‘Each day I wake up I appreciate what I have’

Tumour - the word strikes fear into our hearts. The Anglo-Celt's Michael Cryan, who recently underwent major surgery, and is set to have a second operation in the coming weeks, tells how he reacted when he heard he had a brain tumour.

Life can be a mystery. One minute you are looking forward to your summer vacation and the next thing you are spending three weeks in hospital. On Thursday, June 20, a neurologist from Dublin informed me that I had a growth on my brain, which came as a bolt from the blue.

Numbed by the anaesthesia of disbelief I almost lapsed into emotional apoplexy as he calmly explained what was going to happen. He had examined an MRI scan and I was being transferred from Cavan General Hospital to Beaumont the following day.

On Friday, June 21, I arrived at Beaumont at about 6pm. A lovely head nurse called Annmarie Keenan informed me that Dr. Taufiq Sattar, consultant would be looking after me.

My mind drifted back to March when this story began. I had developed a sense of nausea but never got sick. Initially I thought it was something I may have eaten and disagreed with me but when it persisted I thought I was developing an ulcer in my stomach as that is where I felt it was emanating from.

Typical man - I never paid any heed to it and continued on with life. I was a member of the Zest fitness centre in the Cavan Crystal Hotel and used to attend at least three or four times a week and swim at the weekend. At the time I felt I was reasonably fit but could not fathom what was happening.

Never a smoker and a keen sports man I played a lot of football, soccer, athletics and other sports in my youth. My only claim to fame is that I played alongside Bernard Brogan, father of Alan and Bernard of the current Dublin team, and his brother Jimmy Brogan on the then Blessed Oliver Plunkett’s team in the early seventies. As you are aware they are now called Saint Oliver Plunkett’s so I’m showing my age.

I also played soccer for local teams on the Navan Road like Weigh Inn United, Phoenix Albion, Ashtown United, Kinvara Boys, as well as Ballsbridge.

My family and I had planned a vacation to Dinseyworld in Florida and we were due to fly out on June 13. This had been planned for about 18 months and my wife, Jacinta, children Niamh and Caoimhin were eagerly looking forward to the trip.

The week before I decided to visit my mother in Dublin and told her I would call on Friday, June 7, stay the night and leave on Saturday. I got up on Saturday morning at 8.15am and told my mother I was going to have a shower and said I would be down in 15 or 20 minutes.

I remembered showering and later shaving but the next thing I remember is sitting on the side of the bed with two paramedics either side of me, placing ECGS on my chest, and my brother, Paul, standing in front of me.

Paul later informed me that my mother heard me collapse. She came up to the bathroom but could only get the door partially opened. She was speaking to me but I was not responding.

She contacted Paul, who came straight over. At that stage I was helping myself up off the floor but as Paul says, 'You were speaking utter gibberish and I contacted the ambulance.' I was transferred to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown and some tests were carried out. Later that afternoon I was released.

The following day, Sunday, I received a call from Connolly that I was to attend the Mater Neurological Department.

At that stage my wife and I informed the consultant that we were due to fly to America the following Thursday but he replied 'No you won’t.' It was at that stage we knew there was something terribly wrong. We visited our own GP Dr. Muiredeac Fergus to keep him updated and he directed me to Cavan General Hospital on Thursday, June 13. There they carried out the MRI and Cat Scan. The following Thursday the neurologist from Dublin examined the scans and informed me that I was being transferred to Beaumont the following day.

I met with Consultant Dr. Taufiq Sattar and his team early the following Monday. He had examined my MRI and Cat scans and agreed there was a growth.

Dr. Sattar said he was willing to operate and he told me he was going to operate on me the next day, Tuesday.

I was wheeled out for an MRI scan at 8am and then I was brought down for the operation. I can remember the anaesthetist putting the needle into my hand at 11.40am and the next thing I can remember is waking up back in the ward shortly after 6pm.

My sister Orla and borther-in-law John were present when I came around. I was told that I was three and a half hours on the table with a few hours in recovery before I was brought back to the ward.

Over the years the much maligned Health Service Executive has come in for severe criticism over the lack of services and the work carried out by staff. However, I can honestly say with hand on heart that the treatment I received in both Cavan and Beaumont was nothing short of first class.

While I only stayed a week in Cavan the work carried out by all members of staff was above the call of duty and 'mia culpa' I cannot remember the names of all the staff who looked after me, but I will be forever in their debt. It is only when you are in hospital for a long period that you appreciate the hard work they all do, and much of it goes unrecognised.

I was in Beaumont for two weeks so I got to know the staff a lot better. During my stay my consultant Dr. Sattar, who was part of the team which performed the operation on the conjoined twins from Cork, visited his patients at various times during the day and over the weekend. He is backed up with a powerful team of fellow doctors, matrons, nurses, and many more. Among his dedicated team are Mary Heffernan, Annmarie Keenan, Rachel Glynn, Michelle Stevenson, Sheji Thomas, Sheila Fitzpatrick, Susan Guinan, Norman Fields catering officer, and student doctor Adrian Woods,

Watching the dedication, concern and kindness of both doctors and nurses, day and night, throughout my three weeks in hospital I couldn’t help but wonder what the economy of this country would be like if the general workforce had the same approach and commitment to work.

There is no doubt that they are all a wonderful and highly skilled body of people individually. They work unobstrusively on a patient-doctor basis, mostly behind closed doors whether in surgery, in the wards or, in the operating theatre, never seeking publicity, rarely receiving it but daily performing near miracles in their chosen fields.

When I was released from hospital Dr. Sattar told me to be positive, look after my health and family, and he would see me again in October.

The operation has given me a new philosophy. Each day I wake up I appreciate what I have and have learned to forget the yesterdays and to live for each precious tomorrow. That, surely, must be positive thinking. On a personal note I wish to thank everyone for the get well cards, Mass bouquets, and good wishes, as I would be unable to thank them individually. I would also like to thank my wife Jacinta for looking after me since I got out of hospital, my children, Niamh and Caoimhin, as well as my own family for everything they did while I was in hospital. It will never be forgotten.

I also thank my colleagues in The Anglo-Celt and the wider Celtic Media Group for all their support over the past eight weeks, it is very much appreciated.