Today, when I asked for a raincheck on my physiotherapy session, I felt like the physiotherapist might have thought I was being lazy. Looking back, I realize I should have explained my situation better.
Earlier in the day, my blood sugar level dropped alarmingly low, and I was still recovering from the impact it had on me. For a little while I was genuinely scared of slipping into a deeper, more serious medical problem.
Upon my admission to the hospital three weeks ago, my blood sugar level had skyrocketed to an extraordinarily high level of 70. Even the nurses, including my niece who is a nurse herself, were surprised, as it is usually supposed to be between 5 to 10. However, today’s sugar level plummeted to 2.2, which is dangerously low.
As a result, I experienced light-headedness, dimmed vision, and an unusual combination of feeling both hot and cold.
The nursing team promptly responded by offering me a plate full of sugar products to bring my blood sugar level back to a more normal range. Fairly quickly it was 2.9, then 3.5 and tonight it was 13.5, which is higher than normal. In any other circumstances this would cause concern, but the staff were happy it had recovered from the low levels.
They inquired about my breakfast (which I had eaten), but we couldn’t determine why my levels had fallen so significantly, other than the fact that “with new diabetics, it sometimes takes a while to settle down.”
Among the adjustments I’ll need to make upon returning home, it’s managing diabetes that is causing me the greatest apprehension right now, even more than dealing with the amputation. As you might know from my previous posts, I have a deep love for food and wine.
Nomination for the worst hospital food so far: chewy and tasteless. It was a chore eating it.
I’ll need to regularly check my sugar levels, use insulin, and adapt to a new lifestyle. Over the next few weeks, I plan to research how I can live with diabetes and still enjoy adventurous foods, and of course discuss this with the hospital’s dieticians.
Nomination for the best hospital food so far. I’d never heard of this brand of yoghurt before, but I see it’s available at my local Woolworths, so I’ll be seeking it out when I return home.
Today, we were informed that we need to remain in COVID isolation until Monday, which means no visitors over the weekend, and that saddens me. It’s tough enough not being able to leave the room, but I can’t help but admire the staff who have to wear full PPE every time they enter our rooms.
On a positive note, the hospital staff rearranged the beds, and now I have a window view of “The Wall” on Darlinghurst Road. During lunchtime, I sat by the window, observing the passersby. They also opened the window which allowed for some fresh (city) air to come in.
PS. I’m aware that some of my upcoming posts may revolve around hospital life, amputation recovery, and diabetes, which might seem a bit repetitive. However, I hope these posts will be helpful to individuals who might be going through similar experiences.
I had every plan of watching a fair bit of television tonight, but somehow the only thing I managed to watch properly was the Oprah in Australia special on Channel 10.
It was another monstrously busy day at work, and then after heading over to visit my friend who has been in hospital, my plan was to come home, sit quietly and watch a fair bit of television.
After all of the hype of the last few months, how could I NOT watch Oprah? Although I missed last night’s episode, and probably won’t see tomorrow night’s either, I was determined to watch a least one episode.
“How was it?”, my friend asked as we chatted on the phone later in the evening. “It was actually pretty good”, I told her. I really like the way Oprah seems genuinely committed to bringing a little magic into people’s lives, and how she never forgets her impoverished roots. I raised my eyes at the yoga on the beach at Byron Bay scene, but that’s all because of my own personal North Coast “baggage” more than anything to do with the program. Otherwise, it was quite an interesting program, the scenery looked great, I definitely decided I must go and see those penguins near Melbourne some time, and boy did Oprah look pissed off when the chopper ran out of fuel when she was atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Oprah on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
My friend and I then got into a chat about Oprah and the nature of her relationship with her friend Gayle, which is often speculated to have certain Sapphic qualities. “What’s happened to the husband – Stedman?”, my friend asked. “Oh, I don’t know, although I don’t think he’s been around for a while”.
We then got into a discussion about the sexuality of tennis players currently in the Australian Open. Sam Stosur? Really. Allegedly, of course. Henri Leconte? What? But hasn’t he had three wives and four children? Hang on, they keep describing him in newspaper articles as flamboyant I noted.
Anyway, Oprah was the only show on television I managed to watch all the way through.
I was looking forward to seeing Keanu Reeves on Graham Norton, as I’ve long thought he was quite attractive. In fact, my ex and I had a discussion once that we would have an open relationship if Keanu was part of the equation. Not sure about the acting, though I loved The Matrix, but definitely cute. But guess what? Keanu was quite boring and I fell asleep watching the show, even though I quite love the program.
