6. Legs                      

1. Monday 10th August

Just as we were beginning to make plans to leave Orhaniye with the new diesel tank - due to be completed Wednesday or Thursday this week and we surely couldn't have any more problems, we had another set-back.

After a swim in the sea, Fiona was heading off to the shower block with towel and shampoo, jumped off the boat onto the wet wooden jetty. Her front foot slipped (crocs on a wet surface are an absolutely lethal combination, should have known better) and her trailing leg bashed the edge of the jetty, shin square on to the wood. She said something like 'oh bother' and nearly passed out. No-one seemed sure if it was broken or not, but a man who said he was a doctor (or perhaps he was a dentist?) advised that we should go to the hospital for an x-ray, if only to check. A rough splint was made then Fiona was bundled into a minibus (still in bikini!) for a very bumpy, painful ride to the private Ahu Hetman Hospital in Marmaris.

As soon as we found out the leg really was broken and there was no way fiona could get back on board Roam II, we called Karen and Paul (of sy Antigua Lady) who own a small hotel in town. Luckily they had a room for us. Fiona had to be carried by Paul and Terry up the steps and then up the stairs to our room, there's no way she can manage the stairs on crutches. Domino's couldn't put us up every night at such short notice in the middle of busy August, so we were extremely grateful to Molly and Kevin for putting us up at their apartment around the corner. they made us feel very welcome in their home. Macit, our electrician also offered to put us up at his flat with his son. Unfortunately it just didn't work for us but we are grateful to Macit and his son Ibor for their generous offer. In fact, we had offers of help and support from many friends, which was wonderful.

The original soft splinted cast (toe to mid-thigh) was replaced on the Friday -under sedation- with a hard cast. Whilst this felt much safer, it was still quite painful for Fiona. We were fortunate that Domino's had a cancellation for their ground floor room, so we moved in there. With air conditioning, wi-fi and Sky tv, we've been very comfortable and were able to watch the final cricket test and see England win the Ashes!

Special mention also has to be made of 'Nurse' Terry. He has had to do virtually everything for Fiona - fetching and carrying, dressing & washing. He has been so patient Gradually Fiona has been able to do things for herself, but some have needed an extra pair of hands that only a special nurse could do!

We're hoping that the next appointment on Friday 4th Sept will mean that Fiona gets her full cast with a below-the-knee one that she can walk on and then maybe we can move back on board. in the mean time we're enjoying the facilities and company at Domino's!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Friday 4th September

We were a bit disappointed when we went back to the hospital after 3 1/2 weeks as the doctor advised, that Fiona had to keep her full length cast for another week. the doctor reflected that it was just a bit too soon to allow her knee movement. But he did say that she should start putting some weight on the leg and fitted a very fetching black boot so she can do a bit of walking.

3. Thursday 17 September

We had a lovely 5 days with Mark and Elina (who sportingly drove from Antalya to Marmaris). on the 11th the hospital cut the cast below the knee. the revealed skin soon went dry and flaked off, it was horrible! the relief at being able to bend a very stiff left knee was fabulous - to be able to sit at a table normally, amazing! the doctor was trying to get me to walk with one crutch but I found that the shape of the cast at my ankle was throwing my weight backwards which made it virtually impossible. 4 days later I went back to the hospital and the doc agreed that I should have a new cast. my wounded leg was briefly revealed, then re-covered. the foot shape is much better, but for several days the shin rubbed horribly making it quite sore. More bad news, the doc says this one stays on until 2 October.

 

 

More good news, we met up with an old FedEx colleague, Brian from Dubai who was on a business trip to Istanbul but had arranged to meet his brother in Içmeler while he was on holiday there - just at the same time as us! Brian was a humorous as ever.

 

 

 

Yesterday I actually got back on board for the first time in over 5 weeks. I had visited a couple of times and we had considered several methods, including hoisting me in the bosun's chair! several people offered help and equipment but eventually I settled on scooting up the gang-plank on my bottom, swivelled around and managed to use my good leg to heave myself over the transom. Ok. now I'm on, how do I get off?!

22 September

Our old friend Brian from Chinook helped us bring the boat round from Orhaniye to Marmaris Yat Marina with an overnight stop in Bozburun. It was an uneventful trip but we were grateful to Brian for his help doing the things fiona couldn't.

Back in Yat Marina, we were found a berth alongside so that Fiona can get on and off easily. However, this is a huge marina and it's a long way to the bar - no problems here, the staff will come and collect you in a golf cart and ferry you around, even from the bar! Thank you Yat Marina!

We're still confident of heading off to India this winter and have even booked flights back from Egypt to the UK before Christmas.

24 September. Back in Yat Marina

An uneventful trip back to Marmaris via the pretty town of Bozburun with Brian from 'Chinook' as acting first mate. We hadn't booked or pre-warned them that we were arriving, but we were put in an alongside berth straight away in a corner of the inner harbour.

I can get off the boat by myself...fantastic; i can get to the toilets by myself; we can get the marina golf cart to take us to and bring us back from the bar - amazing!

 

 

 

 

2 October. Hospital visit

This was a long awaited trip back to the hospital. If all was ok we were hoping that the cast would be removed. in the meantime we had been looking for a willing friend to bring over a removable 'walking cast' from the UK. we could get one here, but for nearly 3 times the price. Thank you to Debbie from Destiny for acting as courier.

So off we went. firstly for an x-ray. my first look at the picture and i thought it was bad news. the gap between the 2 halves of my tibia looked bigger than ever, my heart sank - there was no way i was going to see my left shin today. Fortunately we had an expert on hand and the doctor showed us where the new bone was being made - a weird gel forming strings between and around the break. So, off with the cast! hurrah! the leg underneath looked vile - tight, shiny skin and hairy, ugh!

We had a visit to the physiotherapist who gave me a programme of exercises to do 3 times a day. we then put on the new cast to walk out of the hospital, maybe for the last time.

Back at the boat, we've got a birthday to plan.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

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