We have spent the last two days at hospital as Adam recuperates from an operation for a serious knee injury he sustained playing rugby two months ago. We knew at the time something was amiss as he heard a ‘pop’ during a tackle. A MRI scan revealed the full extent of the damage, a full tear to his anterior cruciate ligament. The only option was surgery to repair the damage followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period.
Adam has been philosophical about the injury. In his words ‘it is what it is.’ I’ve been very impressed with his attitude as, personally, I would have been devastated. He is ruled out for the season and playing for a team who have a real chance of a trophy this season. He loves playing rugby and just happens to be very good at it as well. There have also been professional scouts sniffing around the team.
In order to be ready for surgery he has undergone a six week period of physiotherapy so as to be able to fully extend his leg. This was successful meaning the surgery went ahead yesterday as scheduled. The operation lasted an hour but he needed two hours in the recovery room before we were allowed to see him. Those were long hours and we were relieved to see him finally return to the ward.
The procedure was keyhole, involving four small incisions. Holes were drilled at the top of his shin bone and bottom of thigh bone, before a small piece of tendon grafted from his hamstring was looped through and tied to replace the torn ligament. He spent the night in hospital and was in a lot of pain when he woke up. Thankfully Messrs Morphine and Co-Codamol were at hand to get him through the night.
He will be on crutches for two weeks and off school for a while. His rehabilitation will start soon though and he already has a series of exercises which he has to perform three times a day as well as regularly icing and flexing his leg. His physiotherapy will recommence in two weeks and after that he will return to the gym to start strengthening the knee and the muscles and ligaments surrounding it. He will be okay to start jogging in 3-4 months.
The target is South Africa in July 2020 which his team will be touring for three weeks. Adam is determined to be back playing rugby by then. It will be hard work but he is a determined young man and has the full support of his family, coaches and team mates. That’s the reason the blog has been a bit quiet of late. Hopefully when he get him home later today normal service will be resumed again.
It must have been awful for you waiting all that time while he was in the recovery room! I hope the pain is well-managed as he recuperates. All the best for his rugby career in 2020!
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Thank you.
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Some things are really hard to go through, especially when it envolves our children. Sounds like Adam has the right mindset to get through this setback. Best to you all.
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Thank you Denny.
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Thanks for the update! I’ll be praying for Adam’s successful recovery💜
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Thank you.
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Praying for you all and a full recovery
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Thank you
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Here’s to a speedy recovery!
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Thank you 😊
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Prayers for a full recovery.
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Thank you.
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Wishing Adam a speedy recovery. Blessings.
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Thank you.
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Hope Adam has a quick recovery. Thinking of you all.
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Thank you very much.
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Wishing you a full and quick recovery Adam!! You can do it!!
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Thank you. Yes he can.
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So glad his surgery was successful and that he is recovering. He is a strong young man mentally and physically. His focus is so amazing for one so young!
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Thank you. Yes, he is.
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I hope Adam feels better soon. Sending out healing vibes.
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Thank you Dwight. Much appreciated.
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We’re wishing Adam a speedy recovery. Jump on the physical therapy hard and recovery tends to take less time. My oldest son and I know how problematic knees are! Wishing you all well and praying for Adam.
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Thank you Gregory. Very kind of you.
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Best wishes to Adam. He looks to be a fine young man.
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Thanks for the update! I hope Adam has a completely successful recovery. This is the blessing of being young, but it also absolutely still sucks that it happened to him. My 42 year old brother tore his, got it repaired, it failed, and now I think he’s looking at a knee replacement? Here’s to a great 2020 rugby career!
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I hope he feels better soon!
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Thank you Martina 🙂
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Prayers for his recovery. I’ve had ACL surgery and can relate 🙏🏼❤️
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Thank you Lisa. How long did it take you to recover?
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Honestly it was a long process with physical therapy then I reached a standstill with my progress. At that point, I decided to switch doctors and that made a HUGE difference. I had a second surgery followed up with a new physical therapist and progressed very well. The doctor & PT are huge with progress. I still have to be cautious at times and have limitations, but I’m very satisfied. The healing also had something to do with my age – 45 at the time of injury.
