Follow Scott's Progress
Scott Matthews
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2008
Unexpected Interruption
Okay, so this is my second blog now - that i have typed personally. The staff at Loxton hospital have been kind enough to allow me access to the internet.
The last few days i have been feeling unwell - without going into the nitty gritty and quite disgusting details my "Crohn's" has flared up. In fact it is not as much my crohns but the ongoing side effects of having a part of your abdomen removed (10 years ago). My Crohns represents a daily battle for me, and since surgery i also suffer from Anemia. Not many people know or realise this as my weaknesses i dont share as freely as my triumphs or strengths!!! The harsh reality is, in the absence of medical intervention i would have died many years ago from either the initial Crohn's infection or the consequences of being aneamic since then.
As a result of a few indulgences and more so an unblanced diet for a few days, coupled with the enormity of my adventure and the strain on my body, my blood count has dropped from 146 to 104 in the matter of 24 hours. My Adelaide doctor recommended i seek treatment at the local hospital and i am lucky that the doctor in loxton who saw me, Peter Tait, and the staff at the Loxton hospital have been so wonderful. The good news is that i have enough iron in my body to replenish my blood over the coming week and i was able to avoid an all out blood transfusion. The 2 days rest has seen my body balance and i should be able to return to paddling tomorrow albeit with caution and sensibility. Over the coming week my body will continue to replenish my blood and i will no doubt be superhuman again by the early next week - just in time for Auntie Barbs fabulous home cooking and being spoilt by her and Uncle Col!!!
I suppose this "incident" is testimony to everything about Kanoe4kids. It is Crohn's disease that made me realise how fortunate i was to not have something more serious (see my speech i made at the MFAA ball attached on the home page of this site)... and coupled with my love of our most wonderful resource, the Murray River, here i am - in a nurses station typing my blog as i try to help others less fortunate than me.
My "illness" means 4 trips to the doctors each year for B12 injections and to ave my blood monitored. These days it means annual trips to hospital for iron infusions or other crohns related treatments. It means a strict diet and consequences (such as this) when i do indulge outside what my body can handle. In a way it is like a diabetic who moniotrs their blood and then injects insulen... however my timeframe is less imminent and my "fixes" require hospitalisation as they are put through an IV line directly ino the blood.
I have Crohn's and for that i am ever thankful. Ofcourse i would rather not have it, but i do. I would rather kids didn't get sick, but they do. Some get really sick, and Kanoe4kids is helping them while they are sick.
In the past 32 days i have lost 10kg's, grown the worlds most pathetic facial hair, fought the elements of nature trying to hold me back, and now been hospitalised. Paddling the Murray is a difficult thing when you are fit and healthy, it is the 3rd longest navigable river in the world (apparently), however it is even harder when your body can't keep up with your mind as is my case, because for no fault of my own i have this disease.
I will reach the mouth of the River Murray at Goolwa on schedule. My years long work and efforts will see wishes granted for many children of Make A Wish. I will not be beaten by my illness.
Thankyou for keeping up with my blogs. I hope you are all well and i appreciate your interest and your support. I also wish to thank Dr Peter Tait, my GP Dr Richard John's and the staff of the Loxton hospital who have all been so wonderful, kind and considerate.
The world is a beautiful place, but there is always someone worse of than you. Helping those less fortunate will make the world even more beautiful for them and for you.
Scott Matthews