Ray back in hospital ‘after going downhill fast’ but improving and knows he must take it easy

As much as Ray Green would love to be at Alexandra Park on Friday night to see Copy That race he knows that wouldn’t be wise after being re-admitted to Middlemore Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Green, 77, was feeling “pretty crook” yesterday prompting the district nurse to dispatch him to hospital.

Green was discharged from Middlemore last Friday seemingly recovering well from a seven-hour operation to repair internal damage after being kicked in the stomach by a young horse.

He was back at Lincoln Farms’ stable the next morning, checking on the team and watching a few workouts.

“Possibly I was overdoing it a bit. I got tired pretty quickly but was feeling OK until yesterday when I went downhill fast.

“I was losing more fluid than I was taking in but they’re working hard to get my potassium level right again. They’re doing a good job, throwing everything at me.

“I’ve had cat scans, ECGs, you name it, I’ve had it. But I think the biggest problem is that, with the stoma bag, I’m not fully utilising the food going into me.

“I’ve got a drip now. They’re poking a lot of stuff into me and I’m vastly improved on yesterday.”

12kg loss in weight

Green said in the two weeks he’s been out of action he’s lost 12kg in weight - he didn’t eat anything for the first five days after his surgery.

“I’m a bit weak and just need to take it easy and let nature take its course. It was a serious injury with a big surgery and all that takes its toll.

“I’ve got to be realistic. I’d like to think I’m making progres but I think I’m just getting to the levelling out stage.”

Green said he had no idea how long he will be kept in hospital - “But I don’t think they’ll be cutting me loose too soon.

“I doubt I’ll be able to go to the races on Friday. That might be detrimental to my progress. But the horses are all in good hands, everyone at the farm knows their job, and Blair’s (Orange) coming up to drive five of them.

“I live in hope but have to be realistic and take stock of what’s happened.”