| Joan Davidson, of Liff, had not long returned home from delivering presents and had retired to bed when she began to feel unwell and started to struggle for breath.
At around 1am she was so distressed that she woke her husband Alex, who drove her to Ninewells Hospital’s Accident and Emergency unit, concerned that she may have a problem with her heart.
Mrs Davidson said, “I was taken right in, but the doctors were unsure of my diagnosis to begin with. I didn’t know until later on Christmas Day, when I had a CAT scan, that I was suffering from a ruptured oesophagus, which was very serious and rare.
“After they knew what was wrong with me, they did an operation, which my husband said took around five hours. The doctors had to work very, very quickly.”
Following the procedure, Mrs Davidson spent nine weeks in hospital recovering as she suffered some setbacks resulting in her having to spend two spells in the Intensive Care Unit and two in the high dependency unit.
Mrs Davidson said she feels she owes her life to the surgeon who operated on her and to the staff who helped her on her road to recovery, and that she is now back at home and recuperating.
She continued, “I was perfectly healthy. This was totally out of the blue.
“The surgeon, Mr Lovell-Jones, was very considerate and very friendly. I wouldn’t be here without the care I had. I have total respect for him and his team.
“I would just like to say I’m very, very grateful for all the care and attention I had from the staff at the ICU, high dependency unit and Ward 7, where I had to spend four to five weeks. I became friends with the staff. I’m very lucky to survive and it was down to the timing and people there.
“I also want to thank people who sent cards and visitors, who included people from the past and people who hardly knew me. They were so helpful and have given me cards and gifts in hospital and since.” |
