Bradford Teaching Hospitals is used to witnessing patients’ strength and determination to survive after life-changing illness and accidents, but occasionally some stand out as remarkable.
Kathy Hackney’s story is one of them. She spent almost 40 minutes without a pulse after suffering a cardiac arrest while on a cruise ship heading for Madeira on New Year’s Eve. Her husband, Peter, performed CPR, for the first time in his life, while the ship’s medical team raced to her cabin.
Despite very stormy seas, Kathy was taken by tender boat, accompanied by the ship’s medics who were battling to keep her alive, to hospital in Madeira where she spent two weeks in ICU before being transferred by an air ambulance jet to ICU at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI).
While in Madeira Peter had been warned that Kathy may not recover, or face significant brain damage, as she remained very unresponsive.
But miracles do happen – and they often come in the most unexpected way. As well as the “brilliant” staff on ICU and Ward 22, Peter credits a four-legged hospital visitor, pet therapy dog Ella, with helping Kathy on the road to recovery.
Ella, a Shih Tzu, part of the Pets As Therapy (PAT) charity programme, visits BRI every Thursday and spends time on ICU and other wards. The benefits of pets as therapy to help calm and heal have been long known and Ella, along with her owner, Kieron Mackrill, is a firm favourite with hospital staff.
“Things very quickly changed very positively once Kathy arrived at BRI,” said Peter. “When Ella first visited Kathy in ICU I had already left after visiting her, but a close family member was there. Although I had heard Kathy communicate and talk earlier in the week, this was the family member’s first visit to BRI, and they had not heard her speak.
“As soon as Kieron put Ella on the bed, Kathy sat up and said: “Isn’t she beautiful”. Tears ensued as these were the first words that the family member had heard Kathy speak since before we departed on our cruise.
“Since that first visit in ICU, Kieron and Ella continued to visit Kathy weekly on Ward 22 which I witnessed firsthand, and I cannot stress just how much Kathy responded. It really did perk her up no end.
“The staff on ICU and Ward 22 have all been equally brilliant in supporting Kathy and encouraging her recovery. I cannot fault the care and commitment shown by everyone involved.”
Kieron, who is part of our Volunteering team, said: “As soon as I placed Ella on Kathy’s knee an instant bond took place. It’s been very emotional but very rewarding for both Ella and me to see and be part of Kathy’s journey, it’s just an incredible story.”
While Kathy is still having problems with her short-term memory, the good news is that she was well enough to return home after two months at BRI. She is looking forward to getting back to the hobbies she loves – painting, walking, playing the ukelele and seeing her cat.
The couple, from Bingley, are re-starting their life together with the support of family and friends and hope to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Madeira in the future.