Cowboy’s battle to live

AMY PRICE THE wife of Cowboys star Justin O’Neill has revealed for the first time how terrifyingly close he came to death after a suffering a horror on-field injury and losing two thirds of his blood.

Chantelle O’Neill has opened up about the “traumatising” two months she spent by her husband’s bedside as he battled to recover from a spleen rupture that could have killed him.

He underwent three blood transfusions after losing two thirds of his blood and doctors later said his fitness and good health likely saved his life.

“Absolutely it was lifethreatening when you lose that much blood. I was told he only survived because he has a strong heart and he’s so fit, basically,” Mrs O’Neill said.

“I’ve nursed him through so many injuries but it’s terrifying to see him so sick.”

The State of Origin and Australian representative played until full time against the Canberra Raiders on May 25 – his 100th NRL game – but two broken ribs had punctured the 28-year-old centre’s spleen, causing internal bleeding.

Teammate Kyle Feldt had raised the alarm when he found Mr O’Neill struggling and the rugby league star was rushed to hospital the next morning.

Mrs O’Neill landed in Canberra by 4pm that day. Her husband had immediate surgery to patch the spleen, underwent three blood transfusions, spent four days in intensive care and a further two in the acute care surgery ward.

“I would stay with him (in hospital) until 1am, until he was comfortable, and then race home. I would never fall asleep because I was checking my phone in case the hospital called with bad news and then I’d be up when the sun came up … to catch the doctors on their morning rounds.”

The family spent some time in Melbourne, where Mrs O’Neill’s family could help care for both him and their children, before returning to Townsville.

One month after the injury, Mr O’Neill underwent a second operation and spent a further six days in Townsville Hospital.

“I took him to emergency and the doctors found he had a twisted bowel ...,” she said. THE Cairns Relay for Life committee has set up for a massive weekend as the fundraiser closes in on its $220,000 goal.

The Relay for Life opening ceremony kicks off at 1.30pm today at Barlow Park with fitness warm-ups for the long night of walking.

The survivors and carers’ lap at 2pm will honour those fighting the battle against cancer, after which the main event will begin.

Cairns Relay for Life chairwoman Christina French said non-participants from the community were welcome to show their support via goldcoin entry until 10pm tonight.

“There’ll be live music and dance from local groups like the Sabor Dance Company to make it an exciting night,” she said.

Everyone will be welcome again from 5am on Sunday for the wrap.

Ms French said it would be an 18-hour day for the relay committee.

“The atmosphere at the end, despite us all being deliriously tired, is actually really uplifting,” she said.

The Cairns Relay for Life has been running since 2001 and has raised nearly $8 million for cancer research.

Another month later and, despite having lost 10kg since the injury, Mrs O’Neill said he was finally “getting colour back in his face” and recently returned to light exercise.

As the face of the Townsville Racing Carnival, Mrs O’Neill will head to the TAB Townsville Cup today with a group of Cowboys wives and girlfriends, whom she dubs “Cowgirls”, as an early birthday celebration ahead of her birthday next week.

“It’s been a very stressful few months, so it’s nice just to do something with my girlfriends and celebrate the community,” she said.