"You saved my son's life and gave us hope."

Last year I presented at A&E in Crosshouse Hospital with what I thought was my son to be suffering from possibly chickenpox. However it turned out to be meningitis and septicaemia.

The care we received at A&E was so beautiful. The nurse who looked after us quickly worked out that my son was very unwell and we had no idea just how unwell he was. The nurse took a deep breath, calmly explained to us that we would be moved to the resuscitation unit and explained everything that would happen and then took our son though. This nurse stayed with us right throughout our A&E journey not only as a nurse but, in the first few hours, as a councillor a friend and some one to tell us exactly what was going to happen to our son. Unfortunately I can't remember your name but it will never be forgot, the care and respect you showed not only my son but myself and husband through our first 24 hours in A&E.

Once we had arrived at A&E a lovely Dr named Victoria acted quickly to work out what was going on, cannulate my son and get his medication into him. At all times speaking to my son on his wave length, showing him love and making sure myself and his dad knew exactly what was going on. This helped reduce our fears. Thank you so much for your quick thinking, not only did you save my sons life you gave us hope in them first few hours that we were in safe hands and our baby was going to make a quick recovery from his meningitis and septicaemia diagnoses we had got only minutes before.

On the ward 1a and b which my son stayed in as an in patient and outpatient, every one on was so kind and caring from the nurses who sat and watched TV with my son to the auxilliary that held my hand in the middle of the night when my son became so unwell. You all helped me to be strong and able to hold it together for him.

I also have to say thanks to the cleaning ladies who every few hours popped their head in and asked how my son was and, when he started to get better, played with him. Those few minutes and later conversations made us realise there were so many people thinking about our son. I truly believe ward 1a and 1b became a family to us in that time we spent in hospital.

A special thanks also had to go to Dr Oates who looked after our son in hospital and Dr Stains whose clinic he has attended. You have also shown great support to our son over the last few years and he is almost on the road to full recovery after a difficult year.

Thanks again