My wife Jemma had major heart surgery 5 years ago, aged just 25, and from that experience I knew the surgeons, doctors and consultants at the Freeman where amongst the best in this county.

So when Jemma was admitted to the Freeman on 25th of September 2014 I knew in my mind that she couldn't be in a better place and, like before, she’d be home before we knew it. Unfortunately it didn't quite play out like that. 

Jemma had just given birth to our second little boy, Thomas, a week before she landed at the Freeman. She had been admitted to the RVI at 26 weeks pregnant so they could keep a close eye on mother and baby. She got to 29 weeks then they decided it was time for the little fella to arrive whilst both were in reasonable health. Thomas was born, just over 10 weeks early, weighing 2lb 11oz, and admitted straight to the special care baby unit at the RVI.  

It was a scary time but after his birth but on meeting our little miracle it made the decision seem a wise one.

Unfortunately, Jemma’s experience of been a mammy for the second time was overshadowed by her still not feeling herself. You could tell something was a wrong, but as Jemma is such a strong person we all just thought she was possibly depressed. After spending weeks in hospital away from me and our 4 year old William, and now being apart from William it was understandable. But physically; we hoped she was on the mend. We were worried, but four doctors saw her in a week and they too hoped she was on the mend. Not once did they, or us, realise how poorly she was or what was round the corner.

That same week, on the Thursday, Jemma didn't want to go to her routine appointment at the Freeman. She didn't feel up to it, and at this point she was in bed all day and struggling to walk. I was starting to realise there was something potentially very wrong, but still Jemma didn’t want to leave home for the hospital. With some strong persuasion from her dad she was showered and dragged herself into a wheel chair. The moment we got to the clinic the nurses (who knew Jemma from tears of attending) took one look at her and knew she was in heart failure.

It all went downhill from there. On Saturday night she’d been chatting to me on the phone and by Sunday morning she could no longer open her eyes.

The story from here is a long one. But to keep it short…. Jemma was in Intensive Care at the Freeman for over eight months (208 days to be exact) before finally making it home. Only one person has ever been in ICU longer than she was. People either get discharged quickly from ITU to another ward or, well, you  know what else usually happens….

More than once we were told Jemma was just too poorly for the life-saving surgery she needed and on the darkest day we all had to say goodbye to a wife, daughter, sister and friend. The degree of her illness was just too great for her body; the chances were that she wouldn’t make it.

But somehow, despite being unconscious and with a heart that was barely working, Jemma knew the only place she was going was home to her three boys. And that silent determination, combined with the amazing staff at the Freeman, got her back from the brink and back home with her family. 

The staff who looked after Jemma on ICU Ward 21 at the Freeman Hospital never gave up, and are some of the most hard working people I've ever met. They are a credit to the hospital.  

Jemma being here and being on the road to what we hope is a full recovery is, I believe, down to the amazing work and dedication of her consultant Dr John O’Sulivan and surgeons Massimo Griselli and Mr Asif Hasan. These guys spend 95% of their days thriving to get their patients well. Massimo, notably, was at Jemma’s bed 5 or 6 times a day through a 24 hour period. These guys are truly inspirational and deserve so much recognition for what they do. These guys are part of the Paediatric Heart Unit team at the Freeman which I feel I owe so much to. Despite Jemma being an adult, she was cared for by the team who had looked after her since she was a child so every single person who cared in Jemma knew her, and knew her well, her loss would have been as unbearable for them as for us.

Our family went through a terrible ordeal and these guys kept us together and kept us believing. 

Raising money for CHUF is important to me to help the patients and families have everything they need. Two things which drive me to raise money are worlds apart, but both affected me deeply. The ward only has one specialised hoist, so when Jemma didn't have use of her legs we couldn't move her from bed to chair easily. It can get really hot on the ward and yet there aren't enough fans to go around and when you are in bed these little comforts can make such a difference. The same applied to Tvs. Jemma ended up with one after her work colleagues donated 3 to the ward.

One of the memories I will never shake is watching the incredibly brave parents going down to the theatre with their poorly children lying on the bed, wondering if they would come back to them. It was heart wrenching every single time. These people need support in every way, big and small, and shouldn't have to worry if their children are too hot, have entertainment or if they can me moved out of their bed to sit in a chair or be washed. 

I couldn't be happier doing my bit.

I hope everyone can support me and my friends and family by donating money to this fantastic charity.

Michael Telford, Kirk Lishman, Paul Simpson, David Stubbs,  Lee Kerr, Neil Trenerry, David Bird, Steven Douglas, Davy Fullerton, Darren Bell and Eddy Simpson are doing the coast to coast from Whitehaven to Tynemouth on August Bank holiday weekend to raise as much money as possible for CHUF.