Story
I’ve written and rewritten this a few times - this is the short version!
UPDATE: Derek has decided to cycle the same distance on the exercise bike! Woohoo! 💪🏼💪🏼
I’m aiming to walk 281 miles over the next 10 weeks. Here’s why ⬇️❤️
As many of you know, in April 2024 our life turned upside down very suddenly. Following a bout of what we now know was ‘flu (Influenza A) and Strep A, Derek became extremely unwell and we almost lost him. We arrived at A&E in Caithness General for the second time in less than 16hrs and it didn’t take long for the staff to realise something was very wrong and that he needed treatment from further south. He was suffering from pneumonia and sepsis, was soon in multi-organ failure and was later found to also have necrotising fasciitis…
The amazing Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) from ScotSTAR flew north, prepared Derek for travel and took him safely to the ICU in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley. These guys were/are fabulous. The EMRS comes under the same umbrella as the air ambulance but although they work in conjunction with them, they are separate to the charity air ambulance. They were set up in 2004 by a group of 10 volunteer consultants from Paisley and Glasgow to improve critical care for patients in rural areas. They now fall under the NHS, but have a separate endowment fund which pays for any specialist training for their staff, over and above the mandatory training they undertake. Transferring patients that are so critically ill and unstable, as Derek was, takes great care and immense skill.
While I dropped everything at home to follow Derek to Paisley, my mum kindly looked after our kids. I will forever feel grateful to her for that, but also guilty that I wasn’t there for them in person during that time. Their dad was critically ill and fighting for his life 281 miles away. They worried and wondered about him every single minute of every day - and their mum wasn’t there to help them. It’s still heartbreaking writing this almost 2 years on. The ICU team of the Royal Alexandra Hospital are absolutely INCREDIBLE. They fought so hard for us all and achieved what they didn’t think was going to be possible - they saved Derek’s life. On top of that, they really looked after me too. There was always someone available with a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on. They cared about us as a family and were interested in the kids, showing compassion for our situation. During the pandemic, when families couldn’t be with their critically ill loved ones, the ICU Endowment fund provided teddies and keepsakes they could share with families. The lovely Michelle from the ICU team sent the kids each a beautiful hand knitted teddy wearing a cape with the words “a superhero has my back”, which had a pocket for a photo, as well as a lovely wee knitted heart. Derek had his own wee knitted heart too. Such a wonderful, simple gesture and one that made such a difference to the kids. Something they could hold on to and know their daddy was being cared for by the best. It gave them that wee bit of hope that they needed. Those teddies and hearts will be treasured forever.
As a small gesture of thanks we have chosen to raise some money for the EMRS Endowment fund and the Royal Alexandra ICU Endowment fund with the aim of helping other families who need some of the same support we did.
We have a wonderful community here and that was never more apparent than when Derek was in hospital. The support we received was truly incredible. I felt so held up by everyone when I absolutely needed it most and I can’t thank everyone enough for that. We’re asking for folk to get behind us again, this time to help us to say thank you to some of the medical crews behind us.
Any little that you can spare to help our fundraising will be very much appreciated.
Thanks for reading - as I said, this was the short version!
Lindz ❤️
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