Bec T.

I was taken into hospital on 23rd August 2016 with severe abdominal pain vomiting and severe diarrhoea. O arrival at A and E, having had ketamine for the pain on the way (only a 5 min journey from my house to New cross hospital), I was seen in majors and sent for an X-ray. Within 5 minutes of the X-ray, I was being wheeled into resus bed 1 where I was asked to sign a yellow form for surgery and was put on two fluid drips and had a catheter inserted. I can remember being very dry and asking for a drink.

The next I remember it was the 18th September and I’m being woken up in ITU by two fabulous staff telling me that I had an ileostomy bag in situ, due to a perforated bowel, sepsis, peritonitis, and neuroendocrine cancer of my small bowel! (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) What a bolt from the blue I only went in with a 24-hour bug or so I thought! I spent another 4 months on the surgical ward before being allowed home.

December 2016 – I have now had the iloestomy reversed and continue my cancer treatment daily with district nursing services. I owe my life to the staff at New Cross and will be forever grateful as I only had a 20% chance of survival initially. Thanks for reading.