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Life saving treatment gives
couple their dream day
A newly wed has thanked staff at the
Royal Liverpool University Hospital for making her dream day a reality after her
husband defied all odds by surviving a rare, life threatening blood disorder.
54 year old Catherine Fletcher married 60 year old Graham Stansfield in their
local registry office in Burnley; 16 months after Graham was diagnosed with TTP
and given a 10% chance of survival.
TTP, or Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, is a rare disease that affects
around 6 to 8 people per million per year. The condition affects blood
circulation, whereby little clots form in blood vessels throughout the body.
This can limit the flow of oxygen to vital organs such as the brain, kidneys and
heart, causing organ failure, brain damage and stroke. Because the disease is so
rare it can sometimes be misdiagnosed and failure to treat the problem can be
devastating.
If left untreated, 90% of patients with TTP would die. The quicker the condition
is diagnosed and treated, the greater the patient's chances of survival.
One evening Graham, a former bricklayer, started to feel extremely tired and
unwell after finishing work. Following a visit to his local GP, he was admitted
to Blackburn General Hospital, where consultants started to suspect he might
have the disease.
As 1 of only 2 official specialist TTP centres in the UK, Graham was rushed
to the Royal where a dedicated TTP team were ready and waiting for his arrival.
Consultant and TTP Specialist Centre lead Dr Tina Dutt was one of the team
waiting for Graham. She said:- "When Graham arrived he was very
distressed. He deteriorated very quickly and we had to inform his partner
Catherine of how serious his condition was. There is very little awareness of
TTP, but it is vital that the disorder is treated urgently."
Graham's now-wife Catherine said:- "Staff told me he had a 20% chance of
survival. Later I found out they were trying to remain positive and his chances
were closer to 10%.
He had 2 cardiac arrests during the first 48 hours of treatment; if he'd have
had a third he probably wouldn't have left the hospital alive."
To treat the disorder, Graham underwent plasma exchange daily during his time in
hospital. Plasma exchange is a procedure that removes and then replaces plasma
in the blood with new plasma and greatly improves the chances of survival
following a TTP attack.
Dr Dutt said:- "Despite treatment Graham's condition failed to improve. It
was not clear whether the TTP had affected Graham's kidney, heart and brain
function irreversibly, but Catherine and the specialist team remained positive.
Graham spent a significant time in Intensive Care and we used a drug treatment
only a handful of people in the UK have received. This treatment meant Graham
was finally allowed to leave the hospital.
We see him as a miracle patient and I'm very proud of the TTP team's work and
commitment, as well as the couple's resilience over the past 16 months."
Following lengthy treatment, Graham left the Royal 12 weeks after he was first
admitted. As a side effect of the disorder, Graham is now partially sighted and
partially deaf, as well as requiring follow up with the Stroke Consultant for
long term neuropsychological effects.
Graham now visits the Royal on an almost
weekly basis and the couple regularly find time to go and see the staff from the TTP centre.
The couple are even looking at moving to Liverpool to be closer to the Royal.
Catherine said:- "We visit Tina, TTP specialist nurse Clare Kay Jones and
the rest of the TTP team roughly once a month, but someone is always around if
we need them, whether that's a five minute chat between clinic appointments or a
phone call if we're ever worried about anything.
I don't see them as a group of people who care for Graham anymore as they're
more like friends now. We even received a card on our wedding day signed by the
staff, which was so thoughtful."
Catherine and Graham married in August close to their home in Burnley; the same
day as Graham's 60th birthday. Catherine said:- "It was a small service,
with a few close friends and family. We had to put our honeymoon off for a few
weeks as we had rather a lot of appointments at the Royal. You could say our
first honeymoon was in Liverpool!
We didn't want the wedding to be anything big, but if it wasn't for the
treatment Graham received last year, I don't think we'd would both be here to
celebrate at all."
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Public welcome at Trust
board meeting SOUTHPORT
and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust will hold its next board meeting on
Wednesday, 7 October 2015, at 9am.
The meeting will be held in the Boardroom in Corporate Office at Southport
and Formby District General Hospital.
Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the meeting. Anyone
with a special requirement should contact the Trust in advance on:- 01704
704783.
The agenda will be available on the Trust website in advance of the meeting.
Supporting papers will be made available on the day.
Schools in Southport could win £1,500 for
their breakfast club SCHOOLS
in Southport could win up to £1,500 and other great prizes for their
pre-school club by entering the national Breakfast Club Awards.
