Simon Curtis’s daughter and nurse Ella, 3, is making sure dad has a speedy recovery. 32400 Picture: Luke Plummer
By Jade Lawton
CASEY Councillor Simon Curtis, who returned home last week after a health scare saw him spend six nights in hospital, will be “back in action” soon.
Cr Curtis said his experience should highlight how important it was for men to take their health seriously.
After experiencing pains through his abdomen two weeks ago, Cr Curtis saw his doctor – and was immediately taken to The Valley Private Hospital, in Mulgrave, with what appeared to be a classic case of appendicitis.
He was on the operating table the next morning, when surgeons discovered complications.
“It was supposed to be a routine 20 to 30 minute procedure, but I was actually in the operating theatre for about five hours. It turned out that I also had a tumour on my appendix – thankfully benign,” Cr Curtis said.
Surgeons removed Cr Curtis’s appendix, the tumour and part of his bowel.
“I guess in many ways I was very lucky, because without the appendix going the way it did, they wouldn’t have found the tumour,” he said.
Cr Curtis was recovering in hospital and unable to attend last Tuesday’s council meeting.
His notice of motion, to reiterate the City of Casey’s support of multiculturalism in light of recent attacks linked to racism in the south-east, received unanimous support from council.
Cr Curtis said that although he missed the meeting, he had been checking his emails and taking phone calls from hospital and would be “back in action” soon.
“I’m not going to be seen swimming laps down Casey RACE for a while, but I’ll be back in action,” he said.
He said his health scare should act as a reminder to other men to take care of themselves.
“One of the things it really made me aware of is the importance of men taking the time to take care of their health. I’m probably one of those typical men; I just go to the doctor if I’m really crook. But I think it really shows that in the same way women have regular checks, men also need to have regular checks.”
Cr Curtis said he would like to thank the staff at both The Valley Hospital and Berwick Medical Centre.
“They were fantastic. Also a lot of residents from the City of Casey have rung up or passed on their support to the mayor or to Daniel (Mulino) or my wife. The support from the community has really been touching.”
