As I went to bed I still felt unwell and at 1:45 am I got up feeling dreadful. The thoughts I was going to be sick evaporated quickly when I got a sharp pain in my kidney on the right sign. Having had kidney stones before I knew this was what was happening again.
After trying to get through the excruciating pain for about 20 minutes I finally woke my room mate and screamed at him that I needed his help and he needed to get me a doctor. After a phone call the doctor rang and said he had some other calls first but would be here in 3 hrs!! I couldn't last that long so we organised an ambulance. If you haven't had kidney stones before, you're lucky, but to give you some idea of the pain it is a sharp pain like getting stabbed I guess that just doesn't let up!!
So a trip in the ambulance resulted in arriving at the hospital where the two nurses that saw me were trying to understand what was wrong with me through my English and their limited English. Eventually I drew a picture of a kidney on a piece of paper and the female nurse finally got it!! Her eyes lit up and she spoke in French to the male nurse who by this stage was on the computer typing away. I looked across to see what he was typing only to see him typing kidney stones into "google!" I had to laugh thinking what has my week come to, I was leading the tournament and now was in hospital being treated via a google search with no idea if I was even going to be able to play.
After 4 and a half hrs in hospital I convinced the dr that maybe I was ok to go. He wasn't convinced that I wouldn't have another episode but agreed that the scans and blood tests looked ok. The doctor was actually great so thankfully I was well looked after.
So after a very very tough night I arrived home at the hotel at 7am. I got 45 minutes sleep before heading to the course. I felt very sore and ginger, tired and with little energy but I was there at least!
I couldn't have been more disappointed than to have worked my backside off getting to the lead after two days and to have that happen. I don't know if I have ever been more proud of myself with what has happened last night and then my effort today.
I was feeling like a bus had run over me and my golf showed on the front nine only managing to shoot 6 over. Walking to the 10th tee I was shattered that my week had come to this after being so positive. However I said to my caddy that I was going to fight on every single shot til the last ball goes in the hole on the 18th...I did that and shot 4 under the back nine. Still feeling like crap, but so happy with the effort on the inside. I am tied 10th going into the final day and hopefully with a good nights sleep and no recurrence that I can do a Wollongong tomorrow and go low!! I am playing well and am starting to hole some putts. The tough days make you tougher and I don't think I could imagine a tougher day than today on the course.
Thanks for all of the messages of support I really appreciate it!!