My story

I am mid way through my 12 month challenge to raise a minimum of £20,000 to express my sincere thanks to the QE Hospital Liver and HPB Unit in Birmingham for the care I have been receiving since 2009.   I am not doing this alone, my family are pitching in and one of the main ‘events’ is that Elena, my sister, and I have completed an amazing trek of the Great Wall of China for 11 days between 22 September and 2 October 2011! It would be great if you could support us by donating on this page. I have also set up www.charitycupcakes.co.uk to increase my donations! 

 

So, why the Liver Unit? 

 

As many of you will be aware, almost out of the blue in April 2009 my health started to rapidly decline.   After couple of weeks of intense testing - scans and scopes too many to recall - I was diagnosed as having an unusually large 30cm diameter growth on my liver (an haemangioma to you medics!)).  What shook me was that despite the fact it must have been (probably) growing all my life, how all of a sudden I went from family outings, busy work and fun .....to a constant feeling of pain, sickness and fatigue and was barely able to eat or get to my hospital appointments.  My husband Dave was a rock, as ever, and stepped up to doing everything for Rhianna (age 3 at the time) with some much appreciated help and support from family and friends.

 

The operation to remove the growth (by then the weight and size of a baby!), the right side of my liver and gall bladder, was undertaken on 26 June 2009.  The expertise of the surgical team who take on life saving operations every day have enabled me to return to what feels like ‘better than ever’ health.

 

As I watched all the comings and goings of a busy ward, I felt immensely lucky that unlike most of the other patients staying in hospital with me, my surgery marked the start of a journey back to full health.  Sadly, for most of the other wonderful women I met during my stay, surgery was something to relieve symptoms only or had to be undertaken before chemotherapy/radiotherapy.  Now that was sobering.....

 

The early days, prior to diagnosis and surgery, were the most anxious times for myself, family and friends but under Prof John Buckels management at the Liver Unit, we were confident that we were receiving the best care.  I am also thankful to the rest of the medical, nursing and physio staff who treated me.  I was particularly touched by the caring and professional nature of the relatively junior nursing staff whilst in HDU and on the ward.

 

Although I have worked for the NHS for the last 11 years, I had no prior experience of another hospital or being a patient.  My hospital stay under the care of the Liver Unit was praiseworthy and I know first -hand that its excellent reputation is very well deserved.   I still continue to be seen on the Unit on an annual basis and although Prof Buckels retired last September,  I feel reassured to be under the eye of an excellent team.  I therefore pledge to raise as much funding as possible to be used by the team to the benefit of the care they provide patients like myself. 

 

Anything you can donate would be very appreciated by both myself and future patients in the Liver Unit. 

 

Many thanks, Beth xxx

My gallery 8

My Team

Team photo
Bethan and Elena's Challenge

My company

My charity

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity

Charity Registration No. 1093989

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity is the official charity of the Queen Elizabeth & Selly Oak hospitals in Birmingham, including the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine where military patients are treated from around the world. Find out more at www.qehb.org. Your support is much appreciated.

Donations 273

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Cricket themed 40th birthday cupcakes! Made the evening for my brother even more special, thank you! Liz xx

Donation by Liz Adey on 22/04/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Rhianna made krispie cakes using some of her own Easter eggs, the lovely people in work then donated as they enjoyed them!

Donation by Rhianna Bishop, age 6 on 18/04/12

£9.40

+ £2.35 Gift Aid

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Birthday Cupcakes - many thanks to David Brown!

Donation by www.charitycupcakes.co.uk on 12/04/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Your cupcakes were brilliant. I will definately call you again thank you for everything

Donation by Tracey Ford on 12/04/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Thank you for making your first piano keys cake!! Cant wait to see it....Glad you're coming to the party too. Thanks Beth, you're SO talented.xxxx

Donation by Lisa Floyd on 07/04/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Thanks for a fantastic giant 21st birthday cupcake. Stephanie was delighted. She doesn't want to cut it as it's so nice. June xxx

Donation by June de la Rue on 28/03/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Thank you so much Beth for baking at short notice. Love Louise x

Donation by Louise Davies on 25/03/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Thank you for Pirate Fred and Pirate Joe's birthday cupcakes. Two very happy boys xx

Donation by Marie George on 22/03/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Teddy Bear Cupcakes! Many thanks to James!

Donation by www.charitycupcakes.co.uk on 21/03/12

£24.00

+ £6.00 Gift Aid

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Ist birthday celebration for our beautiful Goddaughter Eleanor.Great charity, wonder hospital & fab baker Beth..Keep up the good work.Lisa & Richard.x

Donation by Lisa Norgrove on 18/03/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Donation from Nita (eyebrow thredding!) Liz x

Donation by Liz Adey on 12/03/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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40th birthday cupcakes for a girl who is really only 35 (honest!!) - Thanks Em!!!

Donation by via Beth x on 09/03/12

£40.00

+ £10.00 Gift Aid

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31st birthday celebration cupcakes! - thanks Sally!! (Beth)

Donation by Sally Smith on 09/03/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Baby Shower Cupcakes!

Donation by via Charlotte and the girls! on 01/03/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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To Auntie Bethan, A donation from Dylan With Love xxx

Donation by Sian Miles on 01/03/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Damian loved the birthday cakes, thanks for making them for me, especially with such short notice! Liz x

Donation by Liz Adey on 15/02/12

£18.00

+ £4.50 Gift Aid

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Butterfly Christening Cupcakes - thanks Samm!

Donation by www.charitycupcakes.co.uk on 02/02/12

£60.00

+ £15.00 Gift Aid

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In place of sending family Christmas cards!

Donation by Beth on 10/01/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Fab cakes as always! Liz x

Donation by Liz Adey on 06/01/12

£12.00

+ £3.00 Gift Aid

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Hi Bethan, Thank you so much for the sparlkly lemon cakes for my Christmas gift. Didnt last long in the hairdressers Im afraid !!!

Donation by melody Teresa on 05/01/12

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You are an inspiration Beth. Merry Christmas....xxx

Donation by Lisa Floyd on 24/12/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Very kind donation from Helen Jenner for Christmas cupcakes!!

Donation by via Beth on 21/12/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Happy Christmas to everyone at MIDRU

Donation by June Delarue on 21/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous on 20/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Hi Bethan, its great to see your hard work being acknowledged, have a great xmas and a very happy new year to you and yours

Donation by mary drew on 20/12/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$10,520.93
  • Offline donations$683.42
  • Text donations$10.63
  • Total raised$11,214.99
  • Gift Aid$2,554.09

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