Dad who spent seven months in hospital pays tribute to staff who saved him

A dad who spent seven months in hospital, including four months in a coma, after being diagnosed with pancreatitis has paid tribute to the medical teams who has saved his life.

Brian Wands was first admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary in March 2022, after waking one night and “literally passing out” because of the pain in his stomach.

After spending six weeks at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, he was transferred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI), where he remained for seven months.

The 45-year-old has now completed what he describes as an “extraordinary journey back to health”, made possible by the expertise of hospital teams.

During a prolonged hospital stay, Brian spent 84 days in intensive care, four weeks in a coma, underwent several life-saving operations, was given a 95-unit blood transfusion, had to learn to walk again and was drip-fed for over two years.

“I was kept alive and brought back by people who combined skill with compassion, consistency, and courage”, he said in a letter paying tribute to the staff.

“It was a truly multi-disciplinary effort, spanning intensive care, high dependency, and wards 64, 65, and 66.

Brian Wands is set to go on a family holiday for the first time in three years NHSGGC

“Thanks to these teams, my wife still has a husband, my children still have their dad, and I have been able to return to my job.”

In a letter to the health board, Brian named a number of staff who he believes saved his life, including consultant surgeons Euan Dickson, Fiona Leitch and Phil Stevens, intensive care consultant Dr Tara Quasim, who stayed by his side for 48 hours during a time of critical need and dietician Caroline, who supported him during a three-year recovery.

Physiotherapist Jill Meldrum was commended for her compassion while helping the dad to walk again, and staff nurse Lesley Tough received a special thanks for having a “profound” influence on Brian’s recovery.

He also recognised the InS:PIRE clinic, which helped the family make sense of what happened and supported them on the long path back to normal life.

He added: “Most of all, I want to give a special mention to the ICU and HDU teams, whose vigilance, resilience, and compassion during my sickest days made survival possible.”

“To everyone involved – consultants, nurses, healthcare support workers, dieticians, physiotherapists, pharmacists, theatre and recovery staff, ICU and HDU teams, porters, domestic and admin staff, radiology, phlebotomy, and beyond, please accept my deepest thanks.

“I may not know every name, but I will never forget what was done for me.

“I think about what happened to me every single day, and I am profoundly grateful for everything that was done to save me. As time passes, it almost doesn’t feel real, yet the outcome is very real for me and my family.

Now recovering at home, Brian has been able to regain a fitness level unimaginable in his “darkest days”, and is practising daily pilates, can hold a five-minute plank and is set to go on his first family holiday in three years.