Five years ago, simultaneously when her husband, Rob, had to have a double bypass and aortic valve replacement, Marilyn Hallett was diagnosed with two stress fractures emanating from the sacroiliac joint. She had no idea how this happened – she hadn’t had a fall or an accident – it just came out of nowhere. The timing couldn’t have been worse, but they were very lucky that Rob’s sister came to stay for a bit and helped to care for him.
Subsequently, they found out that she had osteoporosis and over the next three to four years, she experienced six spontaneous fractures – spontaneous meaning that they just happened, they were not the result of a fall or accident. She spent a long time on crutches and one time in a wheelchair, she couldn’t drive, or go shopping, and wasn’t allowed to cook or wash up. It was a difficult time, especially for her husband after he had recovered from his operation. Almost overnight, he became her carer. He also owned a business, so it was a struggle for him, yet he never complained.
The osteoporosis however was only the start of her five years of ill health. She ended up having a couple of falls leading to operations and long recovery periods.
Being on crutches regularly impacted her shoulders and arms, particularly her right shoulder. This led to being told by an Orthopaedic Surgeon that she needed to have a reverse shoulder replacement. But other “things” kept getting in the way, which resulted in her having this operation only much later in August 2023.
During this time, she was hospitalised three times for 12 various basal cell carcinomas and lesions that were removed by a plastic surgeon who performed skin grafts.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. That came as quite a shock, as she had reluctantly gone for a colonoscopy because of haemorrhoids. After oral chemotherapy for around nine months, she was pronounced cancer-free, and after a wonderful celebration, had a bad fall. She broke her arm and had a further two skin grafts on her arm. She was hospitalised and sent to Step Down for three weeks. Three days before she left Step Down, she contracted Covid! The worst part about that was her family had planned a surprise major birthday party for her and friends had travelled from up-country for the event, along with some friends and family from abroad. She was severely ill and had to be hospitalised for COVID-19 pneumonia for 10 days.
But alas, her medical woes were not over. She developed lymphoedema in both her legs. This was treated for a week with lymph drainage, and she had to wear pressure stockings, which have worked well.
Finally, she turned the corner!! She tries to maintain her good health with the right nutrition and exercise. What a journey!
Marilyn Hallett is the Director of You’ve Earned It/YEI, the digital media platform for South African 60-plussers
