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

You're doing a grand job, Beth! Looking forward to receiving the yummy recipes! xx

Donation by Di Cook on 07/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Happy Christmas Baking! Lots of love from all the Friars xxxxx

Donation by Mairwen Friar on 07/12/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck Beth, we know u will make it! Luv n best wishes Vicky & Nigel xxxx

Donation by Victoria Hatchard on 07/12/11

Looking forward to your cup cakes on the xmas party. Keep up the good work. God bless.

Donation by Mirriam Sangombe on 07/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Beth - You are doing a fantastic job. Thank you from everyone at UHB

Donation by Simon Bramhall on 06/12/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Donation by Rosemarie Enstone on 06/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Can't wait for the cupcake tips! x

Donation by Sarah Manney on 06/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation by June de la Rue on 06/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation by LInda Webber on 06/12/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

To commemmorate Rhianna's first piano recital.We are really, really proud. xx

Donation by Niva Miles on 06/12/11

So amazed by everything you're doing Beth! Looking forward to sharing your baking secrets :o) xxxx

Donation by Nicola Williams on 05/12/11

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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"Thanks for the cake it looks amazing" JLS birthday cake.

Donation by Jo Williams on 05/12/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Much kindness at Rhianna's piano concert - themed cupcakes!

Donation by via Beth on 05/12/11

£38.57

+ £9.64 Gift Aid

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70th Birthday Cupcakes! Many thanks!

Donation by via Beth on 05/12/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Wedding Cupcakes! Many thanks.

Donation by via Beth on 05/12/11

£160.00

+ £40.00 Gift Aid

Donation from Nita for my eyebrow thredding

Donation by Liz Adey on 30/11/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Congratulations Beth! All best, Eva

Donation by E paraskevaides on 29/11/11

Kind Donations for cupcakes for the Diabetes Day!

Donation by Beth on 12/11/11

£63.55

+ £15.89 Gift Aid

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Beth, thank you so much for the amazing cup cakes for our Charity Auction tomorrow. With love Hollie & Keren x

Donation by Tom Wallace Charity on 11/11/11

£175.00

+ £43.75 Gift Aid

Big thanks to everyone at MidTECH for their generous support - really appreciate it!

Donation by (Beth) on 11/11/11

£50.00

A very generous donation from Mitch, another key person who made sure I could make it across the Great Wall of China!!

Donation by (Beth) on 11/11/11

£60.00

+ £15.00 Gift Aid

Well done Bethan love from tony x

Donation by Anthony Barnett on 07/11/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Hi Beth, Was lovely meeting you in China. Amazing amount raised so far for a very worthwhile cause. Michelle xxx

Donation by Michelle Palmer on 30/10/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Thank you for the, erm, "thank you"cakes!!! They went down very well!! Liz x

Donation by Liz Adey on 28/10/11

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

National Baking Week cupcakes for Sue!

Donation by Beth on 21/10/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$10,502.46
  • Offline donations$682.22
  • Text donations$10.61
  • Total raised$11,195.30
  • Gift Aid$2,549.61

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.