A woman from Clayton-le-Woods is to embrace her greatest fear – a long-held terror of heights – to take part in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity’s (LTHC’s) May abseil of Peel Tower to thank staff at the Royal Preston Hospital, who looked after her round-the-clock when she was left with a life-threatening infection (peritonitis) following an emergency appendectomy last November.
Jen Hayward (42) was so badly infected that she couldn’t eat for 14 days and ended up spending three and a half weeks in hospital. Jen, who works as an account manager and finance lead for Chorley digital marketing and web design company fertile.digital, said: “I finally made it home on December 8th, but recovery was far from over.
“I was back at the hospital every single day for IV antibiotics alongside taking oral antibiotics at home. Then, just when I thought the worst was behind me, I had an adverse reaction to my medication and was readmitted on Christmas Eve — my favourite time of the year – spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day back in hospital, nil by mouth. It was pretty grim, not just for me but for my partner Darren and my family.”
Jen added: “But here’s the thing that stuck with me. On Christmas Day, while I was lying there feeling at my absolute lowest, the team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals brought me a Christmas gift. Such a simple thing, but it meant the world.
“Now, three months on, I’m finally getting back on my feet and I want to say thank you — not just with words, but by doing something that genuinely terrifies me. I’m abseiling 128ft down Peel Tower. I’m absolutely terrified of heights. The thought of going over that edge makes my stomach flip but after everything the team at the Royal Preston Hospital did for me, a bit of fear feels like a small price to pay as every penny I raise will go to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, helping them continue to provide the extras, including those Christmas gifts, which remind you someone cares when you need it most.”
Lucy Clark, fundraiser for LTHC, said: “Thank you to Jen for facing her fear and signing up to what has become our annual abseil of Peel Tower in Holcombe Brook. It’s fantastic she was inspired by all the staff that cared for her when in hospital and that her Christmas gift helped lift her spirits when she was at such a low ebb.”