Sophisticated conversations, eh? Must check the biorhythms. Intellectually strong but physically and emotionally weak. Sounds right.
Biorhythms
At the end of the night, I’ve managed to add significantly to the number of recordings on the PVR and on my computer that “I must get around to watching”. I don’t have much planned for the weekend – except taking delivery of a new washing machine – so I’ll make another attempt at watching a bit of television then.
Swedish class has resumed for the new year, and tonight’s class was loads of fun.
Especially now that my friend Grant is back doing classes as well. It was great to have someone to have a chat to before-hand, and a de-brief afterwards.
“Why do you think he’s doing the class” and “She seems nice” were amongst the many comments were shared over a beer afterwards, along with one or two which I won’t share here.
As we went around the room during class we had to explain why – in Swedish – we were doing the class. Last year, I explained it was because I was travelling to Sweden and wanted to have some language skills.
This year, things have changed. “I’d like to work there for a while”, I explained, and “I’d like to have better conversations”. For me, it was quite an emphatic declaration that this “Swedish business” isn’t over yet for me. Last year was just a taste, I think. There’s something about the place which holds a great deal of attraction, which I’m still struggling to explain, or at least articulate in a meaningful manner.
Overall, the class was a load of fun, with everyone seemingly very motivated to be there (it’s an intermediate class now). We also seemed to get through a fair amount of work. It was nice being back in class with the old faces and some new ones, and I’m looking forward to another year learning Swedish.
Il Divo is an “opera boy band” put together by Simon Cowell from American Idol fame. Michaela, Mel and I went to their “Media Launch” at Pyrmont last night.
Although none of us had heard of them before receiving the invitation, they’re obviously doing well having sold millions of records overseas already.
They sang just five songs but the show seemed to last for hours. Most interesting was an Italian version of Toni Braxton’s “Unchain My Heart” and most controversial was a version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”. They look good and they sing well. However, they can’t move – it was like watching a black and white fashion ad – and there wasn’t all that much passion in their performance. That’s why I thought they were a little boring.
Afterwards I spoke with a few people who work at other radio stations, with the consensus being they’ll find radio airplay difficult to obtain. The music radio market in Sydney is sufficiently predictable enough to prevent the inclusion of an opera boy band in any of the current available formats. They might, however, rate an occasional play on some of the talk stations. This, of course, might be a good thing since, if they’re not being played on radio the only way people will be able to hear them is if they buy the CDs.
One of the things we’ve been doing in Swedish class as an exercise each week is listen to a Swedish pop song with translated lyrics. We’ve done songs by the likes of Peter Joback, Ted Gardestad and for something quite contemporary, Kent.
For a while I’ve been suggesting to Grant we should do a familiar English language song with translated lyrics. And so this week Grant brought along Frida (from ABBA) doing a Swedish language version of “Send In The Clowns”, a song written by Stephen Sondheim from the 1973 musical “A Little Night Music”. Well, that was my cultural reference for the song. The younger bloke sitting next to me also recognised the song. “Hey, it’s that song from The Krusty Comeback Special”, he laughed, referring to a famous episode of “The Simpsons”.
Krusty Ensam
I also laughed in recognition, as I knew exactly what he was talking about, and am still giggling about it now an hour later. All the way through the deep and moving song both he and I were quietly giggling to ourselves about the different cultural references we had to the song. “There’s not a day goes by when I don’t make some reference to The Simpsons”, I told him. I never, thought, however, such a reference would come up in Swedish Class.
But it’s a modern world in which we live, and also tonight we translated an article from Aftonbaldet, the Swedish newspaper, about Facebook. And one of our pieces of homework for next week is to write about our online lives, which I’m doing now in English, but will do next week on this blog in Swedish. It’s all a bit post-modern in a way, isn’t it?
Today’s other highlight: making Matthew Newton a coffee with soy milk.
As a young man in Germany the world of Wojtek Czyz was abruptly upended on 11 September 2001. Playing his last amateur match before taking up a professional football (soccer) contract, he sustained a severe injury.
“I got a hit from a goalkeeper while playing football, and got an injury which caused what is called compartment syndrome. Unfortunately, the surgery and all the support from the hospital were done too late. And this is why my lower leg became necrotic, which means everything was dead.”
