MY STORY...
My name is Kyle Montignani and here is my story on how this incredible man changed my life forever.
I first met Dr Thanos Tsirikos at Edinburgh Sick Kids hospital in 2010 for a consultation after finding out that i had a benign tumor in my T11 vertebra. Shocking news for my family and myself. As soon as i met Dr Tsirikos he greeted us with a massive smile on his face, as he always does, making my visit all the more reassuring already. He explained to myself and my parents exactly what i had and how he could make it all better. Having a mammoth task on his hands, he did not show his nerves or any sign of doubt about the success of the surgery. We walked from the hospital having met a great man and began my journey into hospitals and operating rooms. It was as little as two weeks before i was to go for my first operation at the Western General. An embolism, to slow the blood flow of my veins to the location of the tumor making it a little less risky. All throughout my stay at the Western General it never really hit me that this would be the start of a major change in my life. In a strange way it was all a bit exciting.
Having recieved my embolism i was transferred to Sick Kids after a three day stay to begin my stay there. I was made welcome by all at Sick Kids when i arrived making it a little less scary than it already was. The first night i got a nice pleasant sleep, obviously interrupted by the constant check up's. Before i knew it it was time for my surgery, 18 hour operation was about to take place putting my life in Dr Thanos Tsirikos' hands. I still remember seeing him smile the last time i saw him before surgery and as soon as i woke up.
All went well.... they performed a resection of the T11 vertebra removing the whole thing including all the cells of the Tumor so there was no chance of re-growth, placed two titanium rods to secure my spine and left me with a bad ass 19 inch scar. After lying in bed for a week recovering and not being able to stand once, my chest drains were removed, which unfortunately turned out to be too soon, there was still some fluid left in my chest. This caused me great pain and illness but as soon as Dr Tsirikos found out he sent for an x-ray straight away and got me into the ultrasound room to be sure of exactly what it was. The other doctor he was consulting with said that he would book an OR for the next day, but Thanos was not having it. Seeing how much pain i was in, he insisted it would get done that night and that he would personally stay and make sure the surgery went well. This i cant him for enough.
After another couple days in bed it was time for me to stand, which felt like mission impossible. My challenge was to walk to my chair in the room i was in, this was not easy one. When all the blood rushed from my body to try work my legs it felt like there was nothing in my head, the closest i have ever came to fainting, such a strange feeling. So walking down the hall and down stairs was next, walking like robo-cop is the only way i can explain it.
It was eventually time for me to leave hospital and get back to normality, getting to sleep wasn't easy for a few weeks or so after i got home but this is to be expected after having major surgery. Slowly but surely i was getting back to reality.
So i guess the only way to finish this is to say a massive thank you to Dr Thanos Tsirikos. My hero.
Thanks to all my friends and family who came to visit me in hospital and was there with me through my experience.
Thanks to everyone who is making others aware of this incredible man.
I first met Dr Thanos Tsirikos at Edinburgh Sick Kids hospital in 2010 for a consultation after finding out that i had a benign tumor in my T11 vertebra. Shocking news for my family and myself. As soon as i met Dr Tsirikos he greeted us with a massive smile on his face, as he always does, making my visit all the more reassuring already. He explained to myself and my parents exactly what i had and how he could make it all better. Having a mammoth task on his hands, he did not show his nerves or any sign of doubt about the success of the surgery. We walked from the hospital having met a great man and began my journey into hospitals and operating rooms. It was as little as two weeks before i was to go for my first operation at the Western General. An embolism, to slow the blood flow of my veins to the location of the tumor making it a little less risky. All throughout my stay at the Western General it never really hit me that this would be the start of a major change in my life. In a strange way it was all a bit exciting.
Having recieved my embolism i was transferred to Sick Kids after a three day stay to begin my stay there. I was made welcome by all at Sick Kids when i arrived making it a little less scary than it already was. The first night i got a nice pleasant sleep, obviously interrupted by the constant check up's. Before i knew it it was time for my surgery, 18 hour operation was about to take place putting my life in Dr Thanos Tsirikos' hands. I still remember seeing him smile the last time i saw him before surgery and as soon as i woke up.
All went well.... they performed a resection of the T11 vertebra removing the whole thing including all the cells of the Tumor so there was no chance of re-growth, placed two titanium rods to secure my spine and left me with a bad ass 19 inch scar. After lying in bed for a week recovering and not being able to stand once, my chest drains were removed, which unfortunately turned out to be too soon, there was still some fluid left in my chest. This caused me great pain and illness but as soon as Dr Tsirikos found out he sent for an x-ray straight away and got me into the ultrasound room to be sure of exactly what it was. The other doctor he was consulting with said that he would book an OR for the next day, but Thanos was not having it. Seeing how much pain i was in, he insisted it would get done that night and that he would personally stay and make sure the surgery went well. This i cant him for enough.
After another couple days in bed it was time for me to stand, which felt like mission impossible. My challenge was to walk to my chair in the room i was in, this was not easy one. When all the blood rushed from my body to try work my legs it felt like there was nothing in my head, the closest i have ever came to fainting, such a strange feeling. So walking down the hall and down stairs was next, walking like robo-cop is the only way i can explain it.
It was eventually time for me to leave hospital and get back to normality, getting to sleep wasn't easy for a few weeks or so after i got home but this is to be expected after having major surgery. Slowly but surely i was getting back to reality.
So i guess the only way to finish this is to say a massive thank you to Dr Thanos Tsirikos. My hero.
Thanks to all my friends and family who came to visit me in hospital and was there with me through my experience.
Thanks to everyone who is making others aware of this incredible man.
FORUM
The forum is used to ask and answer many questions that you may have, all yo have to do Is create an account quick and easy. If the activity on the forum kicks up then I will start giving away prizes and proceeds go to a relevant charity and also be giving away items to do with Scoliosis, Back Operations and the such.