Regular Moorfields patient Ali made the generous gift to help other patients have a good experience.
Ali was born with congenital cataracts, and had her first eye surgery at six weeks old. After being looked after in her local NHS hospital for many years, in her early twenties she was referred to Moorfields because of the complexity of her eye conditions, including glaucoma, which involves a build-up of pressure in the eye.
After a few years of close monitoring, Ali’s eye pressure reached emergency levels, and she had laser surgery at Moorfields St George’s, which brought everything back under control for a while, but since then she’s continued to have trouble with her eyes, needing multiple surgeries to insert and maintain a shunt.
As well as her eye conditions, Ali has been dealing with other health issues that restrict her day-to-day activities, and so looking after her sight is even more important for her quality of life.
Ali presenting her donation to Friends finance manager Nimita Park, surrounded by staff and volunteers who have supported her.
“Since 2016 we’ve battled to save the sight in my left eye,” says Ali. “I have very little sight in that eye but I have enough, and without that sight, working with what sight I have in my other eye, I wouldn’t have been able to do the physio that has been helping me regain some of my mobility.
“The most recent operation was a really tricky one, but somehow they did it, and at the moment things are looking good. They never gave up on me. Even though some people might think the sight in that eye isn’t viable, to me it is viable and I do use it in day-to-day life. My consultant, Nick Strouthidis, always says, okay, if you say you need it, we’ll try.”
Ali now comes to Moorfields weekly for check-ups with the contact lens team, and every few weeks with Professor Strouthidis and his team. “I go up there every week and everyone says hello to me, they always cheer me up,” she says. “All the volunteers know me by my name – there’s no way I could go undercover in that hospital!”
Ali and Splash enjoying some good weather
After her grandmother recently passed away, Ali discovered that there was £10,000 earmarked for charitable gifts in her will, for Ali to distribute. Ali knew straight away that she wanted to use the money to support Moorfields.
“This donation could help other patients who are really scared of visiting the hospital,” says Ali. “The volunteers are always so helpful, and Moorfields make such good use of their volunteer service. There’s always someone to welcome you when you arrive, and they’re always so friendly. The staff and volunteers see me as a human being, and that’s what, to me, is so special about Moorfields. There was nowhere else I even thought of donating the money.”
The care Ali has received at Moorfields has helped ensure she has enough vision to enjoy the things she loves. While her other health issues have prevented her from riding, she loves spending time with her horse, Splash.
“As poorly as I am, I still deal with a 500-pound animal, and without my sight, I wouldn’t be able to do any of it,” she says. “I can’t do a lot at the moment, but to be able to have a horse back in my life is amazing. I don’t know what the future will be, but at least I have Moorfields. At least I’m not on my own with this.”
Steve shares how his experience as a patient brought a new dimension to his volunteering.
During the last almost four years of volunteering at Moorfields Eye Hospital, I have had contact with thousands of patients and carers. I volunteer at the front entrance at Moorfields City Road, where my primary role is to help anyone who is lost or doesn’t know where to go for their appointment. I enjoy the opportunity to help people – it’s not only guiding them to the correct clinic for their appointment, but chatting with them as well. I always take delight in meeting someone who enquires about where I’m from (Australia), particularly those patients who ask, “Where in Brisbane are you from?” – I never realised Australian accents were that different based on location!
Some patients are what I call “frequent flyers” – that is, they have been to Moorfields many times and are comfortable with where they need to go, and also with what is going to happen when they see the clinical staff. Some patients are not so confident, but we get them to where they need to be. Some will be experiencing a degree of anxiety, especially if they are due to have a surgical procedure. I assure patients who walk through the door feeling anxious that there’s no reason to be concerned, because the staff at Moorfields are fantastic.
Who would have thought that I was to become one of those patients!
I thought I had my nerves under control, but as my cataract surgery date approached, my anxiety levels rose. I had heard about the handholding service delivered by my fellow Friends of Moorfields volunteers, and the week prior to surgery, I asked if I could have a handholder.
After arriving at the clinic and being admitted by the wonderful hospital staff, I was warmly greeted by Parul, who is a volunteer handholder. She stayed with me for the entire surgery, although I don’t remember much after being moved into theatre. While I waited, Parul and I had a chat about anything and everything. She showed a genuine interest in my life without prying. She has a very special skill to put you at ease and make you totally forget any anxieties. In fact, the whole team were great, from the moment I arrived at the Sedgwick ward reception through to the pre-op room where I met the anaesthetic nurse and anaesthetist, right up to when I eventually arrived in the post-op room, where a lovely hot cup of tea was waiting for me. All the clinical staff were very aware that the procedure may be daunting to some, particularly if it’s your first eye surgery.
I am a convert to the value of handholding for patients. My experience was heightened by having someone there who held my hand and reassured me, and the whole thing has given me a new perspective on how a patient who is having eye surgery might feel. Not only can I say (and do say) that Moorfields clinicians are among the best in the world, but I add that I can back that, as I’m living proof. My vision improvement is life changing and it was done at Moorfields City Road.
Find out more about how our handholding service is expanding to more sites to support even more patients.
Former patient and longtime volunteer Basil talks about how his experiences at Moorfields inspired him to help others.
