It's the patients of Cambridge University Hospitals that inspire ACT's work. ACT believes that every patient deserves the best possible care available, and we're delighted to be able to make this reality by providing extras over and above the level of care that the NHS provides. It is always an honour to meet the patients who benefit from the support of so many generous people.
Here are just a few of them who have benefitted from and supported our fundraising efforts.
Anne-Marie Farrer
In 2005 Anne-Marie spent her 28th birthday in surgery for a brain haemorrhage. Following the surgery she was rushed to the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) as further problems developed overnight. On a life support machine for almost two weeks Anne-Marie eventually came round and was able to communicate with family, friends and the medical team. Anne-Marie said: "I was looked after every minute of every day in NCCU until I was well enough to be taken up to a ward. My birthday is something to celebrate; for myself, my family and friends and the amazing team at NCCU. Without all of those people I would not be here today."
Peggy Rose
Peggy was 60 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She attended the Cambridge Breast Unit for a routine mammogram and two weeks later she received a call asking for her to return for another mammogram and ultrasound; Peggy needed to have a mastectomy on her left breast and a lump removed from her right breast. Peggy considers herself very lucky that the cancer was caught at an early stage despite initial worries about what to tell her family. She said: "The Breast Unit has been absolutely brilliant to me. The staff are so supportive. Even though they are very busy they act like they have all the time in the world to help you, even the doctors. It makes you feel special."
Sam Chapman
Sam Chapman was nearly three when he contracted chickenpox which developed into a rare complication, resulting in septic shock, septicaemia and cellulitus. Sam was rushed to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Addenbrooke’s where he spent eight days on a ventilator. Thanks to the care he received in the days and weeks that followed, Sam made excellent progress. Today he is a thriving teenager who enjoys playing county cricket. His dad Robert said: “All you can do is put your hope in those people on the unit and leave them to do what it is they do. And they were brilliant. We couldn’t speak more highly of them.”
Ian Smith
On 23 December 2008 Ian Smith, from Grimsby, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Ian opted to attend Addenbrooke’s for state-of-the-art robotic keyhole surgery (made possible with charitable funding) to remove his prostate, which minimises the chances of side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Thank to the robotic surgery the cancer was gone and within three weeks Ian was back at work. Ian said: “I was so lucky. When I was given the choice of conventional open surgery at my local hospital or robotic surgery at Addenbrooke’s, it was a no brainer. The care I received was faultless at every level.”
Delia Swann
When a terrifying car accident left 26-year-old Delia Swann in a coma, she wasn’t expected to survive. But world-class care at Addenbrooke’s gave her a second chance.
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