I type this on this your 70th birthday whilst my son is on his first residential with school. He is currently firing a bow and arrow, harnessed to something high or on a quad bike. He is pushing his own limits with the safety of those who want to see him grow and succeed by his side. He is a living miracle... one you discovered.
You initially broke our hearts. You never meant to... you just did what you do best to push and challenge until you know every corner is double checked and that is when you found it. It took a long time and you made mistakes on the way, but you found our answer; our needle in a haystack.
By the time you diagnosed him, we had a boy who had defied the odds. His diagnosis which can often lead to children finding walking, talking and learning difficult was being challenged from the very day you rang with an answer. See he was 4... a walker using, curly haired wonder with signing hands and wobbly words. He was already pushing the boundaries and changing the rules without any of us knowing.
Thanks to you, your wonderful staff and your 'we can' attitude, unbeknown to the physios, OT's, Speech therapist, Peadiatricians and us as parents, together we had achieved far more than we could have ever imagined.
From a difficult pregnancy, an unconventional birth and still today 11 years on you stand by our side. You have helped him overcome so many of the obstacles his own body has thrown his way, giving him, ourselves and the many who love him a better understanding of just how tricky just being him is.
Like all of us you are perfectly imperfect - you are determined to give your best in a time where the need and cost outweigh the staff and the funds. In honesty we should do more to support you. We should not get drawn into the media stories of bed shortages and failures leaving us feeling let down and disgruntled. We choose to listen to the man in the studio yet ignore your voices when you try explaining that you know this and are putting in 60+ hours a week to try to make it better but you can give no more... you are often left unheard simply facing a TV reporters shoulder shrug as your concerns slide off the politicians teflon covered suit.
We owe you more than that.
I hope, on this your birthday - you can see that you are loved beyond measure. You have saved lives, kept families together and provided dignity in loss. We, like you, strive for things to be better, and we all know there are ways you could be, but we are truly thankful to you. We are proud of you. We are grateful for you - and YES... we will fight for you.
Happy birthday NHS.
