Ex-burns patient helps Charity deliver festive spirit across the hospital
At the end of May 2018 Elizabeth Sloane had a shocking allergic reaction to a prescribed medication that she had been taking for over 20 years which left her with a prolific rash and blisters all over her body, meaning she had to spend over two months at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
She said: “I was very distressed and in a lot of pain, at first I went into A&E but was soon moved onto the Burns Unit where I spent two and a half weeks before moving to Ward 513 for seven weeks.”
After spending almost all of summer in the hospital, Elizabeth has been giving back to the hospital that helped comfort her during one of the most distressing and painful times. She came into the hospital during the festive period to volunteer with the Charity and helped us deliver some of the festive hampers that were given out to the staff on the wards to share with the patients.
Elizabeth was able to give hampers to the staff that helped treat her on the Burns Unit and Ward 513. Talking about coming back to the hospital and being able to give the hampers out, she said: “It was lovely to be able to give the hampers to the wards where I was treated. It was just wonderful to see them all and I did recognise quite a few of them and they recognised me.
“I was really happy to help out and give something back because the care I received was fantastic and I just don’t think people can thank the staff enough for all of their hard work.”
The hampers are part of the Charity’s Christmas appeal to help bring festive spirit to the hospital over the Christmas period. It can be hard being in hospital and away from family during this time so being able to give the patients and staff a little something can really brighten their day.
Cathryn Worth, Fundraising Manager at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “It was so wonderful to have Elizabeth in to help us give out the hampers and it was so nice for her to be able to give the hampers to the staff that helped treat her.
“After seeing her whilst she was being treated to now, she looks like a completely different person. It’s amazing to see the impact the staff have on patients whilst they are in hospital and to give a little something back like this can bring a little bit of festive cheer to the hospital.”
To find out more about our Christmas appeal and how you can bring festive spirit to the hospital, please visit hospitalcharitychristmas.org.
Pictured: Elizabeth Sloane with the staff on the Burns Unit at QEHB.