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I’m glad you are recovering. He is 17 so has age on his side. We hope he will make a full recovery.
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Healthy and happy healing Adam, you’ll be back on the pitch good as new.
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Thank you Deborah. We hope so.
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I wish him a very speedy recovery. South Africa sounds like an amazing incentive to get back playing!
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Thank you. It certainly is.
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I will be praying for him Stephen! My wife had double knee surgery almost 20 years ago. She had to have a lateral release surgery on both knees. They gave her this cool automatic ice pump, which really helped. It has a bucket type thing you fill with ice and water and there is a tube attached to a wrap that goes around the knee. The ice cold water is pumped into the wrap and all you have to do is change the ice and water in the bucket every so often. That really helped my wife a lot. Praying he is totally healed quickly! God bless you all!
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May he heal quickly and fully and may you and F heal emotionally! It is NOT easy watching a loved one hurting and missing out on important, to him, activities!! ((Hugs)) for the whole family!!
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I know. Thank you Ruth.
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What a rough road! I’m glad to hear he’s been such a trooper. Wishing him the best as he begins the healing process. Hopefully it’s a speedy recovery.
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Thank you Heather.
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Hope he has a good recovery. I will keep him and your family in my prayers.
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Thank you very much.
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That’s a lot of medical work for one so young. The thing is, I fully believe Adam can make South Africa – he’s made it through the first couple of steps, he knows how to be disciplined in his work outs, he’s got a great team of people he will never meet rooting for him.
Knee injuries are a pill, but they DO get better with the right mindset, which Adam has.
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Happy to hear the surgery went well and he is on his way to recovery. It is always tough when our kids are in pain and suffereing.
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Praying for him and for you of course.
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Thank you 😊
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Nice to hear things are going well for Adam.
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Thank you
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You are welcome!
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So glad all went well. Hoping for a full recovery.
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Thank you
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Praying for Adam and speedy recovery and healing.
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Thank you Meghan 🙂
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Best of luck and prayers for healing.
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Thank you.
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Wishing Adam a safe, speedy and full recovery.
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Thank you.
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I had to smile at the target – I live in South Africa and my birthday is in July 😉
I had the exact same surgery in January 2018 – not a rugby injury though. It was challenging to say the least, and very painful. Full recovery is reachable though 😉 This year, in October, I was able to join the group of Mom’s and dance in the same show as my daughter.
Thinking of Adam while he faces this road to recovery. It’s not easy, but he certainly has the best attitude towards it! 🙂
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Praying for Adam’s quick recovery.nowadays kids are strong and sensitive.they bear the pain bravely coz they dont want to upset us seeing them.in pain…
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Thank you very much.
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Sending him positive vibes for a quick recovery! I can imagine your worry as a parent so I’m sending you a virtual hug too.
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Thank you Kathy. Very kind of you.
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Sorry about your son’s injury and I pray that God will touch his knee and he will have a speedy recovery. He is a strong young man like his father.
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Thank you very much.
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speedy recovery to a brave young man.
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Thank you Grace.
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I’m glad Adam’s surgery was successful and that he’s healing well. I understand the stress involved with this process, my husband tore 3 ligaments in his knee (ACL, MCL, PCL) playing basketball. He thought he would never play again. However, after microscopic repair surgery and some months of physical therapy he was back on the court in no time. Many hopes for a continued speedy recovery.
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Thank you Heather. Your husband’s story is really encouraging 🙂
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Glad to hear that Adam’s doing okay. Wishing him a full recovery.
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Thank you 😊
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Glad to hear his surgery went well. Sending prayers for a full and speedy recovery! You and Fionuella must be so relieved!
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Sorry – Fionnuala! 😁
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We sure are. Thank you.
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I am so sorry to hear about his injury! I am praying for Adam tonight.
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Thank you Shelly.
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Awesome blog
Good luck
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Thank you.
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