It’s a few days since my last update. 

Things have moved quite quickly. Pete has really responded to the idea of coming home. Who could blame him! 

He’s been having twice daily Physio learning to walk with crutches and on a frame. Very tiring for him, so he’s also sleeping better. 

He’s much more alert as the drugs have changed in preparation for home. IV drips are down to 1 in his leg and that comes out today! So that will be interesting as the pain is harder to control in pill form. They are getting the cocktail right. 

His operation pain is improving but the phantom pain persists. He started mirror box therapy and we’re thinking of acupuncture. 

I’ve had one suggestion for a good acupuncturist but if anyone has another suggestion please let me know. 

He’s enjoying getting out in the wheelchair to the garden and the cafe. 

Today he signed up for dog therapy! That’s more for El than him I think. She’s missing her little sausage dog Simpson. 

Some mates are visiting this afternoon and if he’s up to it they’ll wheel him to the brewery next door. Doctors said he could have a beer! 🍻 

So it looks like home on Sunday if we get everything lined up. He’s looking forward to his own bed and home cooked meals ( he actually has been only eating home cooked meals, but out of containers) His appetite has come back. 

So this has been a week of moving forward. 

Good to see smiles. 

Rehab starts at RBH in about 2 weeks. Until then Physio and OT at home. 

Thanks again for your 🙏🏼 your ❤️ 🎁 and your cooking. All much appreciated. 

Peter had lots of visitors on Saturday and Sunday morning but was struggling with the pain and finding it hard. He brightens when friends are there but drops when they go. 

There are going to be days like that. Down,down, down. 

But thank goodness for no nonsense nurses. Deb listened to him but was so definite in what she expected of him, that he started to listen. 

She organised extra Physio sessions which involved moving around the ward, showering himself, bed exercises , daily goal setting and a visit to the gym. 

Fortunately Pete has responded and today has had a better day. When involved in things he manages  pain better. 

So El stayed home and cooked this morning. We went to Kmart for some extra clothes for the gym sessions and bought some games to pass the time ( Robs good suggestion). 

 El has gone in this afternoon armed with food, games and clothes. Hope he is happy. 

We need more up days than down 🎈

The journey is long and hard. 

As our friend Jill replied to him on FB 

……….’It’s early days. Very very early days. Focus on the endgame. Every week will be a little better until one day you go Oh, I had a whole day free of pain and I was so busy doing stuff that I didn’t notice …..

And until then you’ve got about a zillion people out here collectively willing you to that end, and thinking you’re as brave as shite xo’

Thanks Jilly. Spot on. 

Thank you to all our wonderful warm caring friends. Your kind words, actions, food, gifts, calls, cards and   hugs mean such a lot to us. 

A quick message to let you know that today’s surgery went well and they closed the wound with a flap. They must have been pleased with the absence of infection. Good news indeed. 

This means he can start recovery. He’s sleeping like a baby now and we hope that continues when the operation anaesthetic has worn off. 

Tomorrow they plan on getting him up to shower! 

He’ll be so excited. That’s got to help his rehab. 

We’ve turned a corner. 

We all hoped Peter would be more comfortable today but it just didn’t happen. 

Yesterday it started and he is finding it very hard to deal with the waves of nerve pain he is experiencing. 

They changed a few things around and after an unsettled morning he slept most of the afternoon and hopefully will get some rest tonight. He’s worn out and we’re getting that way as well. 

Poor lovely El is just sad. 

I had quite a talk to one of the nurses and she helped and also to the psychiatrist who will help with pain management strategies. 

A new kidney doctor called in and it turned out to be Richard Baer , Theo’s son , who is 5 years older than Peter and used to play with him a lot when we lived next door! Small world. 

So back to surgery tomorrow for infection check and hopefully to close the wound and give her m a good stump for the future prosthetic. 

Keep praying. 

Thanks. 

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.