Transplant patient fundraises for over a decade to thank team that saved her
(Pictured: Nicola Merry and Michael Tivey)
Nicola Merry, a 36-year-old from Cinderford, has raised more than £30,000 to thank the team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham’s liver unit for saving her life.
While travelling Europe with her husband Paul in 2001, Nicola began to feel ill. Upon returning to the UK for tests, the couple were shocked to hear that Nicola had epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and needed a liver transplant within six weeks.
This rare form of cancer had only 33 recorded cases worldwide at the time of Nicola’s diagnosis.
Nowadays, over a decade since the life-saving transplant, Nicola’s health is much better. She has to come to both the QE and Gloucester hospital annually for check-ups, as well as having blood tests quarterly with her GP.
Over the past two years, Nicola has organised and taken part in many events to raise funds for QEHB Charity. She has held a sponsored walk from her home to Gloucester Hospital, as well as holding a charity night in memory of friend Kate Jakes, who tragically passed away on 7th August 2015 while on the transplant waiting list.
Nicola is also in the process of trying to set up a ‘transplant buddies’ group, a support network where she will talk to patients both pre and post-transplant.
Since 2003, Nicola has raised £32,000 for QEHB Charity and cancer charities such as ‘Hope for Tomorrow’. Wednesday 7th October 2015 saw her donate a further £2,924 to QEHB Charity to help fund an NRP machine. This machine keeps organs alive for up to three days by keeping the donor’s blood perfused throughout.
Michael Tivey, Fundraising Officer at QEHB Charity, said: “Nicola is such an inspiration. Her determination to help both staff and patients at the QE is amazing, and on behalf of the charity I want to thank her for all she has done.”
Nicola wants to thank her husband Paul, family, and friends for their steadfast support over the years.
