On 21^st December last year, I was admitted to Warwick Hospital, rushed straight to Intensive care and diagnosed with Swine Flu. On New Years day 2011,  my condition deteriorated so rapidly my partner, Hazel, had a call from the hospital that no one should ever have to get. As a small local Intensive Care Unit, Warwick Hospital were unable to help me any further, I had a matter of hours to live and they needed specialist help. Specialist help that was, in fact, still in research and development and with resources so pushed to the limit specialist hospitals had to choose which patients would have the most positive outcome and would therefore be chosen to have new treatment.

In plain English, I needed a miracle.....or the A Team!.

Well, someone must have been looking over me. Within a matter of hours the A Team had arrived! Not in a black van and wearing gold chains,  but in a luminous yellow ambulance  with flashing blue lights all the way from Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital, Chelsea.

On their arrival I was prepared for transport back to London and rushed down the M40 to the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital in Chelsea where I spent the next few weeks in an induced coma. You name it, I got it. Phenomena, kidney failure, lung infection after lung infection, the lot. But the A Team pulled me through every obstacle and brought me back to Intensive care at Warwick Hospital where I woke up mid January , totally unaware that I had broken the speed limit on the M40 in my sleep, and not for the first time ! My condition was looking much more positive, until a few days later when I got another lung infection and once again my condition rapidly declined. Once again,I was put into an induced coma, prepared for transport and zoomed down the M40 with flashing blue lights to Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital.

A few weeks later I woke up connected to, and surrounded by many machines, doctors and nurses in gowns and face masks. I had lost 3.5 stone, I couldn’t talk eat or drink because of a tracheotomy, I couldn’t move because of muscle wastage, I was confused because of all the drugs. I was trapped , I didn’t know where I was and wanted to know what on earth was going on! Then I saw lots and lots pictures of family around my bed – Hazel, Cameron, Monty, my dogs. I remember clearly thinking “I don’t know where the hell I am or what the hell has happened but I need to get back to my family”

Through sheer determination and bloody mindedness I started to set myself some small goals. I practically cohersed the Intensive Care Staff after a week or so to get me out of their ward and on to a high dependency ward in the Brompton to  kick-start my recovery. This was followed by a short spell in Warwick Hospital where once again I was determined to escape and further my recovery at home. On  the 21^st February 2011, 2 full months after I was admitted to hospital and having missed Christmas and New Year I finally got home to my family.

I couldn’t walk, eat properly, sleep or do any of the normal day to day routines and tasks you take for granted.  I was told to expect a 12 to 18 month recovery and had a massive uphill battle in front of me.

Those who know me, know how determined I am.

By the end of March, one month after coming out of hospital I exceeded all expectations and cycled 2 miles.

By the end of  April, 2 months after coming out of hospital I ran my first mile and in 9 minutes, 34 seconds. I was on my way! This felt magic!

Four months on, through sheer determination, I am now back to running three times a week and have set myself my final goal in October – and it’s totally achievable!

Without, the A team in London Chris Meadows, Jeremy Cordingdale, Simon Finney, David Hunter  and most importantly Hazel, I genuinely wouldn’t be here. Without the research and development into swine flu and acute lung failure, I also wouldn’t be here.

I’d really like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me and our family – with your practical and emotional support we have pulled through and I’m ready to smash through my last goal.

This is where I need you to help me one last time.

I would like to give something practical back to the A Team – the most tenacious and dedicated people I have ever met.

Every single penny of the money I raise through running this half marathon will go directly to the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital Intensive Care and Acute Lung Failure department. To the people and investment in equipment that will save more lives this year and in the future.

So, if you would be prepared to offer some sponsorship, I would be eternally grateful. It would be amazing!

Flu season is just around the corner. You never know when you, or someone you know will need their help.

LET THE TRAINING BEGIN!!!