High-tech surgery helps dad enjoy Christmas (From Penarth Times)

High-tech surgery helps dad enjoy Christmas

11:20am Saturday 26th December 2009

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A DAD-OF-TWO from Penarth is looking forward to Christmas with his family, after undergoing high-tech surgery that cut his recovery time by more than half.

Paul Davies, who works at Peter Alan Estate Agent on Windsor Road, was set to have a frugal festive season when he found out he needed an operation that would have lost him his second job.

The 46-year-old needed the surgery after feeling a burning sensation in his lower abdomen that developed into a lump the size of a golf ball.

Doctors confirmed he had an inguinal hernia and though Paul realised he needed an operation, he was concerned about the financial impact the recovery time would have on his family.

Following the downturn in the property market, and with two young children to support, he had taken a second job working as a barman for three nights a week.

But patients can be off work for six weeks - and it can take up to three months to fully recover.

Paul said: “My family had become increasingly reliant on this second income, and losing it would have crippled us financially. The sick pay that I would have received for my main job wouldn’t have included any commission either, and as this makes up a substantial proportion of my income – even during the recession – we would have struggled.”

Paul then discovered that keyhole surgery, known as ‘laparoscopic’, was available with the potential of a quicker recovery time.

Surgeon Simon Phillips, who operates at Spire Cardiff Hospital and Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust, and sub-specialises in laparoscopic surgery, recently carried out the hernia repair procedure.

Paul is now enjoying spending time with his family again - and is looking forward to Christmas.

He added: “It’s great to be able to pick up my baby son again and run around with my daughter without a worry. I was able to quickly get back to both of my jobs which is great for both my morale and my finances.

“I feel great, and we’re preparing and looking forward to a wonderful family Christmas together.”

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