From a residents' family - Wellburn House

Beatrice otherwise known as Betty first came to Wellburn House 0n the 4th September 2008. Initially coming in for short breaks and then deciding to make Wellburn her home.

Having spent the Christmas period with family Betty was returning to Wellburn House.It was evening time on Tuesday 29th December2009, Betty was travelling from Ponteland with her daughter Susan.They hadn't been travelling far when a vehicle coming in the opposite direction lost control and collided into them.

Betty had to be cut from the wreckage! Betty was admitted into Newcastle General Hospital where she was found to have a torn aorta, punctured lung and punctured oesophagus. The future was looking bleak, Betty was put onto a ventilator and was given a slim chance of recovery.

Several days later Susan was told by the doctor her returning to Wellburn House would be very unlikely, so the difficult decision was made to terminate the room.

Betty was still a very big part of our family, we visited her in the hospital and although she was unable to speak we could still converse with her using a communication board.

Several weeks later Betty was transferred to the High Dependency Unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. Following the ventilator being removed she was now able to speak. It was amazing, after all the trauma she had experienced she could still remember the name of every resident and member of staff at Wellburn House, she would always ask after everyone.

A few weeks later again Betty was transferred to the Freeman Hospital, it was at this time she was at her lowest point, her goal was to return to her friends at Wellburn, and although she could now stand she couldn't manage to walk, her goal to return to Wellburn was slipping away.

However, with patience and determination Betty slowly began to improve and again was transferred this time to Walkergate Hospital.

It was at Walkergate Hospital Betty celebrated her 90th birthday surrounded by her family and staff from Wellburn House. It was a proud moment, a landmark Betty never dreamt she would reach.This reinstated her goal - to get back home to Wellburn!

Betty was determined and pushed herself to the limit, slowly and gradually she began to walk again. Eventually on Wednesday 23rd June 2010 Betty returned home - six months after her accident.

On the morning of Betty's expected arrival her room was decorated with 'Welcome Home' banners and balloons as was the front of the home. The ambulance arrived, all the staff rushed to welcome Betty with flowers and cards - the paramedics couldn't believe the welcome she received, in fact another elderly lady in the ambulance said she had wished she was coming back home to Wellburn!

Later in the afternoon residents and staff enjoyed a lovely chocolate cake made especially by the cook to welcome Betty back home.

Everyone knew what this day meant to Betty - a day she had dreamt and fought for. Everyone came together that afternoon to demonstrate to Betty how special she is to us all and to welcome one of our family back home.

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