NHS 75: Essex mum shares her fundraising story
Laura Mott dressed up as a dinosaur to raise money for a life-saving ventilator, after staff at Southend Hospital saved her son's life
Last updated 3rd Jul 2023
Ahead of the NHS 75th Birthday, we've caught up with an Essex Mum; who, in a heart-warming gesture of gratitude, has expressed her profound appreciation to the National Health Service (NHS) for saving her son's life.
Laura Mott, a mother from Southend, told us she was determined to give back to the hospital that provided exceptional care during her son's critical condition, Laura embarked on a fundraising mission to acquire a much-needed ventilator for the facility.
Laura's journey with the NHS began a couple of years ago when her son, Freddie, fell seriously ill at the tender age of 18 months. Recounting the harrowing experience, Laura shared
"He had his worst sort of episode where we really didn't think that he was gonna make it through. He has these episodes of a lot of seizures, and they just couldn't stop... it was really scary."
During Freddie's hospitalization in the Neptune Ward at Southend Hospital, Laura became aware of the urgent need for a ventilator specifically designed for children. Recognizing the significance of such a vital piece of equipment, Laura was determined to contribute in any way she could. She stated:
"I just put my heart and soul into giving something back... I had my heart set on an extra ventilator for the hospital."
To raise funds for the ventilator, Laura organized various events, including a family fun day and a unique walk themed around dinosaurs, which was her son's favorite fascination at the time. The response from the community surpassed Laura's expectations, with numerous individuals generously donating to the cause. Laura expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support, saying, "I didn't expect it to have as much support as what we did... a lot of people got behind us and were so generous."
When asked about her message to the staff of Neptune Ward and everyone involved in her son's care, Laura struggled to find adequate words to express her appreciation.
"There are absolutely no words... without them, we wouldn't have our little boy here today,"
Laura highlighted the exceptional care provided by the staff, not only in terms of medical expertise but also in their unwavering support for parents during such challenging times.
While Laura plans to take a break from fundraising for now, she remains open to future initiatives to support the NHS or Southend Hospital. "Never say never," she remarked, leaving the door open for future opportunities to help.
In a lighthearted moment during the interview, Laura recalled the walk with dinosaurs and chuckled as she described the scorching weather on the day of the event. "It was the hottest day of the year... we were in these dinosaur costumes... my husband wore the one that had full face and body coverage, and every time he had to take it off for a breather, he was completely covered in sweat."