Hello,
About a month ago, me and my family got the devastating news that my cousin had been taken critically ill very suddenly and was being cared for in a major London hospital. 13 days later, we were given the heart-breaking news that she had passed away. This is a kind of pain I have never felt, an emptiness. She was leading an extremely healthy lifestyle when suddenly her organs were attacked by a virus that can attack anyone.
I haven't written a blog post in a very very long time, but blogging was one of Katie's main interests and she ran a successful blog of her own ( www.oce4nblue.blogspot.co.uk )
Katie inspired me and many others in different ways. She was the most beautiful, genuine young woman I had ever encountered in my life. But this post is not about grief, it is about helping.
While in hospital, Katie had to go through a large amount of blood transfusions. These could not be carried out without blood donors. Please, if you are of the legal age and are able to give blood (you can check the requirements at www.blood.co.uk ) do it. You never know when you or a loved one many need it. Blood donations are an essential part of our healthcare system. Doctors and surgeons rely on blood donations to carry out life-saving and life-enhancing treatments every day. You can find out more about giving blood on the website: www.blood.co.uk.
Katie spent her time in hospital in the amazing care of the Liver Intensive Therapy Unit and King's College Hospital in London. From what I have heard, they were incredibly helpful and supportive and keen on helping all of their patients to recover. This unit is a unique specialist facility with a worldwide reputation for it's care of critically ill patients. The unit treats more than 600 patients every year, some a local and some are international. The ward includes 15 beds for critically ill liver patients and 4 beds for high-dependency patients. I am not 100% sure where donations for the unit can be made, me and my family are currently trying to find out.
The last place you can donate is the Salvation Army. When my auntie and uncle found themselves stranded in London with their critically ill daughter 2 hours away from home with no where to stay, the Salvation Army helped my auntie and uncle have somewhere to stay in London for free. The Salvation Army do a number of different things, they work with families in crisis as well as international projects that they are working on. Donations can be made at https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/ or you can visit the Salvation Army website to find out more about what they do.
If you took the time to read this, thank you. And thank you to anyone that has supported and been there for myself and my family over the last heart-breaking few weeks.
Katie, if you're reading this on your laptop that you probably have in heaven knowing you lol, I hope I'm making you proud and we all love and miss you more than anything in the world. Sleep tight angel, I hope you're safe up there. xxx
