Mother and son fundraise for Cardiology at QEHB

Four years ago Becky Currie had a cardiac arrest when she was only 27, meaning she had to spend Christmas at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham without her son, Josh, but now they have both been fundraising for the department that saved her life.

Every family has Christmas Eve traditions and for Becky and Josh, that was opening Christmas Eve present boxes together, but Christmas 2014 was completely different as Becky was in theatre having her implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted and Josh was at home. Her device is capable of correcting most life-threating cardiac arrhythmias so has been keeping Becky safe and healthy since being discharged from hospital.

After being brought to QEHB, Becky said: “When I got here I just felt really safe. I remember the day I met Dr Marshall, he came in the room, sat next to me and was just like a normal person, not a doctor at the end of the bed.

“I knew as soon as I met him that the surgery was going to be absolutely fine. All of the staff was just amazing, Nick the ICD nurse and Rachel, Dr Marshall’s secretary, have been amazing from start to finish, even now I can call up with any problems and they will make sure everything is okay.”

To do a little something for the staff and department that saved her life, Becky and her son wanted to fundraise for the Cardiology Department where she was treated.

Becky held a birthday fundraiser where she asked family and friends to donate to her fundraiser instead of buying her presents and cards so she can help fund those added extras for patients just like her and for the team that treated her whilst she was in hospital.

Her 10 year old son, Josh, also wanted to raise money alongside Becky, he said: “I wanted to help raise some money because when Mommy was really poorly they made her better and the box that she has helps to keep her safe.”

Josh helped fundraise by making reindeer food cones and reindeer hot chocolate cones and sold them through Facebook and to family and friends!

Together, they raised a huge £345 for the Cardiology Department which will go towards added extras for patients just like Becky, and for the staff who helped treat her in the department.

To find out more about the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and how you can get involved and to donate, please click here.

Pictured: Nick Irwin, Becky Currie, Josh, Dr Howard Marshall