"Life-saving emergency surgery"

I was taken ill in September while I was on holiday with my husband in St Agnes. I was blue-lighted by ambulance, and after a VERY long wait in A& E it was discovered that I had a major abdominal problem.

Mr Lidder, Colorectal Consultant was called in from home, and he made the decision that I was perilously close to the point of no return and I was rushed to Theatre. I awoke many hours later with a 12 inch vertical abdominal incision and a Colostomy.

Mr Lidder had found that my Bowel abscessed and perforated, and I had 4 quadrant Peritonitis - I was later told that there was only a 10% chance of survival from the surgery and Peritonitis. He removed my Sigmoid Colon, cleaned me out and performed a Colostomy.

I spent a week in Critical Care, and a further 2 weeks on Pendennis ward. I went on to develop Pneumonia and Pleural Effusion which complicated my recovery but the care of 2 nurses in particular, Jo and Jess, and the wonderful Stoma nurse Jackie, I was eventually able to be discharged to our holiday accommodation, and then subsequently home, over 300 miles away.