My Story

On Tuesday 6th September 2022, my husband Nick Watson, an extremely fit and healthy 38 year old, collapsed unexpectedly at work in Bristol. He was blue lighted to hospital and spent the folllowing 10 days fighting for his life on The Intensive Care Unit at Southmead Hospital.

Unbeknown to Nick, he has a rare disorder called Systemic Mastocytosis where the body produces too many mast cells, which, when triggered can cause severe anaphylactic shock. As Nick's body fought against itself, a specialist team of heroes at Southmead Hospital's ICU fought day and night to save his life. During this time Nick was put in an induced coma, following anaphylaxis with multi organ dysfunction, seizure, DIC (where the blood fails to clot) and acute renal failure requiring dialysis. At one time I was told we are not winning.

But win they did and on the 16th September Nick walked off the ICU refusing the offer of a wheelchair and after a further week on the renal ward was able to return home to convalesce. 

Nick's medical team, headed up by the wonderful Ben Walton, could not believe that Nick had survived such a catastrophic insult to his body, but put it down to his strong heart health and general fitness through his love of cycling, especially up the longest, steepest hills he can find! 

As a family we are eternally grateful to Nick's colleagues at Akkodis for their prompt action in calling the paramedics, the paramedics and A&E team who fought to keep Nick alive until he was admitted on to the ICU, the renal team who saved Nick's kidneys, the immunology and haematology team for diagnosing Nick and for their continued care and support with Nick's ongoing treatment and to every single member of the NHS staff who worked together as a team to treat and care for Nick, not least my brother Cam, a doctor himself at Southmead, who went above and beyond to support both as a medic and family member. Most of all, we give our most heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the ICU team, including the incredible nurses who provided one to one care around the clock and the doctors who fought to diagnose the illness causing such an onslaught of horrific complications, a battle which they fought and won allowing Nick to come home to his family.

Although Nick will require ongoing treatment for life, he has made such an excellent recovery that he is back in the saddle, cycling up hills and preparing for a mammoth challenge, cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End assisted by his older brother Chris and his two brothers-in-law Cam and Nick. His father Clive and younger brother Tim acting as team support. Why is Nick undertaking such a big challenge? The reason is, he wants to give back to all those at Southmead Hospital who kept him alive. 

Hence, on 9th September 2023, just 12 months after Nick was admitted to Southmead Hospital, he will set off with his team from John O'Groats to cycle over 100 miles each day to reach Land End 9 days later! With your help we hope to raise £5000 for the amazing Southmead Hospital which continues to support Nick and anyone else in need to this day. They are all heroes!