Heart patient reflects on Christmas in hospital
Mark Atherton is currently on the waiting list for a heart transplant, and has lived with a device that keeps his heart beating for the past three years, after having the life-saving device installed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
In late 2016, Mark was diagnosed with heart failure and was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Doctors soon realised that Mark needed the device known as an LVAD to keep him alive and was taken for surgery to have the device installed.
The surgery was a success and Mark spent time recovering from the surgery in hospital. Mark’s recovery took a little longer than expected, which meant that his Christmas was spent in hospital.
He said: “It had been an incredibly difficult time. My consultant was hoping to have me out by Christmas but my healing needed just that little bit longer. My daughter, Victoria, had been with me every day since I had been in hospital, but I told her she must go home for Christmas and spend it with her family.
“It was difficult but the right thing to do. The situation was made so much easier by the amazing staff at the hospital, and the hard work and fundraising from the hospital charity that goes into bringing Christmas to the hospital.
“In 50 years never had I felt such emotion as when I had a lovely volunteer take me down to a service in the Faith Centre and I saw the large Christmas trees in the atrium for the first time.
“Every time I was taken somewhere and saw the trees outside the lifts they made me smile. The choirs that sung in the hospital were just lovely and so uplifting.”
Mark’s Christmas Day was made special thanks to a visit from Father Christmas and Christmas goodies including treats to eat.
Mark pictured with Father Christmas
Mark said: “I’m afraid I don’t have the words to do justice to the incredible work everyone puts in to the hospital, from the amazing surgeons and medical staff, all the ancillary staff and the volunteers. It might sound strange but it was one of the best Christmases I have ever had.”
Mark was discharged from hospital on New Year’s Eve, and was able to see in the New Year with his daughter Victoria, his son-in-law and his grandchildren.
Cathryn Worth, Fundraising Manager at QEHB Charity, said: “A huge thank you goes to Mark for sharing his amazing story with us. It is so wonderful to hear a first-hand account of the difference that charitable funding makes to patients at the hospital over Christmas.
“We are proud to make a difference to patients, staff and their families at Christmas, and this is only possible thanks to the incredible support that we receive from our donors and supporters each year.”
You can help us bring Christmas to the hospital this year by buying a gift from our ‘Virtual Shop’ for a patient at the hospital. Whether you pick a toy for a child or an activity for an older person, you can bring some Christmas magic to the hospital.
Click here to buy a Virtual Gift for a patient this Christmas.