Back: Kaitlyn Hinchcliffe, Karen Nicholls, Craig Nicholls. Front: Ashleigh Nicholls, Jonathon Nicholls and Jaxie Laird at the family home.
Harden student Johnathan Nicholls has had more experience than most for a 17 year old, returning home after having undergone Open Heart Surgery at Westmead Private Hospital. The four hour procedure included an Atrial Defect Repair, to patch up several holes that have been present in his heart since birth, and the replacement of a Pulmonary Valve. The latter involved the deflation of one of Johnathan’s lungs, and the installed valve will need to have its internal components replaced every 10-15 years. “It’s like changing an oil filter in a car,” said his mother, Karen Nicholls. The immediate recovery period consisted of three days in an Intensive Care Unit, followed by four days in a Cardiology Ward, where Johnathon was one of the few teenagers. Most of the patients were in their 70s and 80s.
On Tuesday last week, Johnathon received a very welcome surprise when his brother Ashleigh returned from Canada, where he has been living for several years, to support his little brother. When asked if it was such a good idea to surprise Johnathon in his condition, Ashleigh replied, “The Cardio Ward was a good place to do it.” Ashleigh is home for a flying visit, and will return to Canada on October 25th with his girlfriend, Jaxie. Johnathon is now undertaking a steady process to recovery, with short walks to begin with to build up stamina. Doubtless, there will plenty of Call of Duty sessions to help him. We at the Twin Town Times, as well as the rest of the community, wish Johnathon a steady and thorough recovery.
