Mr. Derek R. SMART. B.Eng. Hons
derek7855@gmail.com
To All the Staff on Ward D4,
How do I thank our human angels, like you all are. Anything I say just does not reflect upon that gratitude I feel in my heart. I sat here contemplating how I feel but, please, just imagine if you did not do what you do as well as you do it if there were no banter. How miserable I would be by the time you would carefully put me to bed. How much longer would it take for me to heal. How much depression would I have to endure. I love you all very much, you shut my window in the middle of the night when I am cold, you sit me on the toilet when I need to go, you wash and dress me, feed me and medicate me, you make sure I have pee bottles to last all night, and you bring me my food to my bed. Yes, you are paid to do that but nowhere near what you deserve. Yet you are such lovely people who wears a smile whenever you open the door of the hospital. How on earth do you always seem so happy, imagine how the ambience in the ward would be affected if you were not. You may or may not be religious, it does not matter either way because it is pretty clear to see that you are like angels who seem to want to care for people you do not know or have any connection to. Strangers. Who pass in the night but needs your help All individuals with the same goal. To have a listening ear and to care. Like the gentle giant, Lewis, who was always willing to help me. Lisa, the OT, with the face full of adventure that was always smiling and, therefore, motivating. When I hesitantly moved from a bay to a cubicle, she assured me that I would like it better. She was, of course, right. Kerry, such an interesting and likeable man that regularly brought me the peddle machine to work out on and wake me in the mornings to teach me how to wash, Louise, who got me a haircut, gave me a manicure and took me to the ward Christmas Carol Service. All three a are factors in my recovery. The physios, the people that taught me how to stand and walk and flex my arm and hand. Meg, Jordan, the lovely Elephant girl (such a very professional and lovely girl) Sharlot, oh how wonderful she was. She set everything up for me to come home, but most importantly, she listened to me and talked words full of wisdom to me, told it as it was. Such an asset to the ward. The student whose name, sadly, I forget. She was always smiling and talking to me, willing to learn, so helpful, showed me how to shower and will make an excellent professional. And the tall, dark haired young man, whose name I forget again. He came to see me on the morning I left to wish me well. A really nice young man. All miracle makers who help to build and heal damaged Neuroplasticity paths and encouraged new pathways. A miracle is an event that happen without explanation or cause. It is well known that it happens but is unexplain as to why or how it happens. A miracle. Physiotherapists help the brain to make hew neurological pathways. All miracle makers who help to build and heal damaged Neuroplasticity paths and encouraged new pathway’s. A miracle is an event that happen without explanation or Cause. It is known that it happens but Is Unexplained why or how it happens. A miracle
Then there issuing our nurses in charge of each Ward. I cannot say enough good about them. Every single one of them. The nurse who booked me into the hospital was so kind and caring. I was so worried about moving from Bridgend to Tonypandy but she made things so much better. I think her name was Natalie. There was a young girl that I nearly accidentally stabbed with my insulin needle. I really liked her a lot. She made me feel like a friend rather than a patient, everyone did. There was one girl who had come to give me my tablet several times before I suddenly realise that she was incredibly pretty. I am to old to be intimidated by good looking girls but I will never be to old to appreciate beauty when I see it. She was pretty. She would make sure I had biscuits at night just in case my sugars plummeted. There was also a young Indian girl, who only looked like she was 14. She treated me like her granddad and was extremely professional at her job. Such a respectable young girl. I really liked her a lot. She made me feel like a friend rather than a patient, everyone did. She was in charge of the whole ward and did such a good job of it. Really, really lovely girl. There was one who loved her job and just cared so much about the patients she cared for. I wish I could remember her name. Such a lovely person. She used to ask me to give her my blood sugar reading from my Libra. Oĥ and there was the one I talked about the Chinese in Aberkenfig. She helped me sleep at night by being so professional. I knew she would look after us. She had such a beautiful loud Welsh accent and brought her own disinfectant spray in to work. Such a lovely character. If there must be a favourite, I had three. The Farmhouse Cake woman who always went the extra mile. She would put moisturising cream on my itchy spots when she put me to bed. She spoilt me, literally. Whenever I heard her voice when she came onto shift I would smile to myself in delight. I thought the world of her. She was my friend, my sister And the nurse who helped Kay and I leave the ward. I was on my way to the toilet one day with the BBC radio 2 nurse with a huge smile, when my leg gave out and I stumbled against the wall. Immediately she shouted for help and in seconds that nurse was there calmly and professionally helping me stand back up. She always made sure I had my 3 pee bottles at night. Such a conscientious nurse as was the lady in pig tales who spoilt me rotten. She listened to me one day when I was sad and cheered me up. And then of course there was my best friend, Wendy. She will not accept my accolade to her because she is so humble, but she motivated me by celebrating every single progression I made with my left arm. I feel so honoured to have met her and befriended her. Lastly, and by no means the least was the catering staff and the cleaners, and in particular I am very fond of Lisa and Lorna, The were both close friends to me. But they were all lovely people who were as important to my recovery as anyone else that worked in the hospital. I can go on and on. I loved you all without exception. I never had a bad word with any of you in 9 weeks. I do not believe I would have progressed so fast without all of you. Such a nice group of people who I do not think I will ever meet again, which is why I have written to you all. I must thank each and everyone of you for all of you being there for me. Not forgetting my friend, the joker, who looked after me at night and Kevin who cheered me up no end. Lastly and by no means lest was Lisa. She gave me a stroke book, an exercise ribbon and a fountain pen top up with many servings of good honest advice. I would listen out for her voice in the mornings saying good morning Derek” she would instantly raise my mood and put a smile on my face. I actually looked forward to seeing her. She would complain that she was going through the menopause and laugh about it but my wife went through the menopause and they are not kind to you yet she was enduring it with a smile on her face. Such a figure of motivation. If there is anyone I have missed, like the fluent Welsh speaker, then please accept my apology. I loved you all and will never forget how much easier you made my time in hospital for me. I will never forget you all.
A special thank you to Wendy. She does not like praise but for what she did for me she deserves it. She got the miracle of neuroplasticity working in my left hand. I know i must have contribute but she got me to believe in myself so much that the process began to newest. She listened to what i ha to say about my stroke, and i needed that. She is too humble to be gratuitous Lots of love and kisses
Derek
Sent from Outlook for Android
We Did Our Best 