NSW: Steve Waugh's wife has brain surgery

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2006
NSW: Steve Waugh's wife has brain surgery

By Paul Mulvey

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - The wife of former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has undergone
brain surgery.

Lynette Waugh, 38, was rushed to Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Randwick on Thursday
and was operated on for a blood clot in her brain on Friday.

Steve Waugh's twin brother, Mark, said Lynette was doing well after her operation by
prominent neurosurgeon Dr Charles Teo.

"We've seen her; she's going well," Mark said.

The Nine Network reported that her father-in-law, Rodger (Rodger) Waugh, said she was
"fighting and fighting very well".

Steve and Lynette met at high school in Sydney's south-west and married in 1991 after
an eight-year courtship.

They have three children, Rosie, 10, Austinn (Austinn), six, and Lily, four.

When Waugh, 41, was named Australian Father of the Year last year, he lauded Lynette's
role during the years he spent away on tour.

"While I was away for a lot of years playing cricket, (Lynette) was basically the lone
parent," he said at the time.

"So I congratulate Lynette. This award is probably more for you than me."

She wrote a chapter, My Life with Steve, in his latest book, Out of My Comfort Zone,
addressing life as a cricket wife.

It was a rare insight into a very private woman who hardly ever gives interviews.

But the former school teacher spoke to Calcutta newspaper The Telegraph just before
her husband retired from Test cricket in January, 2004, against India at the SCG.

"We met on our last day at high school (1983). He was in East Hills Boys, while I was
across the road in East Hills Girls," she said at the time.

"Our relationship, therefore, began two decades ago. It's been a wonderful innings."

She admitted it was tough being at home alone with the children for long periods during
Steve's cricket career.

"It wasn't easy ... For much of the time, I ended up being a single parent," she said.

"Initially, only I missed him but, in recent years, the children probably missed him more."

She said there were mixed feelings two years ago as the family approached his retirement
together.

"In some ways, there's sadness ... Having said that, I'm happy he will be home and
is going to watch the children grow," she said.

"Actually, that he's going to retire is great for the family. Today, there's peace.

Right now, my children and I just wish to take in every moment."

The news of Lynette Waugh's surgery comes as fast bowler Glenn McGrath returned to
training this week after caring for his wife, Jane, as she battles a second bout of breast
cancer.

In his 168 Tests, Waugh cemented his place in Australian cricket lore as one of the
toughest and most prolific players in the game's history.

He scored 10,927 runs at an average of 51.06, took 92 wickets at 37.44 and captained
his country to unprecedented success in 57 Tests.

But Mrs Waugh said among Steve's biggest contributions to Australian cricket was his
role with players' families.

"He had a big hand in getting the families more involved with cricket," she said.

"In effect, Steve made it easier on the families."

The Waughs are heavily involved in children's charities, supporting disadvantaged youth
through the Steve Waugh Foundation, while Steve is a patron for Camp Quality and the Spastic
Centre of NSW.

He is well known, too, for his contributions to schools for disadvantaged children in India.

Like Steve Waugh, Dr Teo is renowned for his fighting attitude to even the toughest
cases and has been described as surgically aggressive.

AAP pmu/pe/de

KEYWORD: WAUGH NIGHTLEAD

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