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

the baking and arm twisting was all worth it! xxxxx

Donation by Sarah Manney on 16/09/11

£60.00

+ £15.00 Gift Aid

Donation by steven walter on 15/09/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous on 15/09/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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National Cupcake Week donations!

Donation by Sonia on 15/09/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Hi Beth, Thank you for the fantasic cakes, keep up the good work!

Donation by Aesha Ali on 15/09/11

£30.00

Enjoy the view from The Great Wall!!

Donation by David Chung on 15/09/11

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

Go girl! i think what you're doing is amazing. Well done. Let me know of any other fundraising ideas you get x

Donation by Kyla Thompson on 14/09/11

£20.50

+ £5.13 Gift Aid

Donation by Gareth Edwards on 14/09/11

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous on 13/09/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Wishing you all the best Bethan, hope you have some knee supports in your luggage! Enjoy the wonderful views, take care, Rosie x

Donation by Rosemarie Enstone on 12/09/11

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

Good luck Bethan, thanks you for all the cakes. You area a lady of many talents! Simon

Donation by Simon Hackwell on 12/09/11

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

Enjoy your time in China. You've done really well. Really proud of you and Elena! Have fun! lots of love Auntie Sue & Uncle Dick x

Donation by Susan Coleman on 10/09/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Yummy cakes, the team loved them! Liz x

Donation by Liz Adey on 09/09/11

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

Good Luck and remember those 'Boots are made for walkin'!

Donation by JANE PITT on 08/09/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Good luck Beth. Hope you have a fantastic, blister-free time ! t x

Donation by Tim Boswell on 07/09/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Best Wishes

Donation by umamahaeswar naidu on 05/09/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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All the best on your 'big walk' Beth. Hope it all goes well! From Brenda & Graham Onions. x

Donation by Graham Onions on 03/09/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Mick and Trudy Walsh on 02/09/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Donation by Dave Meehan on 02/09/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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www.charitycupcakes Sophie's 18th Birthday cakes!

Donation by Carole Bendle on 02/09/11

£60.00

+ £15.00 Gift Aid

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Thank you for the delicious cupcakes and good luck with the fundraising

Donation by Saira Bibi on 01/09/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good Luck from the Rodd family XXX

Donation by Rebecca Rodd on 01/09/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck Beth - we're with you every step of the way!!! All our love Mark & Harriet xxx

Donation by Mark & Harriet Betson on 31/08/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Donation by Spencer Davis on 29/08/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Very beautiful birthday cupcakes for my 6 year old, Eva and her friends are going to LOVE them. Thank you very much xx

Donation by Luana Lea on 26/08/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£6,927.52
  • Offline donations£450.00
  • Text donations£7.00
  • Total raised£7,384.52
  • Gift Aid£1,681.74

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