In November of my first year of college my Mum was emitted to hospital to have an Acoustic Nueroma removed (a tumour, situated where the acoustic nerve connects to the brain), this meant 13 hours of brain surgery however all went well and we were told she would be in hospital for around a month.

 

A week later, she had picked up an infection and had to have drains placed into her head, she spent the next two months in and out of a coma, having more surgery and living in intensive care. In total she spent 11 months in hospital before coming home. For the next year she needed help doing most things and relied on either myself or a carer doing pretty much everything. With the help of some more physiotherapy she was slowly recovering and getting back to a nearly normal life.

 

Unfortunately, last autumn she needed more surgery, to adjust the drains in her head and clear a blockage in her spinal cord. After a successful operation, she is slowly recovering but will again need intense physiotherapy to get her back on her feet.

 

Although the surgeons in Southampton where obviously very important in my Mum's care, perhaps the next most important part of her treatment was the time she spent in a small hospital in the middle of Bath. This is where she did the majority of her rehabilitation; she arrived there barely able to walk more than a few steps and needing support the whole time. She spent 5 months there and when she left she was able to walk un-supported, make herself a drink and talk and write again.

 

The hospital is the RNHRD (Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases) aka "The Mineral Hospital" and is on the high street in Bath just up the road from the Westgate. You could walk past it and not even realise that there is a hospital there. They are one of the best places in the country for the type of rehab my mum needed. One of the reasons is because they are able to take patients out into Bath to experience normal life again, furthermore they have a small courtyard garden and many patients spend time in here to get a break from the sterile environment in the hospital ward.

 

Seven others from the University of Bath Hockey Men’s 5th team and I; are aiming to raise £1000 for the RNHRD by running the Bath Half and would be very appreciative of any contributions, no matter how small.  The money we raise will help this unique hospital buy equipment to help patients like my Mum and continue to provide the personal care she was so lucky to receive

 

With my Mum still in hospital and again in a position where she needs personal and tailored care, any amount of money we could raise would make a massive difference to everyone at the hospital, my Mum and me.