Story
My Story
On the 28th of January my world was turned upside down. I had an amazing job and was about to start an even more amazing job in the early spring of 2022 in Ibiza at the islands biggest pool party venue running amazing events and marketing. Mine & Robs year ahead was so bright and this was meant to be our year. Until it was all snatched away.
After getting COVID in early January, I didn’t bounce back as I expected, a visit to the hospital and a bone marrow biopsy later confirmed I had a type of Leukaemia, which is blood cancer in my bone marrow.
The whirlwind of the last 9 months or so has been overwhelming. I’m receiving intensive chemotherapy in the hope to cure my cancer and not need a stem cell transplant. I will be on this journey for a little while. My life is on pause for now, but I’ll come back from this stronger than ever. I will not be defeated.
Why I'm now raising money for the Adelaide Ward
Since my diagnosis of an Acute Leukaemia, I've been cared for in high isolation on the Adelaide Ward at Royal Berks Hospital.
I've been regularly isolated in a room for weeks at a time during treatment and will continue to do so until I finish my first intensive treatment cycles. I have a long journey ahead of me, but the care I have received since arriving here has been mind blowing.
I've not been able to see my loved ones, so this adds extra challenges on top of an already challenging time. If it wasn't for the Nurses, also known as The Adelaide Angels, I don't know where I'd be. I'll be sharing more about the Angels and photos when I manage to get some!
Why your donation to the ward will make a HUGE difference
The team here dedicate their lives to their patients and some of us sick notes like myself will be here for a longer time than we would like. NHS funding is tight and so the small things make a HUGE difference to patient experience and family members. For example having a recliner chair in the patient bedroom, a smart TV and a proper coffee machine for the main ward, for that added perk (no one likes filter coffee?)
NHS funding for medical equipment isn't as easy to get as you think either. The ward needs their own Ultra Sound Scanner for cannulaton - this is so my nurses can find my veins quicker and make sure they can get the needle in safely, due to my Leukaemia it makes a usually simple task, that little more challenging, painful and sometimes unsuccessful. (I'm covered in bruises!) The Ward having their own ultra sound scanner will make the world of difference.
I have a list of things we'd love to buy for the ward to make patient medical experience, personal experience and family experience BETTER - not to mention it will help our Adelaide Angels do an even better job on top of the unbelievable work they already do. I can't sing their praises enough.
A few things we'd love for the ward from your donations
🩸 Ultra Sound Scanner for cannulation (NHS funding cannot help with this as urgently as your donations could make a difference)
🩸 Blood Warmer for blood transfusions (NHS funding cannot help with this as urgently as your donations could make a difference)
📺 Smart TVs for long term patient rooms (x6) - could get one in time while I'm here? 😉
☕️ Proper barista coffee machine for patients and family members - I would KILL for a flat white!
👖 New wardrobes and bedside tables for patient rooms
🦸🏼♀️ Staff Jumpers : My nurses are real life heroes, we need them dressed like ones too, they are a cut above the rest and a uniform the same as the rest of the hospital is just not acceptable!!
If there is anything you can donate or help with directly - please drop me a message, if your business offers matched donations this would be an amazing boost to our fundraising efforts. Please feel free to organise bake sales, fundraising events or anything that will contribute towards the Adelaide Ward.
Thank you from me & all the Adelaide Angels! 😇❤️