I LAY 10 MINS FROM DEATH
Andy just happy to be back after op close call
ANDY GRAHAM was just minutes from an operation he hoped was going to cure the pain of his excruciating back problem – but in fact could have had fatal consequences.
So the Alloa stalwart admits he is counting his blessings that he is back playing football again.
The 37-year-old was told he had a slipped disc last December and with his condition not improving was booked in for surgery in March. But just before his op it was discovered he had a rare spinal infection called discitis. It affects only one in 100,000 people but in some cases can lead to death.
Whipped out of the operating theatre, Graham spent a fortnight in hospital on a drip as doctors fought to keep his infection under control. When he was sent home, he left with instructions to take 24 tablets of antibiotics for the next eight weeks.
Now, after playing for the first time in almost 10 months in Tuesday’s Betfred Cup win over Edinburgh City, he is thrilled to finally be back kicking a ball.
Ahead of today’s trip to face old club Morton, Graham said: “Every scan I went to it was a slipped disc. For three months that’s what I was told but it wasn’t getting any better, it was only getting worse.
“I lost two stone in weight and was looking terrible. They finally agreed to give me an op on March 9 and I was all prepped, on the table, ready to go.
“They were just about to give me my anaesthetic when they came in at the last minute and said, ‘It’s not happening, your bloods have come back with a high level of infection.’
“So I was kicked out of there and was two weeks on a drip to try to get a grip of the infection.
“To be honest I count myself as lucky, not unlucky, because I’m lucky they caught it when they did – 10 minutes later it would have been a different story.
“If they had cut me open the infection could have spread through my spine – and if that happens you’re in a lot of bother.
“The surgeon was absolutely raging it had got that close.
“But I’m just happy they caught it when they did – I’m looking at it from a positive point of view.
“I’m just buzzing to be back to where I am and I’m desperate to get back out there playing every week.”
Graham was thrilled to be handed a new deal in the summer when he was struggling even to walk. He added: “There were a few times where I was thinking this could be it, in terms of football.
“So I owe the g a f f e r, the chairman and the medical team a massive debt. That’s why I’ve been desperate to get back out on the pitch and help out the club.”
Morton boss David Hopkin has a first-day selection headache after picking two completely different sides for their Betfred Cup ties.
He said: “It’s now my job to pick a team to go out against Alloa.”