I'll be there at the start line - even if I have to crawl round
IT'S fair to say I underestimated the seriousness of the injury to my foot last week.
I took the trip to the RVI last Tuesday morning, half expecting to be back at work on Tuesday afternoon.
But I didn't return until Monday, nearly a week later, having been in and out of hospital for the rest of the week.
And after being admitted on Thursday, which for the majority of the time I was nil by mouth, I was operated on on Friday afternoon under general anaesthetic by a Plastic Surgeon at the RVI.
I couldn't help but feel a fraud while in hospital. While women around me were there for serious illnesses, I was there with, according to the nurse, "text book statistics", waiting to be seen for a foreign body in my left foot.
Despite feeling better than ever and in no pain, I had 'trauma' written on the board above my bed with my name on, and it just didn't feel right.
I can't say it was a pleasant experience. For me, I was venturing into the unknown when they wheeled me down to theatre and I had to look away while they put the anaesthetic in my right hand.
The last thing I remember is apologising if it made me babble! I don't even think they had to say "Count to 10, Hayley", because I was out for the count after one deep breath.
The next thing I remember is the nurse pulling a tube out of my throat and putting an oxygen mask over my face as I started to come round in the recovery ward, unable to control two or three tears escaping.
Once back in the familiar surroundings of Ward 44 I asked the Sister to lift the sheet off my foot so I could have a look.
I don't know what I was expecting but it's quite a small dressing, more like a big plaster, over the top of my foot, and when I asked the dreaded question "Will it be OK for the Great North Run?" she simply said "I don't know."
So I have an appointment at the hospital this Friday where the dressing will be removed for the first time and I'll know better then what the damage, if any, is.
Along with instructions to take a course of antibiotics, I've been told not to get the dressing wet and to keep it in tact, which has proved quite a challenge.
Having a bath or a shower without getting one of your feet wet isn't that easy, and after some attempts when I first got out of hospital with a plastic carrier bag wrapped around my ankle, I quickly invested in a shower sleeve, which seems to be doing the trick and keeping the dressing dry.
My foot doesn't actually hurt, and I can move it around fine. The concern is pressure on the surface of my foot, which could be caused by trainers, aggravating the wound.
So on my return trip to the gym on Tuesday night we decided it would be best to do my work out with just my socks on my feet.
I think it would have been quite easy for me to not bother turning up and waiting to see what happens on Friday, but I am determined to do this run and I have to do as much as I can to maintain my strength so as soon as I get the go ahead, I can get straight back into the running.
Admittedly I was a little weak in some of the tasks, but it felt good to be back doing exercise.
And with help from Nick Grantham I was even able to do some interval training at Smart Fitness using the rowing machine and using just my right leg, which all helps towards the cardiovascular fitness.
It might even be that I have to do other training between now and September 19 to keep my fitness up, and the day of the Great North Run will be the day I start running again.
I'm hoping that's a worst case scenario.
Everything is hanging on Friday, and I have everything crossed that the healing process has gone OK and I'll be able to get my trainers back on.
I've smashed my fundraising target, so I'll be there at the start line on September 19, even if I have to crawl round.
To find out more about Sara's Hope Foundation, the charity I have been raising money for, visit www.sarashopefoundation.co.uk and to look at my fundraising page visit www.everyclick.com/hayleyrevell
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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