10 June is always a special day for my family
June 10th is a very special day for my family.
It marks the anniversary of the day my husband received the gift of life, because he underwent his successful heart transplant surgery.
Each year I write a blog marking how far we have come on his journey. Last year I wrote a hypothetical letter to his Donor expressing my thanks.
How do you say thank you for the gift of life?
As I write today’s blog, I have just returned from getting my second Covid vaccination. And it strikes me how thankful I am to scientific research and development.
I am not writing this with a view to reigniting any debates between pro, and anti vaxers.
Everyone has their views, these just happen to be mine. Which I am unapologetic about.
We all have our different views, this is mine
Without science there is absolutely no doubt that I would be a widow by now. I believe, and fervently hope, that science will see us through to the other side of the pandemic we are currently in the midst of.
I fully appreciate the confusion and mistrust that abounds at the moment. I also have no qualms in saying that I never completely trust any politician, no matter what party they belong to.
But I do trust our medical scientists. Even more so I trust the NHS staff who have been through hell on earth in the intensive care units. When these people say that the more people get vaccinated the safer we will all be, I have no reason to doubt their motives.
I get that not everyone is ‘high risk.’ I prefer this term to ‘extremely vulnerable’ which can feel rather condescending. Especially when you have battled the psychological effects that are not often spoken about, but can go alongside having a transplant.
But for me, it really is quite simple.
I have no reason not to trust these guys
If the NHS doctors who have no agenda other than freeing up the intensive care units, are urging me to get vaccinated. That is good enough for me.
So on this 5th anniversary as a family we say the biggest thank you to our donor and their family.
Thank you also to the NHS, especially the team at the Royal Papworth Hospital.
This year I would also like to say thank everyone who has helped with the vaccination roll out.
Because I really do believe that the more of us who opt for the vaccination, the safer all of us will be.
