Hendry at wife's bedside as she fights for her life

Published on Friday 29 May 2009 22:24

THE wife of former Scottish footballer Colin Hendry is fighting for her life after being struck down by a brain infection following an operation to correct botched cosmetic surgery.

Denise Hendry had the operation to correct damage caused by botched liposuction in 2002, which left her with persistent health problems.

Although the 16-hour operation was a success, she contracted a meningitis-type infection in her spinal cord, which spread to her brain. Yesterday, Colin Hendry was at his wife's bedside at Salford Royal Hospital, near Manchester.

The former Scotland captain said his wife's condition had improved slightly, but that it was still a cause for concern.

He said: "Denise has shown some signs of improvement over the last few days. She's a real fighter and I believe that if anyone can come through an ordeal like this, it's Denise.

"I spend every day at her bedside and it's encouraging to see her progress, although there is still a long way to go.

"This is a difficult time, but we have confidence in the doctors and nursing staff to help Denise to full health."

The 42-year-old mother of four has endured more than 20 operations to correct problems caused by the disastrous cosmetic surgery, which was intended to restore her figure but which left her in a coma for five weeks.

She won a record six-figure sum in compensation for her injuries but has never fully regained her health.

Mrs Hendry was one of 14 women to complain about the private cosmetic surgeon Gustav Aniansson.

During her "routine" liposuction operation at the private Broughton Park Hospital, near Preston, her bowel and small colon were perforated nine times. She later developed blood poisoning.

The Swiss-born surgeon was branded "reckless and incompetent" by the General Medical Council and can no longer practise in Britain.

Hendry said: "It's easy to look back now and say how we wish she hadn't gone to Aniansson, but she did and we're having to live with the awful consequences.

Although the surgery here has gone well, the infection she has contracted has been a devastating blow for us."

Professor Gordon Carlson, who is caring for Mrs Hendry at Salford, said: "Denise has been receiving treatment at the National Intestinal Failure Centre based at Salford Royal.

"She has had to undergo 16 hours of complex reconstructive surgery on her abdomen but is making a gradual recovery on our intensive care unit."

The family's lawyer, Stephen Jones, an expert in clinical negligence cases, said: "I was obviously most concerned when Colin told me of Denise's ongoing problems. She has been through an awful lot as a direct result of Mr Aniansson's surgery and has had numerous remedial operations since."