KCHC Annual Review 2023-24 WEB Singles - Flipbook - Page 26
Thank you to all our donors
Thank you to all our donors
We are indebted to our wonderful supporters whose generosity has
enabled us to transform patient treatment and care, support busy
sta昀昀 and fund research and equipment above and beyond what the
NHS is able to provide. Thank you.
David’s story
David Gunns raised £2,365 for King’s College Hospital
Charity to say thank you to King’s for saving his mum’s
life.
In January 2022, 70-year-old Barbara Gunns was walking
home when she was hit by a car. Suffering catastrophic
injuries to her face and body, including multiple open
fractures, she was rushed to the new critical care centre
at King’s that the Charity helped fund.
Following several complex surgeries, Barbara spent the
next four weeks in a medically induced coma. David said
that the family was told that her injuries were so severe
there was a chance she might not wake up.
David and Margaret at Park
Run on Christmas Day;
(inset) David celebrating
with his mum Margaret
and dad Brian at home.
“The four weeks she was in the critical care centre really
sticks out in my mind as being remarkable. I’ve never
seen so many machines in my life and every member of
staff was an expert who knew exactly how to respond to
mum’s very complex needs,” says David.
She had 24 hour one-to-one care from
the most incredible people. They were
relentless in their e昀昀orts to aid her
recovery.”
After a month, the doctors were able to bring Barbara
out of the coma and she spent the next five weeks
relearning how to sit up, walk and even swallow food.
“Against all odds, mum was discharged,” says David.
With help from King’s, rehabilitation services were put
in place at home and Barbara went from strength to
strength.
To be looked a昀琀er in such a way that she
could come back and live a near-normal
life – this is probably the closest thing to
a miracle that I have seen.”
“On Christmas Day – almost a year after the accident – we
ran a 5K Parkrun together. It was a really special day. And
I thought, if she can do 5K, the least I can do is run 42.2K
to say thank you.”
In April 2024, despite never having run a marathon or
raised money for a charity before, David completed the
Brighton Marathon and raised an impressive £2,365 for
King’s College Hospital Charity.
It is thanks to the generosity of fundraisers like David
that we were able to contribute almost £1M towards this
state-of-the-art critical care centre. Their support helps
ensure patients like Barbara have access to some of the
best care, expertise and technology in the country.
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S U P P O R T K I N G S .O R G .U K
