Father-of-four, Ryan McGowan, lay in his hospital bed wondering if his professional football career was at an end.
The Aussie-born defender’s mother even flew from his native country to be at his bedside after a leg infection.
Now, McGowan (pictured by Nigel Duncan before the surgery) is recovering and hoping to be back in contention for a place in the Livingston line-up after the next international break.
But the hospitalisation, and the potential consequences, have given the former Hearts, Dundee United and St Johnstone player, a shock.
And the 22-times capped international thanked the medical staff who treated him in Edinburgh’s Western General and Royal Infirmary.
McGowan said: “At one point, it was about getting out (of hospital) with two legs.”
He spent over three weeks in hospital and the player revealed that medical staff were concerned. Most people, he explained, have a blood count of under ten. His was over 300.
And 6ft 3in tall McGowan said: “There was a real concern that if something wasn’t to change quickly, then there was a decision possibly having to be made.”
Medical staff explained their fear that the leg infection could spread into his muscles and bones and McGowan, whose Glasgow-born family emigrated to Oz in 1980, declared: “Then, it’s a case of everything has to come out. Luckily, it worked out and I ended with a scar on my calf.”
Livingston manager, David Martindale, has involved McGowan with the squad, helping mentor young players, and that has assisted the popular player over a difficult period which started when he woke up with what felt like “a kick in the calf”.
The Adelaide-born footballer went to hospital on the eve of Livingston’s game in the William Hill Premiership against Dundee in mid-September and, within hours, there were “wires everywhere” and consultants standing over him. McGowan then felt he should tell Martindale that he would not be available for selection for the next match.
