Raised: 27%
Target: £20,000.00
Raised so far: £5,483.50
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My story

 
Dear All - On Mothers' Day in England, earlier this month, I wondered how best to say my goodbyes to my own Mother, Anne, as she lay still and unconscious in a hospital bed in the Hurstwood Park neurology intensive care unit. A fit, vital, martial arts practicing woman, she had been found collapsed with a massive cerebral haemorrhage a few days before. The doctors, trying to break the news, said the outlook was "at best very grim". I was sure I would never see her alive again. Today, astonishingly, she has "turned a corner" and may, we hope, be on her way to some sort of recovery. Hurstwood Park neurology ICU is in Haywards Heath, a small town South of London. It is the only operating neurological hospital in South East England. On first look, walking into the small building you see here at left, you might think it a rather lowly little place. Blue linoleum covers the floors, while in the small waiting room a television flickers and some puzzles, games and a couple of teddy bears are piled neatly on a table.  And yet, it was not only just these very mundane physical things which gave the place its warmth: as I waited, I saw through the window that outside, someone had planted an exquisite, pretty little garden full of yellow, nodding daffodils. I understood that here there was humanity and compassion and it felt almost palpable. When I finally got to see my mother, I was completely stunned by the kindness shown me there, especially by the ICU nurses who greeted me by name and then stood with me so very, very patiently by the bed as I stared at my mother with either nothing to say or full of probably quite stupid questions. One nurse asked if I had any photos of her from before that they could see. I am certain it is this above-and-beyond attitude that has so far saved my Mother's life. I would not have believed this level of care and commitment existed outside of rather nostalgically portrayed hospitals in WWII movies - and yet it does. I left Hurstwood Park every single day trying to think of something, anything, that, I and all of you who have so consistently offered support and help, could do for this place. And here it is: Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to give money to the League Of Friends at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre. (If you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.) Please make a donation of whatever you can spare. It has become such a cliche to state, "No amount is too small" - but I have realised it's absolutely true. Many, many thanks for your support. S. K. H.

Very worthwhile Donation by Ned 23/07/08  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

It's great tosee your Mum getting stronger. Donation by Agnes W. 02/07/08  

£30.00

Best wishes Donation by Dave 15/05/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good wishes from two kabillion miles away. Donation by Scott S 08/05/08  

£10.00

Wishing you and your Mum all the best Donation by Gaby 04/05/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

for my winning bid and some extra XX Donation by Anne C 02/05/08  

£50.00

x Donation by Kim 25/04/08  

£45.00 + £12.69 Gift Aid

WOHOOO I WON! (At first it didn't except my comma so it got pretty expensive.... Donation by Bellydancer 23/04/08  

£37.50

arriba arriba arriba.. keep the fire burnin'... besos KH Donation by Mexican Wino 23/04/08  

£40.00

xxxxxx Donation by Anna B. 23/04/08  

£50.00

keep it going! Donation by lucia 21/04/08  

£195.00

well done you Donation by Lia Bassin 21/04/08  

£20.00

xx Donation by angie 21/04/08  

£100.00

xxx Donation by Paola 21/04/08  

£45.00

Warm wishes Donation by Tomas 20/04/08  

£100.00

x Donation by Rad 19/04/08  

£115.00 + £32.44 Gift Aid

Best Wishes for you xxx Donation by Elena 18/04/08  

£25.00

wishing you both all the best xx Donation by caro 18/04/08  

£100.00

For a great cause Donation by Marcello 18/04/08  

£250.00

unbelievable! I'm so happy for you Donation by P2 14/04/08  

£20.00

...least said soonest mended Donation by Chris 14/04/08  

£10.00

Good Luck to you and your mom. Donation by realbadude 11/04/08  

£10.00

A small contribution to a large cause Donation by Bellydancer 10/04/08  

£20.00

Thank you for caring x Donation by A fan 09/04/08  

£10.00

My best to you and mom, hope you reach goal very soon Donation by Anne C 09/04/08  

£30.00

Hope she gets even better, very soon... besos Donation by DG 09/04/08  

£50.00

to a worthier cause than kinder eggs. Donation by john 07/04/08  

£20.00

You are in my thoughts. Wish you all the best Donation by lucia 07/04/08  

£150.00

KH - you and your mom are in my thoughts. Donation by Radhika 04/04/08  

£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid

You already reached your target ;-) Love, Sneschi Donation by Sneschi 04/04/08  

£50.00
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* Total raised online: £5,483.50
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £253.85

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