Hello friends. 

I know like us you have been worried about today’s operation. 

This morning we just got to the hospital in time to say goodbye as he was wheeled off at around 8.30. Then by 12.30 he was back in his room. 

It went as well as could be expected. They didn’t close the wound as there was still a bit of infection they want to eliminate,  so back to surgery on Friday for the closure. 

He came back feeling fine – the epidural was working well. He was chirpy and not too sad when looking at the gap on his leg. 

It looks strange but I’m sure we’ll all get adjusted to the new look. 

Pain was kicking in this afternoon. Any big bone operation will have pain at the site of the break. But some of this pain is phantom pain – it feels like it is still happening in the missing limb. Poor Pete was finding it difficult. 

He sure has had to deal with lots of pain over the last 3 weeks. 

We’ll have to get some extra help dealing with this new type of pain. 

So thank you for your messages and love. We are staying strong. 

xxxx 

Tonight I thought I would just copy Peter’s words from his Facebook page ( with his permission). 

From Peter

‘Alright friends,  I never thought that this moment would come or how I would handle it but here goes…………In case you didn’t know I had a massive motorbike accident with Nick Jesse Ng.  We got sideswiped by a car. Nick escaped with some minor injuries but was and still is shaken badly and I appreciate any help or positive thoughts his way.

After spending 5 nights in Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and enduring about 4 surgeries, none of which would have been possible without the support of Carla Mason, Paul Hurford, the Showbox crew, and more people than I can fit into this space,  but will always have a special place in mine and Elena Belevtseva hearts. I was required to move to Bangkok Hospital to continue treatment. After a few more days, surgeries and a significant intake of morphine It was decided that I had exceeded their medical abilities and i needed more. 

Bring on a a 9.5 hour flight to Brisbane. El, myself and our doctor and nurse lived it up in business class (Thanks largely on my behalf for the free and unlimited Morphine) poor Mum had to slum it in economy. After being met at the airport by the media I was sent straight to the Mater Hospital, Brisbane. 

The difference in quality between the three hospitals (Phnom Penh, Bangkok, and Brisbane was definitely noticeable. 

After 4 days, lots of meetings and of course some surgeries it is decision time.

So it comes down to this. Today is the last day that I will have 2 legs. I will be having amputation surgery tomorrow morning.

They will start by cutting off my right leg just below my knee and making a nice stub onto which in the near future a nice prosthetic leg can be attached. 

Please ……visitors, messages, questions, anything people want to know do not hesitate in asking.

LOTS OF LOVE EVERYONE, Pete 

Today was a quiet day. At least no operations. 

Many doctors. Pain management, infectious diseases, bone, kidney. So many discussions. It’s a big thing about to happen. 

Steve and I left. I walked to Southbank and met my little Bookclub friends for lunch. It was lovely to chat and have such great support. 

Steve went to the coast for a swim and El went back to Spaghetti House where she used to work. 

In the afternoon El sat with Pete until Rob and Jordan arrived. 

Friends dropped in food. It saves me thinking about shopping and really is a comfort. After all the missed meals in PP and Bangkok it is lovely to have such delicious food. Thank you. 

It looks like the big operation will be Wednesday. So tomorrow another quiet waiting day. 

Thank you all for your support and for following our progress through this nightmare. It’s good to be home with doctors we can understand and who have a sense of humour Pete can respond to well. Also,  who we have confidence in. 

They had a team of six surgeons operate and assess today. 
Unfortunately the result was not a miracle. They said it is not as good as we had been led to believe. Pete will lose his lower leg. Below the knee. 

He said he had been laying thinking about this possible outcome for two weeks and has come to terms with it. 

Elena has been a wonderful support and loves him no matter what happens. 

So it looks like Tuesday or Wednesday and then he’ll be home in 3 weeks. He will eventually get a prosthetic and is planning which para Olympic sport he will play. 

Let’s hope that’s how it all goes. 

Our flight was good and Pete  enjoyed being a celebrity with the Courier Mail waiting to interview him when he arrived. 

Then to the serious stuff of being admitted to yet another hospital. 

