Mum!

Yesterday Mum went into Southampton General Hospital to undergo surgery. Already a double amputee, below the knee, losing both her legs through type I Diabetes, Mum was now faced with the horrifying prospect of having a full leg amputation. One of her stumps had become infected and in order to avoid blood poisoning, Mum and Dad were advised that another operation was necessary.

Understandably both my parents were reluctant to contemplate a further operation. Mum has long suffered and didn't want to add further difficulty to her already gruelling daily life. After taking advice from practitioners and surgeons, it was decided to carry out the procedure; in stark terms, Mum was warned she would die without additional surgery. They were encouraged to act quickly before sepsis took hold and infection entered the bone, making treatment impossible and death inevitable.

Mum was told to prepare for the amputation and expect to be admitted to Southampton within a few weeks. Luckily their current home is adapted for her current disability, so no aftercare would need to be arranged, before she went home after the operation. The Doctors were hoping to send Mother home within a few days of the abscission.  I was shocked to hear she would be discharged so soon after such major trauma, but suitably reassured this was common practice. The longer Mum remains on a ward, the more chance she has of contracting a hospital infection, that could ultimately prove fatal. In the past after a previous operation, Mum developed MRSA, a further recurrence of which could hinder her recovery long term.

Last night the hospital carried out the amputation on her right leg and Dad messaged me immediately afterwards to say she was OK. This morning however I was contacted once again and told Mum had to undergo a blood transfusion and would have to stay in hospital longer than expected.  This is of course a worrying time for all of us and we want to get Mum home as soon as we can.

Mum and Dad would like to thank friends and family for their good wishes and continued support. Without all of you, this period would be far harder to endure than it already is. I would like to send everyone lots of love in return and of course wish Mum a speedy recovery!