Lisa Matthews from Plymstock has a story that highlights how life can change dramatically in the space of a day.
Friday April 8 was a normal day for Lisa at her job as SEN team leader at Plymstock School. Later, she was relaxing at a friend’s house like many Friday evenings, but on arrival she felt ill almost immediately and knew there was something seriously wrong.
Lisa, who is 51, said:
“I lay on the sofa and started to feel really strange, almost cocooned within myself. My neck began to hurt really badly and my head was unbelievably painful. I asked my friend to call for an ambulance. As I waited, I felt burning hot and my neck felt on fire. I was told the ambulance couldn’t come straight away as they had priorities elsewhere, but as I deteriorated they rang back and an ambulance was sent.”
Later that night, a bleed on the brain, a subarachnoid haemorrhage, was identified. Lisa had two emergency surgeries over the next 24 hours. The next three days were spent in intensive care where Lisa’s life hung in the balance. Her family were warned that she was in a life-threatening condition. For quite some time she was unable to do anything for herself and could not even communicate.
However, being a fighter, Lisa survived. On the May 4 she moved to Mount Gould Hospital to start a long period of rehabilitation, then returned to Derriford to have a shunt fitted to keep fluid from the brain. Two weeks later she was able to return to Mt Gould where she stayed until she could return home, three months after initially being taken ill. She has amazed everyone with her fantastic progress.
Lisa has now taken the opportunity to pass on huge thank yous to the NHS staff who have saved her life and cared for her.
“I want to pay tribute to the staff at Mount Gould who worked so hard to take me from the sick person I was on arrival, to prepare me for life at home again. Kate, one of the wonderful nurses, said to me: ‘Derriford saved your life, we are going to give you your life back,’ and with kindness and patience, this is what they did.”
“Sometimes, I needed staff to be strict with me, and sometimes to care gently. They coped with me when drugs made my behaviour difficult. They even went the extra mile to paint my nails and stop for a chat and a laugh. The staff care about every patient’s dignity. Rehabilitation is more than just getting your body working again,” says Lisa, “it is the rebuilding of every part of your life.”
The team worked tirelessly to help Lisa recover. She will never forget their kindness, good humour and professional care.
Lisa’s experience has had a profound effect on her.
“I was always quite stressed at work and lived life ‘very full on’ and now I’ve seen the value of taking life a bit slower, making time for the people I love and the things I enjoy.”
Lisa said she has re-found her faith during this period of her life.
She explained:
“There were two moments in particular when my life nearly ended. I was told by staff that I shouldn’t be here after the severity of the trauma. Also, I made it out of hospital several weeks earlier than they thought I would and I am convinced that a higher power was there for me.”
Lisa now has a sense that God was watching over her and there is a purpose in her life being saved. She still has questions, but also a profound belief that something bigger is behind the opportunity she has to go on living. Although there is still a way to go with her recovery, Lisa has a new sense of gratitude for each day and for all of the people around her who have helped her and loved her through this traumatic, but ultimately, enriching time.