I was born with sickle cell anaemia, a blood disorder, and I was hospitalised on and off from 19 months old onwards. In my early thirties, I had a serious bleed – a haemorrhaged retina – which was treated at Moorfields. Ten years later, the same thing happened but in the other eye, so severely that I only had a tiny pinhole of vision in that eye.
I had surgery to correct the problem at Moorfields, in Mackellar Ward, where Mr Gregor’s team operated on me. After a couple of weeks, the vision in the affected eye was already coming back. It had been a really hard time for me, so it was overwhelming suddenly being able to see well again.
I started volunteering because I wanted to give something back. The guys at the investment bank where I worked had seen me going through my surgery and wanted to help, so I found an envelope and told everyone to “just put in a penny”. By the time I went back to Moorfields for my next follow-up appointment, the envelope was pretty heavy. I took it to the Friends office to make the donation, and I asked if there was anything else I could do to give back. So I started running fundraisers at work. I arranged snooker tournaments and bowling tournaments and events.
Basil waits to greet arriving patients
Meanwhile I was also volunteering at the hospital. I used to walk around with a big bucket for donations, and I used to speak to the patients in clinics and just tell them about myself, and sometimes it just would be a half hour with a patient just chatting to them, telling them my story and about Friends. They were often amazed to hear that I’d had surgery on both eyes – what an encouragement for someone sitting there waiting for a clinic appointment, to see someone smiling at you, telling you they’ve had a successful surgery here.
Basil with his 25-year service award
I had to give up work suddenly at 53 when my health deteriorated. I’m a really outgoing person and work was a big part of my life so it was a big loss, but I kept up my volunteering and that helped me a lot to keep my sense of self. I’m a chatter, I’m a helper, a smiler, a positive person.
My role now is mainly marshalling and guiding. A lot of patients are sight impaired, so I’m helping them to different clinics all around the hospital – sometimes they need to go to a few different parts of the building so we’re up and down in the lifts. I usually get in early because I have to get away after a few hours to take medication. An average day is busy and challenging and I love it. I always have a smile on my face. I’ve also done fundraising at a couple of tube stations lately, which is nice in the summer months!
I recently reached my 25-year anniversary of volunteering with Friends, and I felt so proud to reach that milestone. Having been a sick child, in and out of hospital from 19 months onwards, it’s just nice to give back to something to the NHS because it’s been such a part of my life, and I love it every minute.
Felix’s childhood experiences at Moorfields inspired him to run a marathon, raising funds that could help other young patients.
Former Moorfields patient Felix ran the Barcelona Marathon on March 10, in support of Friends of Moorfields. Despite having never run a marathon before, Felix came in under his goal time of five hours – and sped past his fundraising goal too, raising over £900 to split between Friends of Moorfields and Starlight Children’s Foundation, the national charity for children’s play in healthcare.
“Of course it was hard work,” says Felix, “but the knees just about held up! 30-35km was definitely the hardest zone mentally, as soon as 35km fell it dawned that we were actually getting pretty close. Feeling happy that I have got it done and hugely appreciative of everyone who donated!”
During his childhood Felix spent a lot of time at Moorfields Eye Hospital, receiving treatment for a rare genetic condition called Blepharophimosis Ptosis Epicanthus Inversus Syndrome, or BPES. His experiences gave him an insight into how seemingly small things can make a big difference during a hospital visit.
Felix during the marathon
“A hospital stay can be a really isolating experience for anyone, especially children,” Felix says. One of his most enduring memories of his childhood visits to Moorfields is being able to play Super Mario Sunshine on the ward’s game system, provided by Starlight. “The impact this had on me was huge,” he says.
Felix during his time as a young patient at Moorfields
Play in hospitals can go a long way to helping young patients have a positive experience, but provision of health play services varies from one trust to the next. As well as providing children’s magazines, Friends of Moorfields funds the salaries of 2.5 health play specialists, based at Moorfields’ Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre (RDCEC), to help make the experience less daunting for children attending for clinics and procedures. The play team at the RDCEC support dozens of children on an average day, and thousands each month.
“Whilst they’re playing, we can talk to them and find out what their anxieties are,” says health play specialist Edna Owusu. “I say to them, you’re in charge. We’re here to look after you and help you. And if you’re worried about anything, just let us know.”
“Children have a right to play, and this doesn’t change during their time in hospital,” says Gemma Peterman, who was inspired to become a health play specialist after her own childhood experiences, and now works in the play team at Moorfields. “Play in hospital provides children with a sense of normality during a time which can be challenging for them.”
Gemma recently ran The Big Half to raise money for Friends of Moorfields, in order to fund the purchase of accessible iPads the team can use to help young patients relax, and even more importantly, to communicate. “A large screen display and accessibility features such as zoom, voiceover and contrasting colours allow children with limited vision to use the iPads. As a play team we also support non-verbal or Deaf children and young people, who can use the new iPads to communicate through AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) applications or through typing. Overall, this will give these children the ability to have a voice during their time in hospital.”
The money raised by Felix’s marathon will help fund our projects around Moorfields, including our continued support of the health play team. “Knowing that the money I have raised could go towards making sure other children will get the support I did makes all the difference,” says Felix. “I’m truly glad I can give back to the fantastic institution to which I owe a huge deal of my quality of life!”
If you’d like to fundraise for us like Felix and Gemma, visit our fundraising page to find out how you can get involved.
