Kirstie's Second Chance
2 April 2016
We were all so excited when Kirstie came home from her spinal surgery in September. She was finally able to stand tall (with a little help from her crutches and of course – friends, family and her surgeons!). Kirstie was also relatively pain free for those first magical three weeks.
However, as some of you may already know, Kirstie’s freedom from pain and her ability to stand tall was over after a few short weeks. She was sadly bent almost double again. We were at a loss to know why and asked her surgeon at the two month post-op review to help because the initial x-rays showed nothing wrong!
A further CT scan then showed an unusual breaking down of her bones and significant movement in the metal supports for her spine. We were wondering what the large lump was at the base of her spine was! Aliens??
Apparently a substance (BMP) used in her surgery to help re-build her bones, had been working in the opposite way! It was no wonder Kirstie was experiencing such severe pain again!
Finally the surgeon decided that a second operation was necessary to re-do the surgery, replacing screws with bolts and hopefully addressing the bone erosion problem!
So... we’re off to Dunedin on Thursday 8th April for Kirstie’s second operation on Monday 11th with all our fingers and toes crossed. Sister Jenny is coming down in the first week to help while Neil will continue to keep the home fires burning back in Nelson. So if you’re in Dunedin in two weeks time, cheery faces would be welcomed!
This time round we’re hoping that Kirstie will be discharged straight back to Nelson hospital to help manage her after-care more closely.
Kirstie’s courage has been sorely tested with having to be confined to a wheelchair or bed for the past six months with daily pain wearing away at her determination to get well.
We have been so grateful to so many of you to help get us through this difficult time. To those of you who have connected with Kirstie on Facebook, sent messages or popped in to support, distract and encourage her, please accept our grateful thanks. It really does take a “village” to help get through difficult times!
Life has been a real challenge for Kirstie for almost nine years now and we know that Neil and I will continue to support Kirstie and “be there” for her all the way.
We’re hoping that with a little help, we can continue to be right alongside Kirstie to help her find the light at the end of this rather scary tunnel!
So ...... if you could find it in your hearts to add just a little to Kirstie’s givealittle fund to help with this second surgery, we would all be sooo grateful!
Please wish Kirstie luck on her Facebook page too!
Aunty Jenny will hopefully post updates on Facebook for us after Kirstie’s surgery.
Thank you again.
Gill and Neil and Kirstie B.