89% of schools in the North West have a Breakfast Club which gives
schoolchildren the opportunity to get something to eat in the morning so
they go into the classroom with a full tummy and ready to learn.
The Kellogg's Breakfast Club Awards recognises these great clubs that are
running every morning across the UK and the people that make them happen.
A specialist panel of experts has been hand picked to judge the awards and
winner and runners up will be announced via a web broadcast on 9 November,
by the star of Educating Yorkshire, Matt Burton.
Each winning school will receive £1,500 for its Breakfast Club, with runners
up winning £500 and the 2015 Breakfast Club Awards Grand Winner receiving
£2,000. Winners will also be invited to attend an awards ceremony in The
Houses of Parliament.
Tonnes of other prizes will be given away too including George ASDA school
uniforms and Hasbro Gaming Bundles for winners and runners up.
Lindsay Graham, School Food and Health Advisor said:- "I am delighted
to help judge the 2015 Breakfast Club Awards. The contribution of Breakfast
Clubs to children's education is tremendous. They offer a great start to the
school day with a good breakfast which helps contribute to attendance,
wellbeing, concentration and achievement, all being vital components of
attainment.
They support working parents, feed hungry children, offer opportunities to
extend informal learning with activities and socialisation. I am really
looking forward to seeing this year's entries and would encourage schools
and community groups to enter and share their stories about their Breakfast
Clubs."
Kellogg's Breakfast Club Awards spokesperson Alison Last said:- "We're
pleased to announce the return of these awards. Not only do Breakfast Clubs
provide children with a friendly and relaxed environment in the morning, but
they also provide a lifeline for many parents who may not be able to work
without the ability to drop their children off at school a little earlier.
This year we're asking schools to nominate their club for our Breakfast Club
Awards, which hope to find the best clubs in the Country."
Kellogg's supports 2,500 breakfast clubs across the UK with training, cereal
donations and funding so that schools can run a sustainable pre-school club.
To find out more about each of the categories and to submit a Breakfast Club
entry, visit:-
Kelloggs.Co.UK/BreakfastClubAwards.
Entries close on 12 October 2015.
Don't miss out - Dobbies Southport to host
magical festive charity launch night
TO launch the Christmas shopping season and kick-start
its national Christmas charity partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust, the
leading garden centre retailer is hosting its annual Christmas Charity
Evening on Thursday, 8 October 2015, in Southport, from 5pm to 9pm.
Join Dobbies Southport, as they embark on their festive journey, bringing
Christmas to life through live demonstrations including 'How to decorate
your Christmas tree' and 'How to make a wreath'. There will be a
host of entertainment on offer from live musical performances to foodie
taste testers; and some great offers if you're looking to get a head start
on some of your Christmas shopping.
Tickets for Dobbies' Christmas Charity Night are £1 and include a mince pie
and mulled wine on arrival, with all ticket proceeds donated going to
Teenage Cancer Trust. Money raised will support hospital units funded by the
charity. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing
the best possible care and support for young people aged 13 to 24 diagnosed
with cancer.
Janet Eddon, Community Champion at Dobbies comments:- "We are thrilled
to be supporting Teenage Cancer Trust this year; we've pulled out all the
stops to make this our most successful Christmas charity partnership to date
with a special launch night planned. I'd encourage you to pop along for some
entertainment and to get inspired for the upcoming season."
The event takes place between 5pm and 9pm and tickets are available to
purchase both in advance at Dobbies as well as on arrival on the night.
Customers can also enjoy £10 off if they spend £50 or more on the night.
Dobbies' varied events calendar also includes a Ladies Night in November as
well the much anticipated event, Santa's arrival.
Christine Jason, Regional Fundraiser at Teenage Cancer Trust added:-
"We are looking forward to achieving great things through our Christmas
partnership with Dobbies. All the money raised will go towards our
specialist cancer units near to the stores and help support young people in
their local area as they go through their cancer journey. Christmas is a
time for giving so let's get the festivities started early and make this a
year to remember."
There are now 28 specialist Teenage Cancer Trust units in NHS hospitals
across the UK and the charity wants every young person with cancer to have
access to this specialist support, no matter where they live.
For more information visit:-
TeenageCancerTrust.Org.
For more information about Dobbies Charity Night please visit
Dobbies.Com.
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