Vanessa's story

Vanessa is a fit and healthy 55yr old who works in the local area as a trained Counsellor. She is a dedicated and fun loving person with a vibrant and passionate approach to her work. She has helped many many people through some of the most difficult parts of their lives.

2 months ago she was found on the floor of her kitchen by her daughter who is about to leave for universtity, unconcious and bleeding from her head. She had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage from a brain aneurysm and was rushed to hospital where she undertook immediate open emergency brain surgery. The family were given a 10% chance of her survival and were told that if she did survive she would be in all likelihood completely paralysed down one side and unable to speak. She remained in a coma for two weeks.

She defied the odds

Her speech is perfectly intact and her wit, memory and personality is as it was. She has significant weakness down one side and is unable to walk although there is movement there and she is now in a dedicated neurorehabilitation centre after a traumatic time 6 weeks in an acute medical ward waiting for the precious rehabilitation bed she needed. Her house is not well suited for a wheelchair user and she has started to come home for visits to make the transition from hospital to home. Her husband is facing giving up work to care for her and her self employed work as a busy and highly respected counsellor has come to an abrupt end.

I would like to help fund an electric wheelchair for her to make her life better. It costs 70 pounds per week to hire. Thats it - making a donation in this case really makes a difference to one person right now.

I am running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October for King Edward VII's Hospital and would like to raise money in part for the Hospital but I want to help Vanessa - a dear friend and colleague.