Chapter 2 A bumpy road through time

As I sit here, reminiscing about my military basic training events of 1985, it’s hard to believe how a simple football game could have been the start of all the events that have resulted in my current situation. It all started innocently enough, a friendly game of football with fellow trainee soldiers, but that fateful day turned into a turning point I couldn’t have anticipated.

It was a sunny afternoon, and the football field was no different to any other game we had played. I was in high spirits, ready to show off my skills, which is a lie as I was rubbish. But little did I know that a rogue football had other plans for me. As if guided by some mischievous force, actually it was kicked by a very good friend and kicked very hard, the ball flew towards me at full speed, hitting me full on my right ear.

The impact was shocking, and I felt an immediate surge of pain shoot through my head. It took me a moment to recover my bearings, but the pain didn’t subside. I knew something wasn’t right. However, in the heat of the moment, I brushed it off as just a minor injury, and I soldiered on.

Fast forward to ten months later in Duisburg Germany. I went for a swim with pals, that was the start of a new episode of pain. The water found its way into my ear, and that night introduced me to whole new world of earache pain. A soaked with blood pillow was enough to guide me to the medical centre and report on sick duty. I was grappled with this stubborn ear infection for months but I still don’t think I realised that this infection was connected to that football incident.

After leaving the Army I got married and had 3 children. I was a long distance lorry driver and life took care of itself.

But my life had more surprises in store for me. In 1996, I had a devastating blow to my hearing. I woke up one morning to find that I had gone totally deaf in my right ear. Panic and confusion overwhelmed me, and I rushed to seek medical attention. The didn’t get to see a doctor and was ushered to the district nurse who examined my ears for wax. Obviously they were cleanish. The nurse resorted to advising me to wait to see if my hearing would come back, strange but this was the 90s but I realy felt I should have been refferred at that point.

Over the next ten months, my hearing slowly recovered to about 75%, but the damage had left behind a constant companion: Tinnitus. It was like having a perpetual cricket chorus in my ear, and at times, it felt unbearable The vertigo episodes added an extra layer of complexity to my already challenging situation, making me feel like I was falling or moving when stood still.

Still, I soldiered on, trying to be the best father and provider I could be. The hustle and bustle of life kept me preoccupied, and I pushed my health issues to the backburner. “I’ll deal with it later,” I would say to myself, not realizing the long-term consequences of neglecting my health.

For a while, it seemed like the situation had stabilized, and I could finally catch a break. Little did I know that in 2021, the old foe, the acoustic Neuroma, would awaken from its dormant slumber, making its presence known with what I personally feel was the start of the cystic growth.

Still I employed the failing tactics of my youth an just presumed the numbness and pain were just results of a trapped nerve or a cold sore brewing. I was advised at my 55 year old health check to get this looked at and then the whole new episode started, perhaps the most gripping of all.

Looking back now, I can’t help but reflect on the twists and turns my life has taken since that innocent game of football in 1985. As I prepare to face the Neuroma and surgery head-on, I realize the importance of listening to my body, even amidst life’s chaos. This chapter of my life has taught me to confront challenges with humor and resilience, for it’s often in the face of adversity that our true strength shines through.