Kent family says it would 'mean the world' to have daughter home after life changing cardiac arrest
16 year old, Rubie Boyton, suffered severe brain damage
Last updated 25th Oct 2024
A family from Ashford, whose daughter suffered a life changing cardiac arrest, have told us it would 'mean the world' to have their daughter home.
Rubie Boyton, collapsed in a park in Ashford, just a four days after her 16th birthday.
She stopped breathing and her brain was starved of oxygen for 31 minutes before her friend saved her life by performing CPR on Rubie.
Emergency services soon arrived and took her to a hospital in London where she has remained since May.
However, Rubie suffered severe brain injures and is now unable to walk, talk, sit up, eat or drink independently, her mum, Kim Tucker, says it still doesn't feel real.
She said: "There is no words, it's still awful, absolutely awful. It's like I've grieved for her, even though she is still here but it's like she's not coming back.
"I really struggled at first, really struggled. I was okay when she was first in hospital but when she started coming round it was awful to see.
"I just feel really guilty, doing things, knowing Rubie is in hospital and can't do anything. I've not yet really been able to take the little one to the park, or do days out, because i feel immense guilt all the time.
"I keep thinking we can go to the park, or have a walk round Bedgebury but I guess the thoughts are going to be different to the reality because it is not going to be as easy as that, it's just getting to know a different Rubie now."
Rubie is not yet medically stabled, so is not allowed to come home but her family will drastically need to change their home for this to happen - to give Rubie a suitable life.
They will need to build an extension on their house to build a wet room and a bigger, more suitable room. They also will need a specialist bed and a new vehicle.
Her mum said: "It means the world to us, the hospital have said once she is out she won't be getting as many infections, for example she has had sepsis six times so we really want to get her out and get her home.
"They've also said we will see some kind of improvement because she will be comfortable and know where she is. We will work with her everyday, not just nurses, all of us, so we really want her home."