Former RD&E patient raises over £1500 for unit which saved her life

A sponsored swim from a former patient at the RD&E has raised over £1500 for the department which saved her life.

Sue Bryant, from Tiverton, Devon, was admitted to the intensive care unit in 2013 after developing Miller Fisher Syndrome. The condition, which is a form of Guillain-Barré syndrome and affects the nervous system, left Sue with profound muscle weakness. After spending 10 days on the unit, she was eventually well enough to be discharged to a medical ward where her intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation continued.

Five years after being discharged from the hospital, Sue felt that it was the right time to say thank you to the department. She swam a mile in Tiverton Leisure centre, alongside her friend Shirley, raising a total of £1565.29.

Steve Bryant, Sue’s husband, said: “When my wife Sue was taken into intensive care it was obviously a traumatic time. The medical staff immediately kept us informed as to what was happening and as well as their professional care to Sue they never forgot the family waiting anxiously in the visitors room. With the expertise of the doctors and nurses, over the days, we witnessed Sue’s recovery.

“No amount of money can equate to what the ICU staff gave back to us but hopefully this money will help a little to those having to go through the RD&E Intensive Care Unit.”

Julie Purday, Senior Nurse for ITU Recovery, said: “I would like to thank Susan for her very generous donation to the Intensive Care Unit; we are delighted to see her looking so well. We are hoping to spend the money to redecorate our relatives sitting room to make it a more comfortable and pleasant environment.”