Over the past 3 months I have been overwhelmed with support from my patients following my niece’s cardiac arrest in December. I want to thank you for your kind words and understanding over this period, especially when I have taken emergency calls and finally said goodbye to our perfect, tiny 8 week old Pippa who passed away in Bristol Children’s Hospital in January. She is now a star on their wall and remains a beautiful part of our lives forever.
For those who were in clinic that day I want to extend a special thank you as I had to take a whatapp call to say goodbye to her between patients. Typically in medicine we never know when these things are going to happen and it is impossible to plan for them.
Through the conversations I have subsequently had with many of my lovely patients one thing has been very clear. You have all thought about Pippa, a tiny, perfect baby born in November without a blemish on her. She had a very short life and in typical ‘Hemming’ fashion my sister has always commented that good will come out of this difficult situation.
Following Pippa’s death Sophie and Tom (my sister and her husband) have set up a just giving page raising money for The Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. This is one of the charities supporting Bristol Children’s Hospital who looked after Pippa and her family, and continue to support them so well.
Many of you have asked me if there was something that you could do to support my sister. If you feel you would like to and are able the following link will send you to the just giving page where you can find out more about Pippa’s story and how you can donate to this wonderful hospital (incidentally part of the hospital where I trained over 20 years ago).