I have been under the care of the wonderful respiratory support team at the Royal Brompton Hospital for over 25 years and they have helped me to keep strong and healthy with my BREAS ventilator I use overnight. The team also looked after Alexandra (my sister who also had CMD and died in 2015) and some of my friends are patients too.
In May, I watched a Channel 4 news report about the work of some of the incredible staff who are working to treat very unwell patients with Covid-19 in ICU at the Royal Brompton Hospital so I decided to raise money to help the hospital get the vital equipment they need to help patients with Coronavirus.
I have always loved being in warm water and hydrotherapy is a great help for people with Muscular Dystrophy! Our pool has moved house with us 3 times and is now part of our smallholding. It is wonderful to swim with all our animals looking at us!
Since the beginning of lockdown I have been unable to see my physios apart from on Zoom appointments. Every day (weather permitting), I am doing my hydrotherapy exercises which I made up myself during my half hour in our pool. These really help me to keep my body healthy, especially my respiratory system! I'm hoping to get to 100 swims before the end of the season and at my present rate this should be mid-September! Here's a video of my workout:
In May, I watched a Channel 4 news report about the work of some of the incredible staff who are working to treat very unwell patients with Covid-19 in ICU at the Royal Brompton Hospital so I decided to raise money to help the hospital get the vital equipment they need to help patients with Coronavirus.
I have always loved being in warm water and hydrotherapy is a great help for people with Muscular Dystrophy! Our pool has moved house with us 3 times and is now part of our smallholding. It is wonderful to swim with all our animals looking at us!
Since the beginning of lockdown I have been unable to see my physios apart from on Zoom appointments. Every day (weather permitting), I am doing my hydrotherapy exercises which I made up myself during my half hour in our pool. These really help me to keep my body healthy, especially my respiratory system! I'm hoping to get to 100 swims before the end of the season and at my present rate this should be mid-September! Here's a video of my workout:
I was inspired by a little girl called Carmela who, like me has Congenital Muscular Dystrophy - she shows such strength and determination in her daily physio!
I am hoping to raise £3000 for the Royal Brompton Hospital Covid-19 Emergency Fund. This would buy one of 20 IntelliSpace Critical Care and Anaesthesia (ICCA) systems needed to centralise the clinical data of a critically ill patient through connected technology. These help to better manage patient deterioration and aid faster and more accurate treatment.
My fundraising page is www.rbhcharity.org/Fundraisers/lizzies-swimming-challenge-
My dream is to have a hoist to lift me in and out of the water, and a telescopic cover over the pool so I can continue my hydrotherapy when the weather is not so good!
I was so surprised and delighted to find out on 23rd June that the Prime Minister had chosen me for a Point of Light Award for my Swimming Challenge and work for Wellspring West Sussex which I have been involved with since 1999 (supporting families with special needs and disabilities and those who work with them www.wellspringwestsussex.org.uk)! I feel very honoured to receive this Award and I have been overwhelmed by the generous support I have received for my Swimming Challenge so far. I am really happy that I have been able to raise money for the Royal Brompton Hospital whose respiratory team look after me so well.
During lockdown I have missed being able to have face-to-face contact with the families and special needs children I work with for Wellspring West Sussex, but through our charity website and Facebook I have enjoyed keeping in contact with many of them.
My story is on the Points of Light website now and I have received a letter and certificate!
www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/wellspring-west-sussex/
Lizzie Baily 2020
I am hoping to raise £3000 for the Royal Brompton Hospital Covid-19 Emergency Fund. This would buy one of 20 IntelliSpace Critical Care and Anaesthesia (ICCA) systems needed to centralise the clinical data of a critically ill patient through connected technology. These help to better manage patient deterioration and aid faster and more accurate treatment.
My fundraising page is www.rbhcharity.org/Fundraisers/lizzies-swimming-challenge-
My dream is to have a hoist to lift me in and out of the water, and a telescopic cover over the pool so I can continue my hydrotherapy when the weather is not so good!
I was so surprised and delighted to find out on 23rd June that the Prime Minister had chosen me for a Point of Light Award for my Swimming Challenge and work for Wellspring West Sussex which I have been involved with since 1999 (supporting families with special needs and disabilities and those who work with them www.wellspringwestsussex.org.uk)! I feel very honoured to receive this Award and I have been overwhelmed by the generous support I have received for my Swimming Challenge so far. I am really happy that I have been able to raise money for the Royal Brompton Hospital whose respiratory team look after me so well.
During lockdown I have missed being able to have face-to-face contact with the families and special needs children I work with for Wellspring West Sussex, but through our charity website and Facebook I have enjoyed keeping in contact with many of them.
My story is on the Points of Light website now and I have received a letter and certificate!
www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/wellspring-west-sussex/
Lizzie Baily 2020