George and Mary
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust’s Head of Patient and Public Engagement, Charmain Wright, recently caught up with Mary, whose husband, George, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) back in May 2020. She shared her family’s incredible story of determination, strength and faith to defy all odds and bring her husband home to the UK from Kerala, India in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In her account, Mary thanks Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust for being the first hospital to open its doors to George upon his turbulent journey back to England.
This is Mary and George’s testimony:
George was visiting elderly parents in Kerala, India and was supposed to return at the end of March 2020. Due to the global lockdowns as a result of the pandemic, all flights were cancelled and there was no way for George to return home. George remained with Mary’s parents during this time.
In May 2020, George blacked out and was admitted to hospital, where they reported that his blood count was low. After consulting with his family doctor in Cochin and finding that his haemoglobin and blood counts were continuing to drop, George’s doctor referred him to Amrita Hospital in Cochin for further tests.
The following day, George was diagnosed with with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and was advised to start treatment immediately. George called Mary to tell her the news of his diagnosis and was given a three to six month-month prognosis.
In desperation, Mary called an old friend, Dr Boby, who had previously worked at the Amrita Hospital to help her decipher the medical terminology on George’s blood results. Dr Boby advised that George needed to start treatment without delay, as the results were not good. Mary faced a huge challenge and had to make a choice on whether to leave her daughters for India or miraculously bring George home.
Mary sent countless emails to GPs, Clinical Commissioning Groups and hospitals across the south east asking if they could accommodate George but to no avail. Thereafter, she contacted her local MP, Mr Adam Holloway. For over a month, he and the assigned caseworker liaised with British Embassies in Chennai and UK to try and get a flight home for George.
After a long wait, on 21 June 2020, Mary received a call from the British Embassy in Chennai who said there was a flight the very next day and they would put George on high priority for travel. Despite there being no local hospital that would open its doors to George, the couple’s friends and church stepped in to fund his plane ticket, PCR tests and necessary documentation.
George embarked on a 48-hour journey back to England on 22 June. The family were advised that bringing George back to the UK would carry a tremendous risk of blood clots with fatal results due to the flight’s altitude.
Extraordinarily, as George was flying home, Mary received a call at 9am on 22 June from David Horne, Divisional Director of Operations at Darent Valley Hospital, who asked Mary to explain the entire situation. Dave told her that he would liaise with George’s GP here in the UK and doctors in India, that he would take care of everything and that all Mary needed to do was focus on bringing George home.
“After the call, I broke down crying because Mr. Horne was the first friendly voice in the National Health Service who listened and was willing to help after one whole month of closed doors” Mary recounted.
However, the glimmer of hope was soon shattered. Mary received an email from the airline saying that the flight booking had been cancelled as they hadn’t received payment. At this time, Mary did not tell her husband. She didn’t tell anyone. She connected with an ex-airline colleague to provide proof of payment and reinstate George’s ticket before boarding time that same day.
Darent Valley’s Dave Horne later rang to confirm that an emergency meeting had been arranged with the hospital’s Haematology team and they were prepared for George’s arrival. Dave had also contacted Hillingdon Hospital and arranged for them to take George in immediately after his long flight.
Remembering Mary and George’s remarkable story, Dave Horne commented: “My role in responding to Mary’s plight and George’s treatment needs was merely one of facilitation. Thanks are due entirely to the Trust’s fantastic clinical staff within the many wards and departments that have so ably supported George since his return to the UK.”
From Hillingdon Hospital, George went home to rest with his family and on the 25th June, he was admitted to Darent Valley Hospital where he remained until November 2020. In November, he was transferred to King’s College Hospital for a bone marrow transplant.
Speaking of their experience at Darent Valley Hospital, Mary said: “The care we got from the wards was absolutely amazing. Thank you, Oak Ward, for taking care of George until he was moved to Rosewood. Thank you to the Haematology team, nurses, health care assistants, security, A&E, and the Ambulance team.
Thank you all in Rosewood and Pine wards for your exceptionally brave and passionate hearts for going the extra mile and diligently looking out for the wellbeing of all. Huge thanks to all staff for the sacrificial work with compassion, support, empathy, grace, and for welcoming our daughters with a smile on visits.
Our journey with Darent Valley has been so beautiful. Not every journey is the same but one thing is, during that window of time when nothing was happening and everything was dead, someone stopped and reached out. Mr. Horne, we honestly cannot express how grateful we are as a family for your kindness and compassion shown toward us.
We have had many unexpected conditions, but George is alive and here. The few families who knew of George's diagnosis rallied around us to pray, encourage and be with us through this unknown season, we are so humbled.
In the darkest of times our unwavering faith, carried us through. Faith empowered us to see the unseen beautifully coordinated by the power of The Lord’s words. He speaks and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen.
Every day we count our blessings, and remember the goodness of The Lord with grateful hearts.”