As most of you will know (but some may not) April 24th 2024 marks 5 years since I was admitted into hospital with meningitis.

I was extremely poorly and literally in a life or death situation, as the consultant told me if I'd not gone to hospital when I did, I would most likely have slipped into a coma in my sleep and potentially never woken up.

Thanks to an amazing friend taking me straight to hospital from work (even though I asked to go home) and the fast-thinking Dr's in A&E who treated me with antibiotics despite not knowing at first what was wrong with me, I'm here.

After numerous scans, blood tests/cultures and almost 3 long weeks in hospital, spending at least 20 hours per day on a drip (sometimes more) I made it home for Thea's first birthday with days to spare.

I had a long recovery ahead given the many side effects I was left with, but I finally managed to return to work 5 months later in September 2019. Over the 9.5 years I have worked for the NHS (almost 7 years of that at this Trust) I have seen first hand, as well as experienced myself on more than one occasion, the care the doctors and nurses provide.

Not long after I returned to work I wrote a bucket list of things I wanted to do in my life and am so lucky to have been ticking them off over the past 5 years. The biggest thing on the list by far for me, was a skydive!

So.....

Two days before my 27th birthday (26th April 2024) I will be completing a sponsored tandem skydive from 15,000 feet in aid of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity.

I am so excited to do this! I have set an initial fundraising target of £500, £100 for every year since it happened. I would really appreciate any sponsorship at all, even £1 makes a difference.

Alongside this, on 27th April I will be holding a raffle in order to increase the fundraising and raffle tickets will be available soon. If you know anyone who would be happy to donate raffle prizes please do put them in touch with me.

Thank you SO much if you got this far, and here is to jumping out of a plane 🤣