"Profound Gratitude To Those Who Saved My Life!"

In late 2017 I was unfortunately diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of Bone Cancer. It was something that I had never imagined would happen to me, especially in my early twenties. You always read and see Cancer stories  but you never expect to be the person sat behind the keyboard writing one. Following my diagnosis, I met with my Oncologist, Dr. Larry, and we derived a plan of action. This consisted of 10 weeks of intensive Chemotherapy treatment, which set out to shrink the Tumour, followed by Limb-Salvage Surgery which intended to remove it. Post surgery was then followed by a further 10 weeks of Chemotherapy, coupled with physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Following a gruelling 10 weeks of Chemotherapy Treatment, I underwent Limb-Salvage Surgery at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, under the accomplished hands of Mr. Paton and his team. The surgery was a success and I began my physiotherapy and final 10 weeks of chemotherapy treatment shortly after.

One of the biggest worries that I faced prior to starting my physiotherapy and rehabilitation was that there would be a distinct lack of communication. I was concerned that information would not be passed on correctly between the Oncology department at the Western General Hospital, the Orthopaedic department at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and then the Physiotherapy Department at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Due to the severity and nature of my surgery, my leg was locked in extension inside a brace and strict parameters were set in order to maximise recovery. This was the main reason I was worried about miscommunication as one inaccurately passed message could have been extremely detrimental to the healing process and could have significantly reduced my mobility. 

However, my feelings of worry were instantly put at ease during my first consultation with my surgeon before the commencement of physiotherapy. I was extremely impressed as Geoff (Head Physiotherapist) came along and sat in during the consultation and was therefore able to have a face to face conversation with both myself and Mr. Paton. The proximity of the Orthopaedic department in relation to the Physiotherapy department, meant that Geoff was present in no time at all. He assured me that I would receive the best care if I attended his clinic within the Royal Infirmary instead of a community clinic as there was the advantage of working closely with Mr. Paton and if I ever had any little Hiccups or queries during my rehabilitation, that the Orthopaedic department was situated within walking distance for someone using crutches, and that I wasn't to hesitate in going along. In that single moment, I developed a feeling of trust and this instantly put me at ease at a time in my life that was full of uncertainty and worry. 

After agreeing to attend the Physiotherapy Department at the Royal Infirmary, I was given an appointment within a matter of days and then twice a week after that, seeing both Geoff and Shirley. Both Geoff and Shirley are not only incredible Physiotherapists but they are incredible people as well. They both supported me not only on a physical level with regards to my physiotherapy but also on an emotional level during a difficult period in my life. Due to the strict restrictions, coupled with the fact that I was still receiving chemotherapy, there were days in which I was absolutely exhausted and began to lose faith in my recovery. Both Geoff and Shirley were extremely understanding, patient and never stopped encouraging me from the second I walked through the door. They were able to frequently consult Mr Paton in regards to alterations and lifting some of the limitations that were initially put in place. This meant that I was never left feeling in limbo and that I was constantly improving and always had something to focus on. 

I am extremely grateful for the fact that I didn't have far to walk between my consultations in Orthopaedics and my appointments in the physiotherapy department. The excessive fatigue that I felt due to Chemotherapy made it extremely difficult to move around and this was emphasised further by my need to use crutches and support my own body weight. However, this was significantly reduced as I was able to go to both appointments in the one trip and I could be back home in a matter of hours. I have spent many months in a leg brace and on crutches with great difficulty walking, and therefore the short walking distance between departments has been beneficial. This was also incredibly helpful, as because of the Chemotherapy, my immunity was extremely low and I was often worried about the risk of picking up infection. Having both of these departments so close to each other meant that I was somewhat isolated to a small section of the hospital and my time outside the house was limited which reduced my risk of infection further. 

Due to the nature of my injury, I am unable to drive and the logistics of public transport are near impossible and I require lifts into my appointments from my parents. I am grateful that there work commitments are impacted to a lesser extent as we are able to visit both Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy within a matter of hours and they are able to return to work after dropping me home.

As the months went on, I was making significant progress however I was still unable to perform a straight leg raise, which is common following the nature of my surgery. Once again, Geoff and Shirley were able to consult with Mr Paton and the decision was made to have further surgery in order to reconstruct my tendon and tighten/lower my knee cap. Two weeks following my surgery, I attended a consultation and was impressed with how quickly I was able to receive my new leg brace. I was initially told that I would have to wait a minimum of 1 week, however, as the brace fitting/plaster room is situated directly in the middle of the Orhopaedic and Physiotherapy departments, I was able to have my brace fitted and begin my physio that day!

I am extremely happy to say that I am now in remission and have been clear of Cancer for over 6 months now. I am still attending physio regularly in order to rehabilitate my most recent surgery. I can't speak highly enough about the treatment and support I have received over the last couple years from all of the departments which seemed to work so closely together on my case. I feel that this was the main factor in meaning that I never once felt left in the dark with regards to my care and recovery. 

Poor communication and inconsistency are words that I often see associated with the NHS, however the Orthopeadic and Physiotherapy departments at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary should be commended for the way they work in harmony together, providing efficient and effective treatment, as if they were just one big department.

I cant thank Dr. Hayward, Mr Paton, Geoff, Shirley and everyone associated with their respective teams enough, for not only everything they have done and continue to do for me, but what they do on a day to day basis for others. The way in which they communicated and worked in close proximity with one and other ensured that I always felt confident that I was getting the best possible care. They really are some of the most remarkable human beings and I will be forever grateful to them all.