"exemplary care"

The time I spent on the floor of my flat, was the most traumatising time I've ever spent in my life. When I heard the voice of my sister and the banging of the police on my door. I cannot describe the relief that I felt. Also the shame as I knew that I was laying on the floor and had been unable to help myself. Despite trying to lift myself up off the floor but my leg was trapped under the radiator and although I had tried to drag myself and had thrown just about every shoe from the rack onto the wall and floor to get a neighbour's attention, it hadn't worked.

The police were so kind when speaking to me through the door and even though my sister was besides herself with worry they kept me calm and spoke to me and told me exactly what they were going to do to get access to me and asked me where I was in the flat and how far from the front door I was.

The paramedics, then took over, I think, I'm not sure what happened after that or what happened at the hospital. I do recall Monsuk( I think that's her name) being extremely kind and cleaning me as I had been laying in my own bodily fluids etc for the 3 days and extremely dehydrated, she was like an angel of kindness at that point especially when I had felt so alone for those 3 very very cold days.

The team at the QE hospital were amazing during my time in all of the wards. It was a very scary time for me as I had no idea what was happening despite being informed, it was very confusing and as it was during Covid-19 I had no family I could discuss what was happening with or seek guidance from. Thankfully the Consultant Dr Rhodes and the team within Haematology at QE were fantastic and provided loads of written information that allowed me to then carry out further research online and contact a medical researcher friend who helped.

When I was transferred to Crosshouse,the team within the Acute Stroke Unit were welcoming. The care from the nursing staff in addition to the Physio therapy team within the unit was exemplary.

During difficult times of Covid, it is hard to spend 3 months in hospital without contact from family or friends,. So your family become the staff and other patients within the wards.

You build a relationship with the staff. Although you are very pleased to be leaving the hospital when you go, you are sad to leave behind those bonds you have forged as you have wept and laughed with them for weeks.

I wept and laughed a lot with many of them I would not have survived had the Ward sister not had such fantastic staff. There are so many to thank. They all deserve my absolute gratitude for saving me, my sanity and helping me to walk again.

Of course the lovely Dr Ghosh, Dr Ravindrane and stroke specialist nurse Una.