"To every single one of you I send you my love and heartfelt gratitude"

In December I fell over a rubber safety mat I was moving and crashed head first into an iron gate post breaking my neck. From the very first seconds of my demise I was surrounded by lovely and caring people from the Nursery who were first on the scene.

Then the two Paramedics and the Ambulance team who stabilized me and got me to Stoke Mandeville. When I arrived I was taken to the Resuscitation Ward and from there to Ward 1.

Mr. Mahmood with his team took control of my care and the two operations I need to correct my broken neck. Mr. Mahmood explained every aspect of the procedures he would have to undertake; the good bits and the bad bits were discussed with my two sons and my wife. He answered all their questions in terms that they could understand. A few days later in December Mr. Mahmood performed the first operation; I believe it took 8 hours. The whole thing was complicated by my Ankolosing Spondilytus and a heart condition which requires a pacemaker. In the Intensive Care Unit I vaguely remember drifting in and out of consciousness as I came round from the operation. I remember Mr. Mahmood talking to me and the Intensive Care nurses wetting my lips with a sponge on a stick.

After a couple of days I was back in Ward 1 where I was nursed back to health in preparation for my second operation which was once again undertaken by Mr. Mahmood. This operation took 4 hours followed by the same care and professional nursing in the Intensive Care Unit and then to Ward 2 to recuperate in order to return home.

From the moment the Nursery Nurses telephoned for help and I was taken to Stoke Mandeville and Mr. Mahmood and his team took charge of my care, I received nothing but genuine loving care from a body of professionals who did not know me from Adam.

I am purposely not mentioning names for fear of forgetting anybody. From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank them all-the nurses who fed me when I could not feed myself, who took care of my personal hygiene when I was unable to get out of bed, the nurses who checked on me during those long nights when you feel very low and close to tears knowing just when to give your hand a little squeeze to reassure you.

I wold like to thank the catering staff and chap running the refreshment trolley who could not do enough for me. Nothing was too much trouble for them all.

In closing, my wife, my children, my grandchildren and I especially thank Mr. Mahmood and every single member of the team who given me the opportunity to keep getting stronger and enjoy the rest of my time with my family.

To every single one of you I send you my love and heartfelt gratitude for the amazing care you all showed me, a stranger to you all when I appeared in your midst desperate for your help. May your God bless you all keep you safe and you get all you desire out of life. I feel privileged to have met you all.

Thank you,

P. S. After 6 months I am still being cared for by Mr. Mahmood and his team at his outpatient clinic and making great progress. Once again thank you all.