Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Vocalist Daniel Gildenlöw from Swedish band PAIN OF SALVATION, has issued an update on his health after recently contracting the serious bacterial infection necrotising faciitis:

“It’s been more than six weeks now, and I’m still in the hospital. I’ve solved no less than 122 crosswords up until today. The VAC pump has sped up the healing process, and I’m getting closer to seeing the end of this. General anesthesia for wound care is now every third day instead of every second, and I can go home to my family several days every week. All my doctors are very satisfiedwith how well and fast my body has healed. Last week I was transported to Uppsala, where their plastic surgical team took a close look at my wound to decide how and when to close it. Their plan is for me to be transferred to Uppsala within the next 2-3 weeks to get plastic surgery (moving skin, tissue and fascia from the surrounding areas). After that, I’ll be in bed for another 1-2 weeks while the tissue sets in and mobilizes, and only after that I can start my real way back. Wow, only now do I fully understand how naïve my initial hopes were – to be able to make it to the tours. 

Anyway, I keep a light mood through this, and try to put things in a larger perspective. As I wrote to my good friend Clay the other week: “If I’ve learnt anything from this, it’s to appreciate the small victories. Hell, the TINY victories — the ‘only-if-you-look-at-them-from-the-exact-right-angle’ victories! They’re all worth something.”

Now I need to get some sleep, I’ve got general anesthesia waiting in just a few hours. I appreciate you all! 

Daniel”