Mater A&E is not a pretty place. Not like the 16th floor of Bangkok hospital. But the engaging nature and sense of humour of the nurses and doctors was the tonic Peter needed. He responded to them so well , so El and I headed home for a much needed shower, unpack  and a bite to eat. 

Our beautiful neighbour Penny called in with groceries, Wendy left a comfort care package on the doorstep and lovely MJ, a therapy friend, arrived with lasagne and chicken. The ultimate comfort food ( so different from Fuji our Japanese restaurant in Bangkok). 

Thank you all. 

Back to the hospital to find out what the plan is for Peter. Dr Ben outlined what happens tomorrow. Lea my medical advisor was a true friend and offered suggestions of what to ask. 

A big operation. We will find out the extent of his injuries and the possibilities for repair. 

Peter is still holding up and being strong. 

Finally time to leave. 

Pete was very anxious this afternoon. He just wanted to get going. So about 6 pm on he kept asking us to hurt them. 

El and I ducked off for a last bit of sushi at our favourite little Japanese restaurant. Also it’s the only one close that sells beer! 

We got back and Pete was in pain and wanting to go. He was anxious and trying to get out of bed to get going. 

Finally they arrived and set him up for the ambulance trip to the hospital. He was so excited. 

El went in the ambulance and they had booked a driver for me. The traffic was incredible. Steve had left earlier for his flight home via Singapore and nearly missed it ! 

I left before they’d even loaded Pete but when we arrived through pouring rain there they were. They’d travelled siren on at big speed ! 

We all got out and went to the Busibess class check in before they wheeled him in. Before we went through customs he had to go into a wheelchair. Sounds easy but it wasn’t. They hadn’t prepared a length of wood to support his leg. 

We went into the lounge for awhile but no fun for Pete. Then came the shock. We had to walk to a far gate which for him was a long time in the wheelchair. 

But then it wasn’t a bridge into the plane. It was a bus ride. El and I went off worried how they would manage him. 

Poor guy finally was put on a lift in light rain and lifted up to the plane. He was in pain but settling into the seat made him relax. 

Then it was all good. The doctor and nurse with him are great they listen to him and help. Funniest thing was when the nurse said she thought she remembered him! Turns out she was the nurse who looked after him when he’d been in hospital in Bangkok. Several years ago when he was airlifted from Laos to Bangkok she helped him. She said. “You’ve got the same girlfriend !’ Not Pete replied this one is my fiancé and more beautiful. 

He slept. He ate a little and El loved business class. I was just behind in economy so was able to pop up and see him. I even slept a little. 

I’m writing this as we are landing and hope the next part goes smoothly. 

Off to hospital and another assessment of his injury. 

Just got confirmation that Pete will be admitted to the Mater Public. 

It’s a relief to know where he’s going and that a good orthopaedic surgeon will be doing the work. 

Hope they are all ready for him! 

Life in the hospital is getting a little bit the same. We feel like we are marking time. 

Then the Physio arrived with a wheelchair. Pete was very happy to do his exercises and then prepare for his first sit in the chair. 

He got in just fine – lucky he’s strong. But he needed his leg out and supported. So he and Steve worked out a plan , put it to the Physio and then he was comfortable – leg out. 

Off he went for his first upright tour of the ward. Everyone clapped. Pete felt confident for tomorrow’s airport trip. Pain wasn’t too bad – the drugs are working as they should. 

So tomorrow another clean and inspection of the foot and wound. Then a sleep for us all. 

Off to the airport by 9 for a midnight flight. 

Steve leaves at 8pm flying through Singapore . Just no seats available on our Thai flight for him. 

Looking forward to returning and Pete is keen to watch the AFL final. 

Just hope they have worked out which hospital we will go to ! 

See you all soon. 

Peter had another clean out and assessment. We feel we’re marking time.

Another mishap when the IV line with pain relief came out , which we hadn’t realised until Pete’s pain increased. Grrr.

He went off to theatre feeling pain and returned ok,  still sleepy.

Decision today on flights. They are proving hard to get. Looks like to get a direct flight to Brisbane he will need to sit in a normal business seat for take off and landing before turning it into a flat bed.

We’re assessing that today. Hope he can so we can get going in few days.

Poor Pete is keen to get home and start the rest of the big operations.

Hope for further good news.