Davina McCall has opened up about how she helped her brain surgeon stay focused by ensuring he was "in the calmest place" ahead of her intricate brain cyst surgery. The popular TV host, aged 57, confessed she fought the urge to plead with consultant neurosurgeon Kevin O'Neill, 62, to "keep me alive" for her children.
Instead, Davina chose to instil confidence in O'Neill, telling him: "'You do whatever you need to do. I put all my faith in you'."
This encouragement, she believes, contributed to the success of the six-hour operation carried out in November. Now, full of vigour, Davina feels as energetic as a 25 year old and is excited to soon host the BBC's Stranded on Honeymoon Island.
Davina discussed wanting to support her surgeon, saying: "He doesn't need me screaming at him to keep me alive. He needs to be in the calmest and most confident place. I wanted to empower Kevin to do the best job he could," following her emergency hospital trip after the cyst was discovered during a routine scan. In an emotional interview post-surgery, Davina tearfully commended Dr O'Neill, who she now regards as not just her life-saving doctor but also a close friend.
Dr O'Neill performed a meticulous procedure, making an incision from ear to ear, opening the skull, and employing GPS technology to navigate to and remove the 14mm colloid cyst in the third ventricle of Davina's brain, an act compared to bomb defusal, reports The Mirror.
The TV host davina McCall faced a harrowing experience as she prepared for a risky medical procedure by finalising her will and leaving heartfelt messages for her offspring, Holly, Tilly, and Chester.
She opened up about the emotional preparation: "I set up my whole life before I went into the operating theatre knowing that, if I didn't make it, the kids would be OK. I needed to go under the anaesthetic knowing I had my ducks in a row. It was my way of letting go. I am so grateful for that process, because I realised through all of it that, if I were not around, my children would be on the right path."
Meeting Dr O'Neill, who identifies as an "empath", Davina expressed a profound bond formed during her ordeal, as covered by The Times.
Both voiced high regard for each other, with future social plans affirming their connection. "We're going to be friends for the rest of our lives...We are going to go out to dinner with our partners! We are GOING TO DO IT!" Davina exclaimed.
Renowned for his work at both the Cleveland Clinic and NHS Imperial College Healthcare Trust, Dr O'Neill reflected on his patient's unique strength: "Davina is a special person. Some people are so terrified they can't make a decision [about what to do]."
In a candid discussion about handling pressure, the expert surgeon revealed his strategy for maintaining composure in high-stress situations: "You can't overthink things. You can't let [negative] thoughts overtake you. I've been in extreme surgical cases where you think, 'S***! I want to run away.'
"But you have to gather yourself, give yourself a talk: 'You've done this before; you'll do it again. You can do this really well. What are you afraid of?'"
He also spoke about overcoming doubts while operating alongside Davina McCall: "I knew if I let these thoughts come in with Davina, I'd start to freeze, and so you have to have something that overpowers them. That is that I am experienced and highly regarded by my peers and I do this a lot."
