Inverness Caledonian Thistle assistant manager Scott Kellacher speaks about recovery from Covid and viral encephalitis and his return to the dugout
INVERNESS Caledonian Thistle assistant manager Scott Kellacher has spoken about his comeback from serious illness which kept him out of the dugout for months.
At the beginning of the year, Kellacher was diagnosed with viral encephalitis, an inflammation to the brain, before contracting Covid-19.
Having only returned to the dugout six weeks ago as he recovered from the impact of illness, Kellacher says he never expected to be out of action for as long as he was.
“I didn’t expect to be out for as long as I did, when I got out of hospital in the middle of January I told my wife I’d be back in two or three weeks," said Kellacher.
“I was kidding myself on but I didn’t expect it to be as long as it was.
“You have heard all the symptoms that go along with it and there were some days I just couldn’t move."
Kellacher says living with the impact of both viruses was not easy and affected his usual routine.
“I’m usually up at six in the morning, on the move all day until seven or eight at night, so not being able to do anything wasn’t easy.
“If I tried to help around the house or with the kids, I’d go missing for three or four days after it because I was wiped clean out.
“It was the fatigue mainly but with the viral encephalitis there were a lot of headaches and stuff.
“I think I had every symptom going, which made it hard to deal with because you didn’t know what was coming from one day to the next.
“Every day was like a rollercoaster, you were up and down, never knowing what you were going to get.
“I’d sleep for four or five days then think I felt a bit better, was getting somewhere and then as soon as I did anything it was back to the start again.
“I just kept trying, doing one or two days then rest and try to build myself back up.
“I am usually upbeat and positive, I’m always on the go, so it was hard for the people around me to see me like that."
However, as he returned to the dugout to help head coach Billy Dodds guide Caley Thistle's Championship charge, Kellacher says he is grateful for all the support he has received from the club as well as his family.
“I am so grateful for my family and the people I have around me.
“To go from being upbeat and always looking forward to my work, to being like that was very difficult.
“I appreciate there are a lot of people much worse off, there’s a lot going on in the world, so I am grateful I am able to come back.
“I thank my lucky stars, the hospital were brilliant with me.
“I came back about five or six weeks ago, roughly about that. I had been popping in to show face, coming in to watch training.
“Some days I was able to come in but others I was very tired so it wasn’t possible.
“It has taken a lot of time and I just hope it’s onwards and upwards now.”
“The support the club has given me has been terrific and I can’t thank the chairman, the board, Scott Gardiner and the managers more.
“They gave me reassurance to come back when I was ready and that was a real help.
“The gaffer has been brilliant, he’s given me the support and made sure my health is fine for coming back.
“He’s always said if I’m having a bad day then don’t worry about it, my health comes first.
“Everyone has been fantastic and hopefully I can come back and play a part from now on.”