A Night Of High Drama

In 1994 I published a book, NOT THE CONCRETE COWS.  This was a collection of newspaper and magazine articles I had written. Here is something I wrote after I had been with a driver from Valley Medical Transport to collect a young transplant patient from London's Heathrow Airport.

It was a filthy night. The wind was battering the side of our house and rain hitting the ground so hard it was bouncing up again for several inches. I hate winter afternoons when it becomes prematurely dark, on this day it felt as if it had been dark since lunch time. I had gone out to meet my son's school 'bus and save him the drenching walking home would have given.

As I pulled up in front of the house my wife was standing there waiting to meet me. "Valley Medical has just 'phoned, can you go with a driver to Heathrow Airport ? There's a baby being flown in from  Ireland for a transplant  in London ?"

A quick snatch for my camera, notebook and money before I too was standing in the driveway waiting for the car.  I heard the sirens well before it pulled up, the blue lights illuminating the entire street. A night of high drama was about to unfold.

London Heathrow is not the most accessible place on earth and hardly user friendly. On a stormy night with extensive roadworks on the M1 it was going to be difficult. It was the time when the extra lane was being added to the section between Luton and the A5 junction with the contractors thinking it would be fun to close down most of the access points onto the motorway. 

The kidney is an organ that will tolerate being out of the body for quite some time but the shorter the period between donor and recipient the better.

The identity of the donor is kept strictly confidential so this particular organ could have come from anywhere in the country, indeed Northern Europe. There was no way we could know the time scale involved but we did know that Valley Medical Transport had been charged with getting the patient from the airport to Guys Hospital as quickly as possible.

With the frustration of the motorway roadworks we decided to opt for the A5. My job was to sit in the passenger seat and work the siren leaving the driver free to concentrate on the road.  I have to confess to a certain thrill and sense of power as the flick of a switch screamed the cars ahead of us out of the way. But it was a terrific responsibility, not only was it important we get through as quickly as possible but safety had to be preserved not only for ourselves but also for every other road user.

Valley Medical Transport's office had faxed all the police forces along our route to advise the of our movements. On the M25 officers in a police Range Rover waved and gave us the thumbs up as we passed.

The weather was steadily worsening with gales battering the car. A severe weather warning was in force and we could not help thinking of our infant charge high over the Irish Sea. What kind of a flight was he having ?

At Terminal One the police were waiting for us and directed the car to a reserved parking place right outside the Aer Lingus gate. It was the first time I have never had any difficulty parking at Heathrow !

Inside, Aer Lingus staff were trying hard to cope with the worst night for flying all year. Many aircraft had been unable to take off from the smaller Irish airfields and our Dublin flight had been delayed. There was nothing we could do but wait.

The airline staff were brilliant. The patient was highlighted on the passenger computer and a special escort detailed to meet him and his mother once the plane was on the ground. Heaathrow's police then liaised with customs and immigration to ensure no delay, but first the aircraft had to land.

I am afraid I may have made something of a nuisance of myself as I pestered Aer Lingus staff for updates on the aircraft's progress.

"It's just twenty minutes away Sir."

"It's holding in the stack, shouldn't be too long now."

Then just as we were about to suggest we ask air traffic control if they could run a ladder up and bring everyone down came the news we wanted. "They are on final approach now."

"The aircraft is on the ground. Shouldn't be much longer."

Eventually young Jamie and his Mum emerged.  Into the car and we were off along the M4 towards London.

It was two weeks before Christmas and the lights of Harrods shone brighter than those of the car. We covered the distance from the airport to Guys Hospital in just half an hour, delivering young Jamie in time for his kidney transplant. Another successful mission for Valley Medical Transport.

Jamie's kidney transplant was a success. While he was in hospital his mother stayed in Ronald McDonald House within the grounds of the hospital.  The following April my own

daughter received a kidney transplant at Guys Hospital. My family then enjoyed the hospitality of Ronald McDonald as we stayed in his Guys Hospital House.  I have a very clear memory of sitting at a table in Ronald McDonald House one Sunday afternoon, papers spread all over the place, as I edited the different newspaper and magazine articles for the book.

Next week I am heading down to London to visit the new Ronald McDonald House supporting families of sick children in hospital. Support Jamie's Mum and my own family so warmly and lovingly received.

Within the book I gathered together five features I had written about different not for profit organisations. I grouped them under the title:

A MAN WHO GIVE YOU MONEY GIVES YOU NOTHING BUT A MAN WHO GIVES YOU HIS TIME GIVES YOU HIS LIFE. 

A little corny perhaps and my style of writing today would probably have come up with something better but it is true. Would you not agree ?