How am I? It's a lovely day. The sun is shining through my windows. The house has been invaded by a loveliness of ladybirds, even if they are infected with STDs, I rather like the little crimson critters. The sheets are flapping on the line. And that reminds me, there's even flapjack in the tin. … Continue reading World Mental Health Day 2018
My Journey Begins
Thanks for joining me! In the words of the fabulous, bearded lady from the Greatest Showman... I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be... This is me. The title of this post is misleading, because my journey began long ago, in a land far away. Well, it was the Isle … Continue reading My Journey Begins
Penrose promises …
Next week is a milestone in the history of the contaminated blood campaign. It is the publication of the final report from 7 years of hard work put into the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection, from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products.http://www.penroseinquiry.org.ukWhat does this mean?Good question. This is the first … Continue reading Penrose promises …
Factor 9 – pledge now to take this play to the Edinburgh Fringe
I am writing this post to ask for your help with the attempt to get an incredible piece of work shown at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A playwright called Hamish MacDonald has written a play called Factor 9 based on the contaminated blood tragedy whereby thousands of haemophiliacs and those with other bleeding disorders … Continue reading Factor 9 – pledge now to take this play to the Edinburgh Fringe
World Haemophilia Day 2014
Hello there and happy World Haemophilia Day!Whether you're a bleeder or a clotter you may be interested to see this video which I made last week of me having one of my regular clotting factor injections. As a severe bleeder with type 3 von Willebrand I learned to self-infuse factor 8 aged 14 (26 years … Continue reading World Haemophilia Day 2014
Latest letter to my MP
I sent this letter to my MP this week and I thought you might like to read it too. It was based on a template letter put together by the Manor House, Contaminated Blood Campaign and Tainted blood groups, with my own input added. This is a critical time, it seems, in our long years … Continue reading Latest letter to my MP
The Story of the Ankle Op – Pre Op
Early on the morning of Thursday 6 June 2013, having scraped myself out of bed almost before I’d got into it, mum drove me to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. I was due there at 7.30am to have a right ankle arthroscopy and chielectomy.This procedure would be the joint equivalent of a scale and … Continue reading The Story of the Ankle Op – Pre Op
In the words of Gloria Gaynor …
I am Rosamund MaryI was born on the Isle of ManI was adopted when I was 12 weeks oldI have a rare form of Von Willebrand's diseaseI have less than 3% Von Willebrand's factorI have less than 1% factor 8I have injections to replace the clotting factor and stop bleedingI learned to do them myself … Continue reading In the words of Gloria Gaynor …
Funny Blood the book – how to get yours …
If you would like a copy of my mum's shiny new book Funny Blood - which is about adopting me as a baby, then finding out I had a severe bleeding disorder and the fun that ensued bringing me up - it costs £10.50 plus £2.50 postage (within the UK) if required. Multiple copies will … Continue reading Funny Blood the book – how to get yours …
Meeting with Anne Milton, Health Minister, October 24th
I recently attended a meeting with Anne Milton, Health Minister, on Monday October 24th at the Department of Health in London. My MP, Mark Garnier, managed to get me on the list of attendees. I was keen to attend to tell her personally how I felt about her announcement in January of this year which … Continue reading Meeting with Anne Milton, Health Minister, October 24th