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In February 2021 we aim to walk every day and achieve 100 miles during the month, in aid of the Worcester Acute Intensive Care Unit.

Gary's story:
Now comes the hard bit, explaining why I am doing this and why it is a challenge (I don't easily share personal stuff about me)

A year ago, February 18th 2020 to be precise, I woke up and saw my wife Cathy off to work like any other day. Shortly after, I experienced a sharp, lingering pain in my stomach. It was an extreme pain rendering me helpless, so much so that when my wife rang, I was in so much pain I couldn’t speak. Somehow I managed to call an ambulance, this was not an easy call for me as it meant giving into pain, not something I do readily.

The ambulance arrived, I am not sure how long they took as real time disappeared and now excruciating pain time took over. These guys were the start of the most amazing care I received. The paramedics explained they thought I was suffering from acute pancreatitis and rushed me into Worcester Hospital. At the same time, Cathy had realised something was wrong and was heading home, before speaking to the paramedic to find out where I was being taken, as I still couldn’t speak on the phone.

At this point things became a blur due to drugs, pain and just not being connected to the planet.

During the time I was out of it I suffered pneumonia (a common side effect I believe) was put onto a ventilator, hooked up to just about every body function monitor known to man and put into an induced coma. Cathy was told I had less than a 40% chance of survival by one of the many specialist doctors in Worcester’s Intensive Care Unit.

The doctors and nurses fought for 11 days to get me to a point where I was strong enough and could be brought out of the coma. For the next few days I was in and out of consciousness and whenever I opened my eyes, one or more of my support team was there, my wife, my sister, my daughters or my grandchildren. This was just pre COVID and visitors were allowed, this was so helpful.

The care and compassion I received from doctors, nurses and even the cleaning and auxiliary staff was simply exemplary. Nothing was too much trouble or inconvenient. Even when I found it hard to eat they brought me the "ethnic menu" which suited my tastes much better!

Through the next few days things got much better but my resolve was to get home at all costs.

Came the time when I was able to leave the hospital (and this is why this walk is a challenge) - at this point I still could not stand long enough to brush my teeth and shower. When I left hospital, a porter wheeled me to the car and it was as much as I could do to walk the 4 steps to get in the car, but I made it and now 1 year later I am looking at walking 100 miles, yes 100 miles is a challenge.

The experience has not left me unscathed unfortunately, I am now an Insulin-dependant diabetic, I still suffer some nerve damage in my right leg foot and left foot but I will do this challenge, because it is time to pay something back to the NHS.

I also had cancer a few years ago, which has left me with bones missing from my left shoulder, no wonder Cathy calls me a medical miracle!

Thanks for reading this far and I hope you will feel able to support this great charity as it will help me to get through my challenge of walking 100 miles in February.