The Star: August 31, 2023

The Star Thursday August 31 2023
6
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Cairns on his feet: ‘It ain’t pretty, but
• Watch the video
at starnews.co.nz
PROGRESS: Chris Cairns shared a video on Instagram of
him standing on his own.
BLACK CAPS great Chris
Cairns has shared an
encouraging update on his
recovery battle following a lifethreatening
heart attack in 2021.
The 52-year-old is wheelchairbound
after suffering a spinal
stroke following catastrophic
heart failure due to an aortic
dissection, or a tear in the inner
layer of the body’s main artery.
He then received a bowel cancer
diagnosis just months later.
Cairns posted a short video to
his Instagram account showing
him standing on his own for
several seconds, writing that it
was a positive step towards being
able to walk again.
“So as usual, it ain’t pretty
but it’s progress . . . my specialists
told me that if I can stand
unaided then I might be able
to walk . . if you’re telling me
there’s a chance . . I’m in . . . long
way to go (gotta sort that left leg
out, man . . .).”
Following multiple surgeries,
rehabilitation and chemotherapy,
the former Cantabrian last year
reflected on what had been a
brutal 12 months.
“It is a year today that I was admitted
to hospital with an aortic
dissection, an event that would
impact every aspect of my life
(and those around me) in ways
I never imagined possible. As I
reflect on all that has happened,
there are three key takeaways
BLACK CAPS: Cairns played 215 one day internationals for
New Zealand.
PHOTOS: NZ HERALD
that I will carry forward with
me,” he wrote on Instagram.
“1. Set the direction, not the
destination. I now use a compass
to navigate rather than a GPS,
setting my North Star towards
where I am heading, but (I’m
also) very alive to the fact that
there will be unintended stops,
delays and some rerouting.
“2. Life is what happens
between the plans you make.
Mel (Cairns’ wife) reminded
me recently that I needed to
stay present. I have always been
guilty of focusing on the future
and rushing to get where I was
going. Saying things like ‘once
XXX happens, then it will be the
start’. I’ve also looked back and
wondered if I could have done
something differently to avoid
being where I am today. Chemo
can feel like Groundhog Day, but
I have found that taking it day by
day (and even hour by hour when
needed) has given me the ability
to stay in the moment, and I find
that calming. It also helps to
focus on the little things – watching
the kids play sport, helping
with homework, reading books,
dinners with family and friends
. . . these little things, strung
together, are no longer taken for
granted.
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