Hi, my name is Stacy, wife of steve and mum of two beautiful girls. The last 18 months has been a rollercoaster.

Last year 2nd January started like any other day after new year. Tired from working around the christmas and new year celebrations as a manager of a domiciliary care company and being a mum. This tiredness became worse throughout the day alongside nausea which I believed I'd picked up norovirus which was doing its rounds. This sickness became very intense very quickly alongside severe intense pain. After 7 hours from calling an ambulance I was taken into hospital and spent the remainder of the evening in recuss on a trolley attached to many drips. A CT scan showed I had acute pancreatitis caused by a very small gall stone cutting off my blood supply to my pancreas. I was transfered to intensive care. I spent 5 weeks in hospital before been discharged. I was diagnosed with type 3c diabetes and would be both dependent on insulin and creon for the rest of my life. Once my body settled I returned for a gall bladder removal. I was discharged the day after. 24 hours after discharge I woke shaking, very high temperature, confusion and sickness causing me to collapse. I was rushed to hospital very quickly and diagnosed with sepsis. I was given a drainage tube to drain the infection and began to feel better. Unfortunately I then went into septic shock in hospital, I was rushed for a CT scan and for further tests. My pancreas had continue to fall apart and was now travelling around my body, I also had contracted a hospital superbug called ESBL. I was admitted to intensive care in a room by myself. I was operated on to remove some of the remaining fluid and possibly my bowel due to a blood clot they believed to have become stuck. Luckily I was able to keep this, however I'd gone into cardiac arrest, needed CPR twice and I'd gained 5 drainage tubes to drain poison and my pancreas from my body.

The next 24 hours were critical, I'm told the consultants didn't believe I was going to pull through.

But I did!

Then became fixing me. I needed to learn to eat without a feeding tube, to sit up, to talk, to make sense of conversation and reply with the right words. I learned to use my left side again, stand and slowly walk. I was transferred with 4 tubes to Leeds hospital gaining another once there due to futher infection. This is where they had further medication which killed the infection after three months of different IV antibiotics.

Finally last July I left hospital with a few admissions since. I currently have no tubes, I am able to walk, conversation sometimes is still a struggle, I have type 3c diabetes and 3 blood clots. I only have 10% left of my pancreas and still have some trapped fluid in my abdomen causing infections. I will have flare ups occasionally throughout the rest of my life. However I'm the lucky one, I get to be here to tell you all my story.

I can tell you my story due to the incredible work that is done by guts.uk. Because of guts.uk drugs and treatments are founded and they save lives, they make life and recovery bareable and they are there 24/7 on the end of the phone for support.

However without funding this cannot happen. Pancreatitis isn't well known especially the effects on younger people and how quickly a younger person's condition can become fatal.

Now it's my turn to give back, to help support those who supported me.

Please help me to support this charity so others don't need to suffer as much as I did.

A group of us are fundraising in different ways from bake sales, 10k run, sponsored dog walks etc. If you would like to be involved or learn more about what we are doing join our Facebook group Stacy's guts uk fundraising. We'll be delighted to see you there!

1 in 4 people diagnosed with Acute Pancreatitis will lose their life.

Together let's make it 0.

Who are guts uk?

Guts UK Charity is a national charity dedicated to fighting digestive diseases. Their mission is to fund research into conditions affecting the gut, liver, and pancreas, provide information and support to individuals and families, and raise awareness of digestive health. They believe that digestive health has been historically underfunded and misunderstood, and they aim to change that by supporting research and improving patient care.

Here's a more detailed look at what they do:

Funding Research:

Guts UK invests in medical research to find better treatments, earlier diagnoses, and ultimately cures for digestive diseases.

Providing Information:

They offer resources and support for individuals with digestive conditions, helping them understand their symptoms, access healthcare, and manage their condition.

Raising Awareness:

They work to reduce the stigma surrounding digestive conditions and encourage open conversations about gut health.

Supporting Patients:

Guts UK provides guidance and support to patients and families, including a helpline to answer questions and provide guidance.