"Very special people"

I had a stroke and was taken into Forth Valley for treatment and care. 

This is about the staff in ward B21 and the physio team who deal with the stroke patients.

Every single member of staff, without exception, was amazing. Whatever colour of uniform they were wearing, each and every one of them showed not just me but everybody on the ward- including visitors as well as patients- respect and courtesy, genuine levels of care, and the highest level of professionalism. And that is just the beginning.

I would never have believed it possible to enjoy a stay in hospital, but the un-wavering good-naturedness and constant humour made the whole experience extremely positive. Whether medical or non-medical, every single one of the staff was helpful and considerate and kind, and I became surprisingly fond of many of them in a very short time.

That's my own story; what I saw with regards to other people completely blew me away. 

I watched people under extreme pressure show levels of compassion and patience that I genuinely didn't know human beings were capable of- I know I could not do what these people do, day in day out. I have always been impressed with NHS staff, but these people are a step beyond anything I have ever seen. They don't just go the extra mile, that extra mile is built into their team in way that makes it natural and is so smoothly done that it is often invisible.  And when there is an extra extra mile, they will take that completely in stride and do it as a matter of course without even thinking about it.

The staff of ward B21 are very special people, the best people, people who operate on a level of humanity and compassion most of us will never truly understand. My regard and respect for them goes way further than appreciating the care they gave me- they also gave me a new perspective on humanity itself. Honestly, as horrible a thing as having a stroke is, it was almost worth it to meet these people. A massive thank-you to all. I will always be grateful to them.