Former patient backs UHB Charity’s Christmas appeal
Jeff Christie, a former patient at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, has lent his support to University Hospitals Birmingham Charity’s Christmas appeal, following his experience in hospital last Christmas.
Jeff, 61, was admitted to QEHB on 3 December 2019, and spent the next nine weeks at the hospital, recovering from the surgery that saved his life. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called a chordoma, which affects one in a million people. A form of bone cancer, the chordoma had manifested in his pelvis before growing into a large tumour.
Mr Anant Desai, Consultant Surgeon at QEHB, is one of the few people in the UK with the expertise to operate on chordoma tumours, and so Jeff travelled down from his home in Bolton to receive life-saving treatment in Birmingham.
The operation took 13 hours, and involved carefully removing the tumour which had wrapped around the sacrum bone. The operation was a success, although the nerves in Jeff’s pelvis that controlled his ability to go to the toilet were damaged beyond saving.
Jeff spent the next four days in Intensive Care before being transferred to Ward 317 where he spent the next nine weeks slowly recovering. Speaking of the surgery that saved his life, Jeff said: “I’m still here and still breathing. I have nothing but praise for everyone involved in my care in Birmingham.”
Visiting Jeff in hospital brought its challenges for Jeff’s family, with his wife Marguerite staying by his side during the week and his sons, Mark and Paul, visiting at the weekend with their partners Beth and Laura.
Jeff, middle, pictured with his family.
Speaking of the difference that his family made to him, Jeff said: “Without my family I wouldn’t be where I am now. I had a big operation, miles away from where I live and it plays on your mind. I couldn’t imagine my family not being there to support me.”
Jeff was not only supported by his family, but also by his dog, a cockapoo named Tess. Marguerite got permission for Tess to be allowed into the hospital to see Jeff, and she remained by his side during his long weeks of recovery.
He said: “Tess helped my wife and me through the darkest days of our lives. She is a therapy dog and we take her to the local hospice where she is loved by everyone, and during my time in hospital she was a huge source of comfort to me.”
Being in hospital over Christmas is never easy, and there is always an impact on families too. Marguerite said: “It was really challenging for all of the family being three hours from home. We knew that Jeff would be in for nine weeks when he went into hospital, but it took a toll on the family.
“Christmas is an emotional time, and a time for family. We stayed in Nuffield House in the Relatives’ Wing, and we managed to enjoy a Christmas dinner together. Christmas went out of the window for us, but seeing the trees and decorations, funded by the hospital charity, made such a difference.
“During that time we were in a bubble and life was on hold, but seeing the decorations and trees made the hospital feel more comfortable and it made it easier to be there.”
For Jeff, Christmas was a bit of a blur as he had contracted a urine infection, but the support that the staff and his family gave him helped him through. Speaking of the staff, he said: “I love them to bits. I was there for nine weeks and we built a strong bond over that time. I couldn’t have had better treatment. Over Christmas I was looked after, and my family were there with me.”
Each Christmas, UHB Charity raises funds to bring Christmas to its hospitals. This year, more than ever, the Charity needs your help to support its staff and patients over the festive period.
Charlotte Schofield, Director of Fundraising at UHB Charity, said: “Each year we are so grateful to our supporters and donors who help us to bring Christmas to the hospitals. Being able to decorate our hospitals helps to bring comfort to visitors like Marguerite and her family, helping to keep their spirits up at what is a difficult time.
“Thanks to the support that we receive, we are able to provide our staff with hampers of delicious food and drink to enjoy on Christmas Day, and with your support we will be able to do this again this year.
“Sadly, it is likely that our patients will not be able to be visited by their loved ones this year. We are more determined than ever to do more for our patients, including providing iPads so that they can stay in touch with their families via video chat. None of this would be possible without the support of our donors and fundraisers.”
Jeff said: “The staff all provided me with an incredible level of care, they were like a family to me during my time in hospital. I would encourage everyone to get involved in UHB Charity’s Christmas appeal, and help them to give something back to the amazing members of staff.”
There are so many ways that you can help UHB Charity this Christmas. You can buy Christmas cards or decorations from the online shop, take part in Festive Jumper Day or simply make a donation.