Cat Neill from Darlington was nearing the end of an early morning run when she heard a loud bang, seconds later a car drove across a roundabout, mounted the pavement and hit her, sending her flying in the air.
She was admitted to The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where she spent 15 months in and out of hospital.
NHS heroes
In an emotional reunion with her physiotherapist Jack Randall, Cat credits her “NHS heroes” for getting her through some of her hardest days.
She said:
The care I have received both as an inpatient and as a trauma outpatient has been outstanding. Everyone played such a crucial part in my recovery.
From the catering, cleaning and healthcare teams who were all so friendly and kind, to the fantastic nurses who got me through the hardest of days and nights, when there was so much uncertainty. They are the epitome of nurses.”
Cat underwent nine surgeries on her leg and in May this year, finally received the news she had dreamt of since the accident happened.
She said: “I will never be able to thank the orthopaedic and plastics team enough for what they have done for me; they have whole heartedly enabled me to start to live my life again.
After nine surgeries and many backwards steps, I have finally been given the amazing news that my bone has healed. A day I have dreamt of for so long.
“All of the team at the trauma outpatients are friendly, helpful and patient and that counts for a lot. I want to say a special thank you to ‘real-life angel’ Sarah Nellis, to Nick and Julie my plastic nurses who did so much for me in the early days and to Mr Strong who saved my leg at the very beginning.
“I will never forget Mr Eardley; he is an exceptional surgeon and an unbelievably wise man and Mr Abdelrahman who radiated calmness throughout my recovery.
“When the accident first happened, there was so much uncertainty, but staff assured me that one day I would really feel like me again and they were right.”
“I wouldn’t have got through this without you”
After receiving the news that her bone had healed, Cat returned to the hospital to a say a special thank you to the staff who made her recovery possible.
Throughout her time in hospital, Cat underwent daily physiotherapy sessions with major trauma physiotherapist Jack Randall and credits him for giving her the the confidence to get back on her feet and make small steps to overcoming her health anxiety.
Speaking at their special reunion organised by the hospital, Cat had this to say to Jack: “You listened to me as a person and got to know who I was aside from my accident.
“Anybody who gets to work with you is extremely lucky. You made my experience something I don’t think it would have been. I know that I would not have got through this without you.”
Jack said: “When you come into hospital, you are not just a patient but a person and so it is incredibly important that we make you feel safe and listened to in our care. To see you now and the progress you have made is incredible.”
Helping others
However, Cat is not stopping there, after receiving such incredible care from the hospital and experiencing how receiving the right support can really help your recovery, she has now signed up to help others.
“She said: “The staff at James Cook will always be my heroes and I feel it’s important to give thanks to them. They have been crucial within my recovery process and now it’s my time to help.
“I have recently registered to be a Day One Trauma Peer Support volunteer and I hope to be able to give back to trauma patients of James Cook in the near future.”