Status Anxiety
If I die this weekend, at least I will breathe my last in the name of a good cause
By the time you read this I may be dead. I have been pressganged into taking part in the London Duathlon this Sunday in order to raise money for the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity. A canny young man who works for the charity noticed a reference to the paediatric unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in something I wrote about my son and suggested that this might be a good way to give something back. It was a request I couldn’t refuse.
Ludo was born with neonatal varicella, an extremely rare condition that, in certain circumstances, has a 30 per cent mortality rate. Varicella is the Latin word for chicken pox and while that is not normally a life-threatening disease, it can pose problems for newborns because of their undeveloped immune systems. Typically, a baby born with varicella will also be born with the appropriate anti-bodies since the mother will pass both on simultaneously. However, there is approximately a five-day window in between someone catching chicken pox and developing the antibodies, and the problem in Ludo’s case is that Caroline had been exposed to the virus less than five days before his birth. The upshot was that he was born with the disease but without the ability to fight it.
The situation was complicated by the fact that, initially, Ludo presented no symptoms. Caroline discovered some suspicious-looking spots on her abdomen 48 hours after giving birth and her mother suggested they might be chicken pox. I immediately got on the phone to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital — the nearest one to us with a paediatric A&E department — and spoke to a nurse called Catherine. She was sympathetic, but said there was no point in bringing Ludo in since they didn’t have any ‘cubicles’ free. She suggested I call St Mary’s Paddington. She’d just heard of a ‘cubicle’ that had become available there. I called St Mary’s and spoke to a male nurse on the paediatric ward who was much less sympathetic. He said they wouldn’t admit Ludo unless Caroline had been definitively diagnosed as having chicken pox.
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Russell Hicks
September 12th, 2008 11:18amwhen will people stop demonstrating their stupidity by sweating in charidy events and instead, start protesting at Westminster for the sensible distribution of MILLIONS in taxpayers money to vital causes?
When I see people rattling tins for a few pence I wonder if they have any brains at all.
The 'Big Issue' in charity is to stop begging from taxpayers and to start demanding from the thieving Government some accountability.
John Bull
September 12th, 2008 1:00pmGod Bless Catherine and her colleagues at the Chelsea and Westminster - and "A Pox" on the pratt at St. Mary's Paddington, who refused compassionate assistance.
I pray he reads this article and the Comments, and realises the depth of immorality he has sunk to ! A "Sacking from the NHS" should be the first step - the RCN should then revoke his accreditation to prevent him killing other babies by his base mentality.
There can be no acceptable excuse for refusing to give positive help or guidance in this kind of situation.
With a Newborn, "Time" is VITAL - as they move from 'ill' through 'seriously ill' to 'death' in a very few short HOURS - not days !!
As a "nurse" he should know this, and in that knowledge, to reject a life-threatened patient is nothing short of conspiracy or attempt to murder.
He should be painfully "Sterilised" to prevent his genes entering the general gene-pool of Humanity.
I volunteer my "services" - complete with the two house-bricks needed for the 'operation' !
On a lighter note - Ludo will not now have to undergo the indignity of attending the common five-year olds' "Chicken Pox Party" :-)
Philip
September 12th, 2008 1:42pmHe looks like a little monster! Good luck in the Duathlon!
Alidė Kohlhaas
September 12th, 2008 10:32pmGlad Ludo is fine and Chelsea & Westminster came through for you. And, since I am reading your story, I am sure you did not drop dead.
But, does anyone at the Spectator edit your copy? "To try and prevent"??? Surely that should be "To try to prevent"? Also, at the beginning of your story you use 'in order to'. Why not just say 'to'? 'In order' adds two unnecessary words to your story. Go bring this to the attention of your editor.