Spinal neck surgery in a public hospital in Aotearoa NZ

Spinal Neck Surgery and Hospital Life

So, here I am, two days in the hospital, and while I watch the staff race around, caring for everyone, I can’t help but appreciate the individual care they’re still able to provide, even in the hustle. I honestly can’t fault the care they’re giving me—everyone’s doing their best to make sure I’m comfortable and well-looked after, and I’m deeply grateful for that.

Now, as for the food... well, it’s pretty standard fare. Usually, it’s a nice piece of protein, served with some vegetables that are, let’s say, on the “mushy” side (not exactly the most appetising). But, honestly, it’s not so bad if you're really hungry. Not gourmet, but it’ll do! Plus, considering we’re in Aotearoa, I still have the privilege of free healthcare, and that’s a huge bonus. So, even the food feels like a minor thing in comparison to the extraordinary care I’m receiving. I’m just grateful for all of it.

Now, let me take you back a bit to how this all started—back in August, when I had a little incident with a plastic chair. The chair decided to audition for the role of “Most Dramatic Collapse,” and well... let’s just say it won the Oscar. It went down faster than I did, straight to a concrete floor. It hurt, of course, but the real agony was the embarrassment. I mean, who knew plastic chairs could be so fragile?

I tried to play it cool and kept quiet about it, but later that evening, I felt these electric shocks running down my arms. At first, I thought it was just a neck strain, a little whiplash or something minor. But my body was sending me all kinds of confusing signals.

Weeks went by, and things started to escalate. My hands seemed to go on strike—like, no more sensation for you! And my balance... well, let’s just say I started wobbling around like a newborn deer while marching in my leisure marching team. Not exactly graceful. My right leg decided to join in the chaos, and it wasn’t long before I was getting an X-ray and a referral to a specialist.

The next step? An MRI. And let me tell you, when I got the results, they didn’t sugarcoat it. The doctor said, “Immediate admission to hospital.” Apparently, that little chair incident had exacerbated a degenerative condition I wasn’t even aware of. I mean, who knew something as seemingly insignificant as a chair could make such a big impact?

So here I am, writing this from my swanky 8th-floor room, with a lovely view and my trusty walking frame—affectionately named “Lellow” by the youngest moko, James. Apparently, Lellow is now my new best friend, because it's a good idea to have a buddy when you're as wobbly as I am these days. You never know when you’ll need a little support!

As for the surgery, I’m scheduled for Monday. The docs say my spinal cord has been getting a bit too comfortable (ie: squashed) in my neck and needs some urgent space—so they’re going to make sure it’s not so crowded in there anymore. A little spinal real estate, I guess! It’s a bit daunting, but at the same time, I’m hopeful it’ll bring some much-needed relief.

And as I reflect on all of this—well, I’m just trying to stay positive. Hospital life isn’t always glamorous, but I’m grateful for the care, the comfort, and the fact that I’m surrounded by professionals who really do know how to look after you. Sure, I’ll never look at plastic chairs the same way again, but it’s a small price to pay for the chance to get back on my feet. Fingers crossed; I’ll be back to chasing around my mokos in no time and out strutting my stuff on the marching field!

For now, though, I’ll stick with “Ole Lellow”. It's got my back—literally.

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