Ten years ago yesterday, Stan had his first heart
operation. We didn’t know at the time that he’d need more than one. On 21 May 2002,
things were looking good; but as the week progressed it got more and more
desperate.
And on 30 May they had to take him for more surgery. I
can remember them wheeling him off as the ink dried on the consent form. So, it’s
bringing back strong memories. There’s not a day that’s gone by in those ten
years when I haven’t thought about the surgeon, the anaesthetist, the nurses, the
consultants, the registrars, the people on the front desk and everyone at Great
Ormond Street Hospital for saving my son’s life.
I remember standing at the gates of GOSH ten years ago thinking that I would do anything for him to just be alive.
So, this morning, I go into the lounge and he's listening to the ipod. He looks up and shouts: "Go away; party". And I get to look at the big picture; how I stood at the gates of the hospital and dreamt of a moment like that.
If you want to know more of how I felt at the time and
why James O’Connor is such a superstar, read
this, from “May 2002”