Because the damage extended through the joint, the procedure resulted in an above-knee amputation. At just twenty-one years old, standing on the precipice of a professional contract, Wojtek faced a profound psychological crisis.
The turning point came during rehabilitation three weeks post-amputation, when he met Roberto Simonazzi, a German sports therapist, former elite Paralympic athlete, and fellow above-knee amputee. Finding someone who truly shared his lived experience proved to be transformative. Wojtek notes the vital impact of this encounter:
“That was for me a game changer, that this guy knew exactly what he needed to tell me to open my eyes and take away these black demons out of my head, that my life was over, and simply open new doors for me. And the new door was Paralympic sport. Basically, six months after my amputation, I was already the German champion in the 100 metres and long jump.”
This pivotal mentorship instilled a philosophy that Wojtek carries forward today: that recovery is “all about perspective and all about belief.”
Recognising how crucial that initial guidance was, he shared in an interview for The Limb Shift podcast, he has dedicated a significant portion of his life to visiting hospitals, talking to fresh amputees, and lifting the heavy shroud of insecurity surrounding body image, mobility, and future prospects.
A Legendary Career in Paralympic Sport
From those astonishing beginnings just six months post-amputation, Wojtek rapidly ascended to the absolute pinnacle of international disabled athletics. Over his stellar competitive career representing Germany, he became one of the most recognisable and dominant figures in Paralympic track and field. He captured multiple Paralympic gold medals—shining brightly at the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012 Games—while setting world records in the 100-metre sprint, 200-metre sprint, and the long jump.
Two years after losing his leg, Wojtek also pursued a degree in sports science, bridging his personal journey with rigorous biomechanical research. He explains:
“I did a lot of biomechanical research in regard to the movement of amputees, and especially in sprint or long jump. We did a lot of analysis, and even developed a blade together. So there was a lot of passion in it because I was part of the studies.”
Global Impact
Driven by a desire to share what he described as the privileged level of medical and prosthetic support he received in Germany with populations lacking similar resources, Wojtek and his wife, Elena Brambilla—a former professional high jumper—embarked on an extraordinary global humanitarian mission. They sold their possessions, built a catamaran equipped with a technical workshop, and sailed around the world to deliver custom-crafted mobility solutions for people with limb loss and limb difference.
Describing the impact of this venture, Wojtek shares:
“The best way to help is to be there, and to have the parts there with you… We gifted ninety prosthetics, mostly paid for by ourselves.”
Visiting nations across the globe allowed them to confront social stigmas head-on. Along the way, Wojtek set free-diving world records to challenge the perception that amputees safely enter the water.
Remembering the profound emotional weight of these interactions around the world, he recalls:
“Our first project was in Morocco, and the people there travelled around six hours on public transport from somewhere up in the mountains. I remember one kid got a prosthetic, and for the first time in his life, stood up on two legs. Everyone was crying.”
Pic supplied by Wotjek
New Horizons in Aotearoa / New Zealand
Stranded in New Zealand by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wojtek and his family ultimately put down roots in Eureka close to Cambridge. Alongside managing an export business for high-grade Mānuka honey tailored for high-performance athletes—developed in partnership with his wife, who studied herbal medicine and biotechnology—Wojtek turned his energy toward revitalising local parasport activation.
After settling in New Zealand, Wojtek picked up badminton from scratch in 2021. He rapidly built an impressive international resume on the Para Badminton World Circuit, winning gold in Men’s Doubles at the 2023 Oceania Championships and climbing to world number 12 in singles. This journey culminated in May 2024, when he became New Zealand’s first-ever Paralympic badminton representative at the Paris Games.
Driven by a desire for community activation rather than personal glory, Wojtek used the sport to raise the profile of parasports across Aotearoa. By stepping onto the court, he successfully established new competitive pathways and inspired a fresh generation of athletes to find their way into the game.
Pic supplied by Wotjek
Motivational Speaking and Future Initiatives
Looking back on a quarter-century living as an amputee, and summing up his core philosophy, which he hopes may be useful to other people with limb loss and limb difference, he says:
“You will face some situations where you think, ‘Oh, come on, why me?’ For me, the most important thing besides never give up is simply to be curious. You have to get the ability to laugh at yourself. So many funny things are happening; you can get frustrated, or you can laugh about it. And I am the one who’s laughing about it.”
