Take heed; this is a lesson for us all
A well-known Cobram woman who generally enjoyed looking after her beautiful garden and playing lawn bowls had been feeling extremely lethargic and nauseous for some time before she made an appointment to see her general practitioner.
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Does this sound like many people you know.
It’s certainly not uncommon, as often people put off making an appointment to see their doctor, believing they will soon feel better.
Betty Beasley, mother of four sons, Peter, Damien, Kade and Matthew, felt there was definitely something wrong despite visiting her doctor and learning that the resultant tests showed nothing irregular.
Continuing to feel unwell, Betty made a number of appointments over a period of weeks, with further tests failing to indicate anything serious, yet Betty understood her body and knew there had to be something very wrong.
“If you don’t feel right, it’s probably because you are not right and need investigation,” Betty said.
Betty discussed her continuing concerns with her GP, who performed an ECG, yet all indications were that there was little concern. She referred her to cardiologist Dr Nihal Nanayakkara (Dr Nana) in Shepparton for further investigation.
A stress test was conducted by the highly respected cardiologist who, after seeing the results, advised Betty somewhat gravely,
“It is not good. You have an aneurism on your aorta, which will require immediate surgery,” the doctor said.
This was a tremendous shock for Betty, particularly as it was the same condition that her second son, Damien, 55, was diagnosed with 10 years earlier in Japan and which also required emergency surgery.
Betty was immediately admitted to Goulburn Valley Health, where she was closely monitored overnight and then sent to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne the following day.
Her diagnosis of an ‘aortic root aneurysm with severe aortic regurgitation’ saw a valve replaced by The Alfred surgical team.
Unfortunately two days later, Betty was found to be bleeding profusely from a split in the aorta, which required further surgery, and she remained in ICU for 10 days under close observation.
Betty then spent a further two weeks in the cardiac ward before returning home.
The Alfred staff contacted MHA to organise services and home care and personal care were put in place for Betty’s return to her home.
It has now been more than four weeks since Betty returned home, and she is improving a little each day, yet she needs to regain her appetite and energy level.
Knowing how horrendous the ordeal has been, Betty remains very grateful for the medical knowledge, skills and care provided by doctors and nursing staff locally and at The Alfred.
“My family has been absolutely amazing, my four sons have been by my side all the way. I have been overwhelmed by their care and support,” said Betty.
“Also the wonderful generosity of many friends and family who have spoilt me with food, visits and telephone calls. I am so very grateful to everyone.”
This is Betty Beasley’s story, and people are advised to take note.
It has been a horrendous experience that may not have ended so well for the 77-year-old.
However, Betty did believe there was something wrong and she persevered with doctors and her experience reiterates this.
“Listen to your body, and if you don’t feel right, then you probably aren’t right. You should persevere with your doctor until you find out why,” Betty said.
A life filled to the brim — MMGCC profile no. 10
Graeme Kerr was born in Coledale, NSW, in 1945, the youngest of six children.
He attended both Corrimal primary and secondary schools until he reached the age of 14 years, 10 months, the permissible age to leave school to obtain work, at that time.
His first paid job was erecting television antennas, and being a young chap, it was relatively easy.
This was followed by several other manual jobs, but the young man wanted more from life and applied to join the Army.
However, he missed out as conscription had just been introduced, and applications were high.
Graeme then applied to join the Navy and was readily accepted as a recruit at HMAS Cerberus.
The year was 1965, and he was just 20 years old.
Graeme began what was to be 20 years of service in the Australian Navy, where he began as an ordinary seaman cook and retired as a Chief Petty Officer Coxwain (the most senior non-commissioned officer on the ship).
His duties included being at the ship’s helm when entering or leaving a port, as well as ship security, crew discipline and policing.
Graeme served in the Far East Strategic Reserve aboard HMAS Yarra, an escort ship during the Vietnam War, and on retirement from the service, had tallied up six years of shore time and 14 years at sea.
In 1968, Graeme married Denise after having met on a blind date many years earlier.
The couple produced two children: a son, Glen, who lives in Carwoola, NSW, and a daughter, Karen, who lives in Cooloola Cove, Queensland.
The Kerrs are proud grandparents of five grandsons, one granddaughter aged between 21-30 years, and two great-grandchildren.
While in the Navy, the family moved around Australia generally every 18 months, and one that stood out from the rest was Darwin.
Graeme was offered a two-year post as coxswain of the patrol boat HMAS Advance, just one year after the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy.
Housing was mostly relocatable, and new construction was still to commence.
Food, particularly fresh produce, was difficult to obtain and needed to be transported, albeit not always successfully.
In 1985, Graeme retired from the Navy.
After several positions in security, he was offered a role driving for the Federal Government at Comcar, where he would chauffeur ministers, dignitaries, judges and high-ranking public officials about in large white Commonwealth cars.
After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Graeme underwent drastic treatment between 1992 and 1995, which included a bone marrow transplant.
He eventually was well enough to return to work and was offered a job in administration in Canberra, where he later became the ACT Comcar state manager.
He returned briefly to driving during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 before finally retiring in 2001.
Since then, the couple has sold two homes and travelled about Australia in their caravan until arriving in Cobram in 2009 to enjoy an easy, relaxed lifestyle, meet friendly people and, for Graeme, an opportunity to play on Cobram Barooga’s magnificent golf course.
Graeme played a little as a youngster, but it was not until he joined Queanbeyan Golf Club and had a few lessons that he became interested in the game.
Graeme still plays three times a week at the age of 78 and loves it.
He enjoys the company of his golfing mates, particularly those of the MMGCC Group, some of whom still manage to get out on the course, with age not necessarily being a deciding factor.
His handicap has gone out from a single figure of seven to 24 today but it can be more enjoyable when there is less pressure to play to it.
Undoubtedly sensible too as you become older.
Undisputedly, the MMGCC members are sensible; their ages suggest this, and the discussions that take place each Monday morning at the Sporties indicate that while most enjoyed glory days on the course, their best golf is now played and discussed at length over a cup of coffee in the café at the club.
Footnote: Aortic aneurysms can develop and grow before causing any symptoms. If the aortic aneurysm grows large, it can burst or tear the wall of the artery, both of which can be life-threatening.