Gordon Ellison

I came home from work on 28th August 2015, had not felt great all day.  I was 58 years old. I just lay about the whole weekend. On the Monday, my wife insisted I see a doctor, she drove me to the surgery where a young doctor examined me and listened to my chest. I don’t recall having breathing difficulties, just felt bad. He advised I go straight to the ER/A&E.

I vaguely remember getting there and being pushed along on a trolley and being given O2. I was taken to a chest ward. My wife was told I had pneumonia and may be in until Friday. (Sepsis and Pneumonia) The rest of my family gathered and although concerned, not overly worried about my future. They all went home stopping en route for a Chinese meal. Sometime during the night as described by the consultant, I “fell off a cliff.” I was rushed to the ICU and my family was advised to gather. They were told that things are not looking good, if you have beliefs, consider bringing your minister or priest. My family had to repeat this ordeal several times in the coming weeks. I had developed sepsis.

I spent the next 103 days in ICU, 49 of which in a coma, 90 days on a ventilator, I eventually got home 70 pounds lighter on Christmas Eve, in a wheel chair. Good Christmas eh! My eldest son kept a journal of our journey, very emotional reading, from it the term “Maxed out,” and “in a deep hole” was used often by the medical team. I was placed prone on two occasions, placed face down, which was quite a feat considering I had 30+ wires and tubes coming in and out of me. Apparently this procedure carried the risk of eye damage but as stated previously the team was maxed out.

With a lot of support and physio, and love from my family. I believe 18 months down the line I’m 95% back to where I was. I am now a Red Cross ambulance driver. I can never repay what I owe to all the medical staff involved in my treatment.

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