Today, Wojtek channels his life into high-impact keynote and motivational speaking engagements worldwide, inspiring corporate teams, athletes, and individuals to reframe adversity through resilience, humour, and a shift in perspective. To connect with his ongoing projects, keynote bookings, and community initiatives, you can visit his official website at Project Wojtek: https://www.wojtek2024.co.nz/
Furthermore, continuing his life’s mission of supporting athletes, he is involved with innovative ventures like his startup platform, Match-me.org (http://match-me.org/), designed to guide professional athletes seamlessly through career transitions and dual-career development.
Pic supplied by Wotjek
This article is based on an interview with Wotjek which will be featured in The Limb Shift podcast, to be released in October 2026, and which is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and via https://thelimbshift.com/
When I woke this morning, there was a brief moment when I realised I had absolutely no idea what day it was. “Is it Saturday? Is it Sunday?” Later in the day an older family member joked, “You need to get yourself checked out for alzheimers. That’s how I feel most days”.
I don’t think it’s that serious. It’s just a reflection of the fluidity of life right now, with the often ill-defined delineation between work and home, and spending many days never leaving the house. Perhaps it’s a good preparatory lesson for life in retirement?
I feel like I’ve turned into my grandmother sitting on the balcony watching the neighbours. Why are they doing this? Why are they doing that? Who is that? Why are they putting the mattress out?Though I’ve been staying at home most of the time I have been getting out for some daily exercise, and a few days ago I wandered down to Circular Quay and witnessed a terrific sunrise at Sydney Opera House. A few nights ago Kate and I participated in online Drag Queen Bingo. Last year we took part in the “real life” bingo in Darwin, and now the crew there have gone onlne. It was lots of fun, especially when they crossed to other participants around the country.
Like many others, I got up early for the ANZAC Day Commemorative Service, as people participated around the coutry from their front yards, verandahs and balconies. A great contrast for me to what happens most years, and most memorably to the day I visited Gallipoli for ANZAC Day in 2013. https://thelimbshift.com/anzac-day-in-turkey/
My Aunty Edna (Dunn / Ianna) was on ABC Radio yesterday with @GlynnGreensmith as part of a talkback about what it was like being alive during WW2, growing up in Lismore. “You could still do your shopping, but if you had no money, you couldn’t buy much”.
I love these comments from Jean, a friend on Facebook.
Edna & those army chaps !! This is rolled gold social history. Love the generosity of spirit she recalls which helped her family survive during the war, relying on the goodness of neighbours for the basics, do we see that today?
We saw something akin to that in the recent bushfires I thought ..an empathy out of the ruins ..maybe all is not lost.
So yeah, quiet, though I’m still keeping my mind active, even if I sometimes forget what day it is.
And then today, there was this.
Sitting on the couch, a bit bored, and then all of a sudden I heard that familiar sound of Greensleaves. There’s not many kids in our street, but he seems to have done a good trade in grown up kids!
All of this reminds me of a rather amusing observation I read on Twitter the other day that right now “Bedtime is either 7pm or 3am”.
Like this:
LikeLoading…
Related
10 Comments
Being a new diabetic can be confusing as you wade through the myriad of information, sometimes contradictory, and try to match up your lifestyle with your body’s new limitations. My partner Richard developed Type 1 diabetes over a year ago, triggered by a bout of Covid. If you ever want someone to talk to about the frustrations, he’s available at any time. He’s also across some fantastic online diabetes chat forums where people share their successes, ups and downs, as well as newly emerging diabetes treatments – he can point you to those if you like, he’s found them incredibly helpful for his own headspace. He’s gone from having to inject himself with insulin, to using a stick on pod on a closed loop that automatically monitors and adjusts his insulin levels via an app on his phone. Change the little pod every three days – no more constant blood tests and injections. The app is set to sound an alarm if he starts trending too low or too high and he can just dial the app and manually add a little more insulin if he’s high, or grab a choccy if he’s going low. He’d be able to explain it better if you were interested in knowing about it later down the track once you’ve settled into a rhythm and routine at home. Diabetes doesn’t mean the end to the food you love, it’s about moderation and discovering new low carb recipes and foods. You get to explore a new world of taste now! Bring on the fauxtato salad made with cauliflower, not potatoes – it’s seriously delicious!!!
Hi Tiff there is so much great information in your comment. I’ll be in touch directly when it’s a bit closer to returning home.
