to leave hospital the following day and return to Treliske by ambulance.
News came late on Thursday that I would be first on the list for operating on Friday morning, with the operation to be performed by Mr. Adrian Taylor.
My sleep, or lack of it, was no better or worse on Thursday than any other night, and prepared for the operation to proceed, at 0820 on Friday my bed and I were on our travels once more, and by 0830 I was anaesthetically 'conked out' in readiness for surgery to commence. Mr. Taylor had mentioned two or three scenarios, the worst involving the possibility of having to break my femur to extract the stem of my original implant. This, thankfully, proved not necessary.
The operation lasted over three hours, with the previously mentioned extractor tool indeed needed, and it must have been about 1230 when I came around in the recovery area, feeling comfortable and alert and soon able to sip a fruit drink. At this time I thought once again how wonderful all the staff are who play their part in various ways, at whatever stage of proceedings in relation to one's care.
Three of the many wonderful staff members
By late afternoon I was returned to my room and when I next saw Sally she looked more relaxed than she had for days. It goes without saying, that she too had shared this ordeal with me, and how lucky I am to have such a caring companion.
It surprised me that I was able to eat a little that evening and thoughts now turned to hopefully being able to return home within four or five days. We would see.
The physiotherapists had me on my feet with a frame the next day, and although a little wobbly I was able to 'walk' a few metres.
Two days after the operation I was able able to progress on crutches and now visit the bathroom as required, and on Monday after passing the 'stairs' test I was told I would be free to go home on Tuesday.
There were feelings of trepidation reference the journey facing me, but Mr. Taylor advised that as long as I could sit/lie well back in the passenger seat of our car, and that we stopped approximately every hour and I got out and walked around for a few minutes, then all should be fine.
Washed, changed and ready early on Tuesday morning, there was a bonus whereby a brother-in-law, Jon, had travelled by train to London the previous day for an appointment, and was now able to train to Oxford and help share the driving with Sally for the return to Penzance.
Before getting on our way I thanked certain on duty staff members for the support given Sally and myself, as they now felt like friends.
The journey home took six and a half hours and we arrived back in Madron at about 4.30pm. Before getting out of the car we had to wait for our pet dog Boris to calm down, as his tail wagged so enthusiastically in welcome.
Having travelled to Oxford for the final rugby match of the season and there a chance for a short end of season break, things didn't turn out as planned, and although it was an experience hopefully never to be repeated, there was feeling that if what happened had to happen (!), then I was likely and luckily in the best place. Indeed, the thought inevitably occurred to me that if the accident happened at home, perhaps when walking Boris in the fields surrounding Madron, and without a mobile phone signal, then things could have been a lot lot worse.
In conclusion, you see, there's often a positive......
Phil Westren
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I knew that hospital well, back in the 60's, as my younger brother was taken there for a stay that lasted a year, due to a rare bone disorder called Perthes disease. He recovered well and we always remembered and were grateful for the caring attitude of the staff, especially towards a small boy who was in longterm.
I think we are all grateful that places like this are there to help.
Cornwall needs a Stadium, for health, for wealth, for Cornish pride. Sportva Kernow now!
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That must have been excruciatingly painful - you are a brave soldier!
Knowing you, the pain of missing the game would have been more unbearable.
I for one am very sorry that we LONDON WELSH will not be in Penzance this coming season and i know i'm not alone in wishing you all a fantastic season but more importantly that you make a full recovery. PADDYTAF.
