*Thank you*

On 16th September 2018 we hit our original £10k target which is AMAZING. We're KEEPING GOING so we can cover JustGiving fees and bank charges PLUS support Sandy with as many disability aids as possible, to help make life easier and improve his quality of life. Therefore we have increased our target to £15k because people STILL want to keep GIVING.

*Stop Press*

See BBC Spotlight's moving coverage of our story 25th October 2018 https://www.facebook.com/bbcspotlight/videos/331111950782229/

View our PICTURE GALLERY and share the build as it happens (restricted sharing of images, please contact e:getsandyhome@gmail.com for permissions): https://photos.app.goo.gl/wDGEXWu7ritGsQPcA

£65k - we're on our way...

Our JustGiving crowdfunder is part of a bigger £65k project, much of which is being supported by generous donations of materials and labour in-kind (including building materials, plumbing, flooring, decorating, furniture and more, with special thanks to Wessex Lifts, WundaTrade (underfloor heating), Drayton Heating, Pulham Steel, Bill Butters Windows, F Cuff & Sons, LS Flooring, Shaun Whittaker Flooring and many more).

We are grateful to financial support, through charitable grants so far, from The Amigo Trust, the Simon Wingfield Digby Trust, FIAC (Faith in Action Committee)/Sherborne Abbey, Yeovil & District Aid in Sickness Fund / Battens Solicitors and Sherborne Summer Festival. And to YOU, the 180+ personal givers who have pledged amounts large and small to make this all possible - THANK YOU.

Thank you ALL for your generosity ~ The #GetSandyHome and Sherborne #CommunityDIY project team (Kate, Patt, Liz and Jane)

SANDY'S STORY

Traumatic Brain Injury

On Boxing Day 2017 life changed forever for a popular local Sherborne couple Sandy (Brian) Heal and his wife Kate (pictured below in in the summer of 2017). Sandy's accidental fall down the stairs at home, and subsequent Traumatic Brain Injury, was devastating. He was diagnosed with brain stem death at Yeovil District Hospital and preparations were made for organ and tissue donation teams from Yeovil, Birmingham and London to operate the next day. Kate was told to go home and make funeral arrangements; family and friends gathered around the couple and communities in Sherborne (where Sandy, now 51, and Kate are key community figures) and Yeovil, where Sandy worked as a skilled engineer at (Westland) Leonardo were devastated at the news.

Kate & Sandy pictured together in happier days during 2017:

An overnight miracle

Then overnight, a miracle happened (there's no other way to describe it). Sandy made a tiny movement in his right foot which was, thankfully, noticed by a doctor. He was rushed to Bristol's Southmead Hospital where specialist intensive care was provided, although Sandy remained in a coma and critically ill with Kate constantly at his side.

The journey to recovery

Sandy first started coming out of a coma state on 12th January 2018 but then moved into a prolonged and challenging minimally responsive state. He was moved to Poole Hospital's specialist Brain Injury Unit - the Eddie Hawker Wing, on 8th February where, following intensive physiotherapy, he was able to take his first assisted steps in late April (see picture below, with Sandy's mum and dad looking proudly on). He has gradually and painstakingly regained ability, although faces the future with permanent disability and will not be able to go back to the job he loved.

In August 2018 Sandy moved to Salisbury's Glenside Hospital for Neuro Rehabilitation where he and Kate were able to live together in an adapted bungalow on site, having been apart for seven months. After eleven weeks rehabilitation there the couple moved back to Sherborne in October 2018, to a temporary wheelchair-accessible flat where Sandy will continue to receive intensive occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy. We hope the couple will be back in their OWN newly adapted home in time for Christmas - nearly a full year after Sandy's accident - and in the meantime project #GetSandyHome building work has begun in earnest!

Community spirit

Kate and Sandy are well known for their outgoing personalities and support of charitable causes. Kate was recently awarded for 10 years as a Poppy Day Collector and they are both renowned for their charitable fundraising as Santa and Chief Elf at Sherborne's annual Festive Shopping Day. Now the town is giving back with a #CommunityDIY project to #GetSandyHome.

In all of this, Kate has been by Sandy's side every single day (except for a few days when snow stopped play). Her sacrifices have been immense; forced to give up a management career to support her much loved husband, she is now his full time carer. She shared their story on facebook where hundreds have been inspired - not only by their love for eachother but by the miracle of Sandy's second chance at life and by his own incredible determination to get well enough to come home. Sandy is well known for his positive 'thumbs up' attitude and it has become a trademark for others to follow, inspiring a collection of images which were made into a poster and given to him as a 51st birthday gift in July.

Kate says:

Coming home, thanks to #CommunityDIY

Coming home is what this story is all about. The fact is, Sandy cannot physically get into the little house he and Kate own together in Sherborne; it is physically impossible and unsafe. The house needs adaptation beyond their means and this is where the Sherborne community, and one local businessman in particular, has stepped in after hearing about their story.

A £65k project to #GetSandyHome

Patrick Coll (pictured above with Kate and Sandy) whose local family businesses include Sherborne Cottages, Jackson-Stops Lettings South West and Innovation by Design is leading the build on this unique £65k adaptation. Without his initial support the project would never have got off the ground.

He said:

Following an Occupational Therapist's assessment, the following home adaptations were recommended:

1. Move the main entrance from the side of the house to an accessible entrance via a ramp to the rear.

2. Fit ramps and handrails where required throughout.

3. Fit a wheelchair-accessible lift for access to the first floor (Sandy will never be able to use stairs or a stair lift due to ongoing physical and cognitive issues).

4. Create a wet room with access for wheelchair transfers, rails and shower seat.

5. Adapt the kitchen for a wheelchair user, with flexible height worktops, drawer fridge and adaptive aids.

6. Create access from the kitchen to the garden (as previous hallway access will be blocked to allow installation of a through-floor lift).

7. Replace most of the current furniture with specialist furniture for Sandy's needs.

8. All internal/external doors require widening and accessible storage needs to be fitted.

9. Internal/External redecoration and landscaping.

10. New wheelchair-friendly flooring throughout.

11. Replacement electrical fittings where needed.

12. Architect and other professional services to support the project.

This page has been set up because so many people asked how they could practically help. Many businesses, trades and friends with relevant skills have come forward to offer their services free of charge - all of which will contribute in kind to the overall project cost. Through JustGiving, and donations from local charitable funds, we aim to buy the essential aids and equipment Sandy will need to adapt to life at home with disability. Kate and Sandy will also of course be contributing whatever they can.

All donations received, through this JustGiving page and elsewhere, will be be used for the project to #GetSandyHome. The couple hopes their journey from Traumatic Brain Injury to recovery and coming home again is a story that will inspire others in similar life-changing situations.

PRESS interested in sharing this story should contact family friend and marketing consultant Liz Murray: e:lizmurraymarketing@gmail.com t:07795298781

ALSO LOOKING FOR TRADES, SUPPLIERS & SERVICES for our building project! e:getsandyhome@gmail.com for more information.

Thank you to Headway

So many professionals have already helped the couple on their journey so far but Kate would like to take this opportunity to recognise the support they have received from Headway, the brain injury association. Through the association, Kate has met families in similar situations and received advice that has helped her through very difficult times. Headway's Hospital Liaison for Somerset, Wendy Copeman, said:

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LIKE A CHALLENGE?

Run, walk or push - do the 5km for Sandy!

Sign up for our Christmas Sweater 5km Run on 2nd December