Re moderation? I was told by someone I can have a piece of chocolate, not the whole block. a spoonful of ice cream, not the whole tub, a glass of wine, not the whole… you get the idea.
No need to apologise for the content of your blog, or if it may seem ‘repetitive’. It is your blog. Plus, we are all wanting to know how you are doing and if you are ok.
Gee, as if there is not enough for you to deal with. Chobani yoghurt is very nice. Aldi sell a similar product but from memory there is a good bit more sugar in the Aldi brand.
James, you write well. You are perceptive and are an amazing example of how to face very difficult times. It will always be interesting.
I share your love of food and wine. It lifts the spirit and gives us something to look forward to in a few hours…unless you’re in hospital!
Hi James, I was in the neighbourhood today but saw visiting was out. Wishing you all the very best for your recovery, and new food discoveries ( yoghurt – I love Jalna). It sounds like you’re getting good care at Sacred Heart. Your writing is so engaging, thanks for sharing. Warm regards, Amanda A (former ABC colleague)
Hi Amanda, it would have been lovely to have seen you. Sorry about the COVID. What else could go wrong? I absolutely LOVED your gift. In the midst of lots of chocolate (which I also love!!), it was so wonderful to receive such a thoughtful gift, tapping into my creativity, interests etc. EVERYONE who comes to visit from now on will be asked to make something (and sign it). It’s such a wonderful way for us to have fun together, and it will be a wonderful momento of this time. xx
Being a new diabetic can be confusing as you wade through the myriad of information, sometimes contradictory, and try to match up your lifestyle with your body’s new limitations. My partner Richard developed Type 1 diabetes over a year ago, triggered by a bout of Covid. If you ever want someone to talk to about the frustrations, he’s available at any time. He’s also across some fantastic online diabetes chat forums where people share their successes, ups and downs, as well as newly emerging diabetes treatments – he can point you to those if you like, he’s found them incredibly helpful for his own headspace. He’s gone from having to inject himself with insulin, to using a stick on pod on a closed loop that automatically monitors and adjusts his insulin levels via an app on his phone. Change the little pod every three days – no more constant blood tests and injections. The app is set to sound an alarm if he starts trending too low or too high and he can just dial the app and manually add a little more insulin if he’s high, or grab a choccy if he’s going low. He’d be able to explain it better if you were interested in knowing about it later down the track once you’ve settled into a rhythm and routine at home. Diabetes doesn’t mean the end to the food you love, it’s about moderation and discovering new low carb recipes and foods. You get to explore a new world of taste now! Bring on the fauxtato salad made with cauliflower, not potatoes – it’s seriously delicious!!!
Hi Tiff there is so much great information in your comment. I’ll be in touch directly when it’s a bit closer to returning home.
Re moderation? I was told by someone I can have a piece of chocolate, not the whole block. a spoonful of ice cream, not the whole tub, a glass of wine, not the whole… you get the idea.
No need to apologise for the content of your blog, or if it may seem ‘repetitive’. It is your blog. Plus, we are all wanting to know how you are doing and if you are ok.
Thankyou Matthew. Great seeing you both a few months ago, and hope everything is going well
Gee, as if there is not enough for you to deal with. Chobani yoghurt is very nice. Aldi sell a similar product but from memory there is a good bit more sugar in the Aldi brand.
Thankyou for the yoghurt type tips.
James, you write well. You are perceptive and are an amazing example of how to face very difficult times. It will always be interesting.
I share your love of food and wine. It lifts the spirit and gives us something to look forward to in a few hours…unless you’re in hospital!
Four weeks without alcohol :)
Hi James, I was in the neighbourhood today but saw visiting was out. Wishing you all the very best for your recovery, and new food discoveries ( yoghurt – I love Jalna). It sounds like you’re getting good care at Sacred Heart. Your writing is so engaging, thanks for sharing. Warm regards, Amanda A (former ABC colleague)
Hi Amanda, it would have been lovely to have seen you. Sorry about the COVID. What else could go wrong? I absolutely LOVED your gift. In the midst of lots of chocolate (which I also love!!), it was so wonderful to receive such a thoughtful gift, tapping into my creativity, interests etc. EVERYONE who comes to visit from now on will be asked to make something (and sign it). It’s such a wonderful way for us to have fun together, and it will be a wonderful momento of this time. xx