"I was blessed to be under their care"

The care and compassion of my speech and language therapist requesting I come back after noticing a change in my voice in a voice message, led her to identify that I had a stroke. She gently encouraged me to attend the Emergency Department, and from there to admission and throughout my lengthy time in hospital, the care, professionalism, compassion and kindness I experienced from staff in Altnagelvin wards 24 and 40 was fantastic.

From domestic, auxiliary nurses, ward nurses, doctors, and not forgetting the  patience of the ward manager :) I cannot praise them highly enough. They continued to reinforce that things would improve. Naturally I also would like to thank the neurology staff who helped me see light at the end of the tunnel and with whom I am currently engaged. Having identified something was not just right they have been diligent in offering me time and space to come to terms with potential changes .

Furthermore the number of tests I undertook was amazing, all intended to give the clinical staff a steer in what I was encountering, and all those involved in carrying out those procedures, from the staff who took me to and from scans and x-rays to the staff who carried them out were exemplary.

All those staff I encountered whilst working in challenging conditions , always had time for a word, to check, are you ok?, is there anything you need?, a smile, an acknowledgement of my situation, a reassurance. Saints everyone :) I was blessed to be under their care and my family and I would like to thank each and every one of them.