The rise of the bionic arm

This photograph of yours truly was taken on holiday c.2009. The Doves were at San Agostino in Greece – a Mark Warner resort at the time. We’re huge tennis fans so we played for hours, slugging it out in the heat. Stopping to take water and lolly breaks when we needed to.

The coaching we had was put into practice on court through the tennis socials. Playing different opponents, there was a need to not let your competitive streak show even though you really wanted to win. We met lots of great people there – fellow guests and staff. Incredible buffet-style meals at dinner meant we ate like kings. We then relaxed over cocktails until long after the sun had set.

When were weren’t playing tennis, we lazed around the pool soaking up the sunshine. Or we had a snack whilst taking in the wonderful beach below us. We had such a great time we booked Mark Warner’s Lakitira resort for our next trip abroad. It was one of the best holidays we’ve ever had and we vowed to return. Ideally as a family.

Back in London we continued to play tennis several times a week. Come rain or shine we’d be on court playing until our tennis balls looked like they’d had an electric shock. Tennis was a big part of our lives so it was hard when I had to stop playing in 2010. However, despite a rocky start to my pregnancy POD was born on Christmas Day that year. I’d been told I could play tennis again a few weeks after the birth but it wasn’t to be. Complications in my 47-hour labour led to my coccyx and pelvis taking a battering. All exercise was out although I’d found pilates a help.

Then a freak accident in November 2011 saw me break my wrist on our decking. I was putting the recycling out. It was raining heavily and my left leg just went from underneath me. With no time to save myself my left wrist took the weight of my entire body when I fell, breaking both bones at the point of rotation. Although I was thankful I was right-handed I knew it would be a while before I’d be playing tennis.

It was a spectacular wrist break which led to a second operation in April this year. My surgeons added three screws to the existing metal plate in my wrist to stablise it. They then performed a procedure called Sauve-Kapanji. This is where a centimetre of the ulna bone is removed from below the wrist joint. Although they effectively broke my arm, the gap rather cleverly forms a new rotation point over a period of time.

After two plaster casts, a splint and much physio, the movement in my wrist is just as good as it was before surgery. The muscles are becoming stronger as each month passes – helped by owning a toddler. I hope in the not too distant future I can play tennis again. I’m sure my bionic arm will be brilliant one day. At which point I expect to beat my husband, ideally in straight sets!

We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? which takes place here on PODcast.