The first 24 hours....

So to start the process, we jumped in the car around 9:30am for our drive to RNSP.  It was a intense to say the least.... trying to talk and just do the "norm" pfffft!  In pre admin, I took a pic of Matt's trusty boots.  He couldn't get out of bed to rush to the toilet like most of us may need to do when we arise, he's have to struggle to get up and sit for a bit, then put on socks, brace and these boots (they gave him ankle stability) before doing anything.  Not sure what we will do with these boots, they hold alot of 'stuff' within them I think!!!

The build up to this operation was fairly intense for Matt, and in turn, for us. The inevitable arrived quicker than our minds could process it and the outcome for day one made us pretty stoked!  The crazy tension took it's course, yet the moment Les (surgeon) called while we waited patiently, everything relaxed and we were ready for the next leg!

Matty was the classic jokester and kept everyone entertained, according to his surgeon, and was an absolute champion!  He came out of surgery so pumped, like he'd been training for a marathon.  I guess in hindsight, he'd been preparing for this for well over a year (way way longer in his subconscious mind) and he was more than ready for this change.

Not only did he have some truly amazing friends and the high of the Matt Charnley Benefit concert riding on his pysche, he was ready for the next leg of his journey.

After 2 and half hours he was in his hospital room, cracking jokes and feeling pretty chuffed with himself.  Us girls were just as chuffed that he was OK and really happy.  There's no going back, which is a worry when there's a possibility that an amputee MAY feel they haven't quite made the right decision!!!  Matty felt really good.  His pain had lessened.  He tettered on a 7 to 8 out of 10 most days on the pain scale.  He came out of this op,  saying a 5 out of 10 was all he was feeling.  Yip yah, scoring goals already!!!!  A drain was in his leg; he had a spinal block for the operation and morphine.  Within about 4 hours or so, he started to get feeling back in his right leg AND still, no big pain.  Oral meds, panadol was all he had all night.  He went to theatre at 12;50pm then was in his room by 3;50PM.  Pretty damned cool for such major surgery!!!

A morphine drip was administered the following morning, so push the button and you shall receive!  Art, cigarbox playing, jokes and more of the same, worked well.  Around the 24 hour mark, the drain was removed prepping for physio to begin on Wednesday!!!