Our Medical Division Management Team are fundraising for their colleague, General Manager, Sarah Bevan, after she suffered a brain aneurysm last year.

The team are planning all sorts of fundraisers to help raise £15,000 for Sarah and her family. The money raised will enable them to buy advanced equipment to help in Sarah's continued rehabilitation, as well as make a donation to the rehabilitation ward at Chapel Allerton. The fundraising page can be found here.

Sarah's husband, Tom, also works at CHFT as a Data Quality Analyst, has kindly shared Sarah's story:

"On the morning of 15th, August 2024, Sarah was taken to A&E at HRI as she was unconscious. A CT scan revealed she had suffered a brain aneurysm, and she was then transferred to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

"We were told that Sarah would need a stent and a drain to stop the bleeding and reduce the swelling around her brain. Both procedures were completed that day, and we were told they had gone well. 

"Three days later, we were told to go to the hospital urgently. Sarah had suffered a seizure which had resulted in significant brain swelling. We were told that there wasn't anything that could be done - the hospital would do further tests, but ultimately, this had caused Sarah to require life support. We were told we'd need to say our goodbyes to her the next day.

"All this happened eleven weeks after Sarah, and I, had become parents for the first time - a daughter called Lily. Our entire lives, and the lives of our families, had been turned upside down in less than four hours.

"Monday, 19th August arrived but before we got to the hospital, we received a call saying Sarah had started breathing on her own and the swelling had reduced enough for them to perform a craniectomy. This procedure went well, and despite Sarah still being on a ventilator, she had miraculously pulled through. However, we were told that Sarah would not be able to communicate, eat, drink or walk again.

"This was the start of Sarah's recovery.

"Sarah was moved to a High Dependency Unit at LGI where she underwent further procedures including tracheostomy, the insertion of a cranial shunt, insertion of a feeding peg and cranioplasty surgery to fit a titanium plate to her skull. After several months, Sarah left LGI to begin her rehabilitation at Chapel Allerton. She left LGI, certainly aware of her surroundings, but unable to eat, drink, talk or move.

"Sarah was transferred to Chapel Allerton on 3rd December and has been spending the past seven months progressing incredibly well with her rehabilitation. She is now communicating in small to medium sentences and is able to use her iPad to watch TV shows and make video calls to family.

"With each passing day Sarah is getting stronger. She is now able to stand during physio sessions and is getting movement back in her right leg. Occupational Therapy are working on day-to-day activities to improve Sarah's quality of life which includes having sessions with Lily to do activities together.

"Sarah has also gone from having all hydration, nutrition and medication administered through the feeding peg to eating, drinking and taking her medication orally - meaning the peg could be removed.

"Although rehabilitation has been going on for the last seven months, this is all still incredibly early in her journey. However, with Sarah's strength, determination and courage she is getting one step closer to home each day. She has defied the odds and continues to do this with each goal she achieves."