Byrnes Mill Police Chief Gary Dougherty is recovering from the effects of a ruptured appendix and the resulting May 1 surgery.
On Monday (May 15), Dougherty said he would be going to the office at Byrnes Mill City Hall for a few hours each day this week. He said Sgt. Roger Ide is covering many of his duties until he returns full time.
“We’ve been in constant contact,” Dougherty said.
Dougherty, 66, of Byrnes Mill said he had no idea his appendix was inflamed when he fell sick the last week of April.
“I thought I had a flu bug like everybody else,” he said.
He finally realized his condition was something serious and headed to the hospital on May 1.
“By the time I got to the operating table, the doctor said, ‘Oops, too late, it burst,’” Dougherty said.
The appendix is a tube of tissue approximate 3 1/2 inches long connected to the large intestine. If an infection of the appendix – appendicitis – is left untreated, the appendix can become inflamed, rupture and cause peritonitis.
Dougherty said he spent five days in the hospital.
He said a doctor’s appointment was set for Tuesday (May 6) to find out when he would be able to return to his post as police chief full time.