'Very Lucky To Be Alive': Chris Cairns After Spinal Stroke, Life-Saving Heart Surgery

Ex-New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns underwent heart surgery three months ago, after which he had to go through several more surgeries which put him on life support system

New Delhi: Wheel-chair bound ex-New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, three months after winning the battle for life, said that he is "lucky to be alive". The 51-year-old underwent heart surgery three months ago, after which he had to go through several more surgeries which put him on life support system and during this time he was paralyzed waist down due to 'spinal stroke' from which he is trying to recover.

"We don't know what happens going forward. I don't know if I'll walk, I don't know if I'll stand. But I may stand. I may walk. The only option is to keep going. The thing is I'm not even just lucky to be (alive). I'm very lucky," Cairns was quoted as saying by Canberra Times.

"The amazing thing going through this is just the perseverance to keep going in case it comes back. You've got to be prepared," Cairns said.

Cairns played 215 ODIs, 62 Tests, and two T20Is for New Zealand between 1989 and 2006.

His wife Melanie said, "Chris didn't just have a stroke one day and (was gone), he had two weeks of being so close to (death). So we start from a place of gratefulness, and every bit we get back after that is just an extra.

"He's here, he's still him. Yes there are physically challenges, but in the gym he said (to the staff) you show me the bar and I'm going to smash it down."

"He's super motivated to get back out on the tennis court with our daughter, whether that's running around or in a wheelchair. He's still going to try to beat her, that's who he is. That motivation puts him in a really good place to try to tackle something like this."

Talking about New Zealand's chances of winning the the T20 World Cup final against Australia, Cairns said, "I played with (New Zealand coach) Gary Stead in Canterbury for a decade. He's one of the unsung heroes. The last two years I mean, you know, New Zealand cricket is very, very healthy."