Birthday party helps to raise £1,300 for the My WiSH charity

A birthday party in the grounds of Paulina Button’s home has raised an amazing £1,300 for the My Wish charity, which supports the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds.

The 80-year-old organised the event at her home at The Green, in Redgrave, as a huge thank you to staff at the hospital who cared for her husband Carl who spent three months on the critical care unit and also many weeks on F5 ward.

The money has been used to purchase work stations for the unit which are bespoke and can store items like linen and drugs and also lock.

Mr Button, a former poultry farmer who also operated a food processing business, went into the West Suffolk in November 2016 for an operation after he was found to have bowel cancer.

The proceedure was hailed a success but he developed a rare complaint called Guillain-Barré syndrome which affects the nerves mainly the feet, hands and limbs, causing problems such as numbness, weakness and pain.

It can be treated and most people will eventually make a full recovery, although it can occasionally be life-threatening and some people are left with long-term problems.

The 82-year-old was in the hospital up until February this year before he was transferred to Hartismere Place Care Home, in Eye, at the end of March, and is due to be home by Christmas.

Mrs Button said: “The hospital looked after him with wonderful care and we wanted to say thank you in some way.”

Up to 50 people attended the party and Mr Button was also able to attend the event for a few hours from his bed at Hartismere Place.

“It was a wonderful day and we are so grateful to family and friends who attended,” said Mrs Button, who for 32 years was chairman of the Friends of Botesdale Health Centre.

“From being totally paralysed he is now able to walk a bit with help and uses a zimmer frame.

“The staff at the hospital were great during his time with them and they were marvellous and we wanted to say thank you in some tangible way and I know how grateful they are to get the money to help them buy the extras for the wards.”

Debra Baker, sister/ward manager, said: “The new work stations are absolutely fantastic.

“They make day to day life easier, they ensure we comply with infection prevention and as they now lock the meds can be stored safely.

“They have lifted the whole unit and streamlined the work space. All the nurses are so appreciative and I’ve had nothing but wonderful feedback, the old ones were over 20 years old and starting to break, so theses really have made a huge difference.”

Pictured above is Pauline Button, with Lenka Adamcova, left, senior staff nurse, and Debra Baker, right, senior sister/ward manager and the new unit.