"Biggest thank you"

This is the biggest thank you to all the Doctors and Nurses on the Cardiology Care Unit (ward 114) at the RIE.

My best friend who is a young woman had a Heart Attack, I couldn't believe it, id only spoken to her earlier that evening and she was absolutely fine, shes always been there for me, right from when we were kids and the person who we all turn to when we need advice, a hug or just a friendly smile to pick us up and here was the prospect of her not being around anymore, i have never been so scared or cried so much in all my life, despite the fact she reassured me she had got advice from NHS 24 and she had made her way to the RIE A&E, its still terrifying to think she was in some kind of pain or distress, just to hear the words Heart Attack is so scary and the fact its so sudden, she was honestly ok earlier in the evening and been at work all day, I cant believe how sudden this all was, I wouldn't have even got the chance to say goodbye if the worst had happened, it would leave the people behind absolutely devastated, thank you so much for making sure this didn't happen, what a cruel disease and horrible thing to happen to someone you care about, I feel so very lucky that she sought help and was very quickly under the care of the Doctors in the Cardiology Ward, I genuinely cannot thank you enough for saving her, and also us who all care about her, unimaginable grief.

The Doctors worked quickly and thank god you did, I don't know what I would have done if you had not been able to make her well again, I can't even comprehend that, you are amazing people saving lives and keeping people together. Thank you for all you done for her.

And thank you to all the lovely nurses, my friend mentioned how caring and helpful you all were and gave her so much information that helped her get through what was a really tough experience, you do such a fantastic job, your care and compassion made such a big impact on her time in hospital and has aided a very speedy recovery. Thank you to each and every one of you.

My friend mentioned the nurses, her consultant and doctors were all so supportive and she felt she was in safe hands, so again, its a big thank you to the doctors and nurses and her Consultant for caring for her and supporting her during her time on your ward.

I'm pleased to say she made a full recovery, she has had a bit of a fight with the diabetes diagnosis but shes been sensible and took the whole month of September out, she pulled herself out of social and friends stuff as well as all her work commitments so she could solely focus on her health, so whatever you Doctors said to her, pat yourselves on the back as thats unheard off that she takes time out for herself, shes usually busy looking after everyone else or busy with her job so this was no mean feat and whatever advice she got from her Doctors, she really has listened and put it into practice, which has been brilliant as, its now October and shes back, we can all see her again which is fab and shes back doing all the things she did before but with some major health and lifestyle changes and she says she feels the best shes ever felt, to look at her, you would never know what shes just been through, partly down to her hard work and determination but also massively down to your assessments, tests and treatment, without that she would not be here or feeling so positive.

Please keep up the AMAZING work you all so and thank you for treating my friend properly, as young women we often don't get the proper assessments or treatment or we just don't go to the Doctors, we just carry on, this happening just shows the importance of getting help but also getting in front of the right people who assess us and treat us quickly, as young woman we don't think about our hearts let alone talk about them (we do now though after this!) it is frightening that as young woman we can be at risk of heart disease, yet we have no awareness or testing or screening or anything for this, hopefully this is rectified in the not too distant future as my friend has been incredibly lucky because she sought advice and got herself to hospital, she has been lucky to have fantastic doctors who treated her quickly despite her age, not all young woman would think to do what she did as we think it will never happen to us or that we wouldn't get assessed properly because we are young and might not get the right treatment we need, but I have to say it is reassuring to know we have such a fantastic Heart Centre and wonderful Cardiologists, Nurses and Doctors at the Royal Infirmary to look after us when we become suddenly and unexpectedly ill and its been reassuring to all us young woman to see that our Doctors will assess us fully and get us the right treatment, despite our age, that's something really important all her friends have taken from this and has made us feel confident in the future should we need to seek medical assistance, thank you for that.

I was able to give her the biggest hug when I saw her and it felt amazing just to be able to see her again, I like to think of my best friend being like a four leaf clover, they are hard to find but when you find one, they are lucky to have and you hold on to them ........ thank you for saving my bestie meaning i don't have to say goodbye. You are all amazing at what you do.

Grateful to you all on ward 114 xx