A COCKFIELD mother has raised more than £1,800 for a hospital ward to thank staff who cared for her son.
Lisa Wood held a fundraising evening in memory of her disabled son, Matthew, who died in April last year aged 21.
The event, which was held at The King’s Head pub, in Cockfield, in January raised £1,084.39. All of the money has been donated to the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITC) at Darlington Memorial Hospital where Matthew was cared for.
The 21-year-old had severe complex needs and epilepsy and required round-the-clock care. After becoming unwell with pancreatitis in March last year, he was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital where he remained for almost five weeks. He was also diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis. Matthew died as a result of multiple organ failure on April 12.
Last week, Ms Wood re-visited the unit accompanied by her friend, Joanne Taylor, who helped organise the fundraising event. Ms Wood presented staff at the hospital with the cheque.
Senior sister on the unit Dianne Cruickshank said: “Lisa was an inspirational and dedicated mum. We are more than grateful for the continual contact and fundraising she has done in memory of her son who died in the ITC unit.
“Both of them will never be forgotten. The money will be used for patients and relatives to make their stay more comfortable and their treatment more effective.”
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s charity development manager, Pat Chambers, said: “We are delighted that Lisa would think of us and raise this money at a time when she would have been grieving for her son. I know that the money she has raised will buy vital equipment that will help and support other patients for years to come.”
Ms Wood thanked everyone who had shown their support and helped to raise such a huge amount of money.
She said: “I would like to thank everyone who turned up on the night and those who donated raffle prizes. I would also like to thank David and Mary Britton for letting us have the event in the pub. All of this wouldn’t be possible without you all. Matthew would be so proud.
“All the staff were fantastic during Matthew’s stay in ITU.
“They did not just look after Matthew, they looked after us too.
“I will never forget them.”
