On Saturday 16th September, my dad and I will be taking on the Great Hospital Hike to fundraise for King's College Hospital Charity. I am also very proud to say I will be the hike leader of the 18 mile route, for 2023. 

In 2019 I became critically unwell whilst studying paediatric nursing at university in Plymouth. I was placed in an induced coma and my condition was soon described as “life-threatening”. That same day a decision was made to transfer me to the liver ITU at King’s College hospital, as I was rapidly deteriorating. Due to my acute liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy, my family were unsure on my chances of survival. 

I spent a few weeks at King’s where I saw the absolute dedication from everyone in the hospital. Today I still talk about the staff who provided such wonderful care. I even had the opportunity to return to the liver ITU in June 2022, to say thank you for saving my life. 

The care I received had such a positive lasting impact on my family, my dad went on to donate his kidney to a stranger in November 2021. This was all due to seeing the incredible work the staff did for organ donation and as a thank you for saving my life. 

Four years on and I am still here, with a well functioning liver, and I’m on track to qualify as a nurse in September. This would not have been possible without King’s and I owe them so many thanks. So this is my way of giving back to the hospital that will always be such a special place to me. 

To the staff that cared for me-  thank you, I’m doing this for everything you did for our family!