Have a heart!

Jack Allen celebrated his 90th birthday last week. Happy birthday, Jack – 90 is a great achievement. But although he was celebrating, and looking forward, Jack took time out to take a birthday gift to the people who made it possible for him to reach that milestone birthday.

It was October 2014 when Jack was admitted to St Bartholomew’s to have an aortic valve replaced. Even though he was aged 88, it was still a planned and routine operation. However, the day before he was due to leave the hospital, his condition deteriorated. Fortunately, with medics close at hand, no time was lost in taking Jack for emergency surgery. He was technically dead for ten minutes, but the cardiac team pulled him through. Jack then had an unplanned stay at Barts, initially in the intensive care unit. His worried family were delighted to see him gradually recover.

Jack used to drive a black cab himself, so – a birthday treat – his family splashed out on a vintage 1950 black cab to take him Barts to present a cheque for £1,000 to the staff who saved his life. Jack – along with his daughter Lynda and family – met Julie Middlehurst, part of the cardiac team who treated him in 2014, and Ben Adams, a cardiac registrar at the hospital.

“It was a great way to celebrate Jack’s 90th,” said Lynda. “My father owes his extension of life to the surgeons and nursing staff at St Bartholomew’s and had his relapse not occurred at the hospital, then he would not be here today. It was humbling to witness the staff at work, with such devoted attention. Indeed, this is the very best of the National Health Service and certainly deserves a higher recognition to the wider community.”

Simon Pitts, Community Manager at Barts Charity, added: “We are so grateful to Jack for making this amazing donation to Ward 4B HDU and the staff that work there. His story is testament to the incredible care that the Unit provides every day, and for Jack to remember them on his special birthday is a wonderful gesture.”

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