A Mansfield woman is urging others to share their thank you stories of their experiences with the NHS.

Maria Gunning said she was inspired to tell her story after watching an item on ITV’s Lorraine programme, where Adam Kay had put together a compilation of celebrities’ thank you stories for the NHS.

“I was so touched by the idea I began thinking of my own personal experiences with the NHS and realised I have so much to be thankful for,” she said.

“What a heart-warming idea to show our loyal gratitude to one of the greatest achievements of our nation – the NHS.

“In these unprecedented times of Covid 19 we all need to reflect and remind ourselves of how cherished our NHS workers are.

“My life could have been very different had it not been for the professional medical service we have received as a family time after time.”

Maria said the first time her family had cause to be grateful to the NHS was on 1st January, 1992.

She recalled: “My dear dad had a massive heart attack. Had he not been in the right place (Mansfield General Hospital) at the right time we would have lost him that day. We always believed he had a guardian angel looking out for him; he was brought back with a defibrillator and never took life for granted again.

“My dad believed he had been given a second chance and was up out of bed the following day, helping the staff wash dishes! He quit smoking and took up swimming and was rewarded with another 11 years of precious life.

“In those cherished years he was able to walk my sister, Rachel, and myself down the aisle (see photo top). He became a grandad for the first time to Matthew, a long-awaited grandson (after being blessed with three daughters) and then three years later a beautiful granddaughter, Megan.

He travelled to so many places he had always wanted to visit in the USA and Canada. Such cherished memories. Without the intervention of the NHS, my dad could have missed out on so much.”

Thank you NHS.

Maria said her second reason for thanking the NHS was for “my treasured sight.”

She said: “Over the years you could say I’ve been in the wars with my eyes. I have sustained two retinal detachments to my right eye, making me partially sighted, and had to undergo emergency surgery. I then discovered I had a cataract on my left eye and had to have it removed and a replacement lens fitted, giving me 20/20 vision. It was like a miracle after being short-sighted since being a child. Thank you Gavin Orr and Professor Stephen Vernon at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.”

Thank you NHS.

Maria has also thanked the NHS for saving her mum’s life not long after the loss of her dad in 2002.

“She developed a severe chest infection and blood clot to the lung. Once again we were fortunate as a family, as mum was in the right place at the right time (King’s Mill Hospital) and made a full recovery. She has also had to overcome breast cancer and continues to have annual mammograms; the relief when she is given the all clear… well we can’t describe the relief.”

Thank you NHS.

Maria also thanked the NHS for her husband, Tony’s, sight.

She explained: “He was involved in an unprovoked assault whilst out in town one evening, resulting in a blow out fracture to his eye. He had to undergo maxillofacial emergency surgery and now has a titanium mesh plate in his face to hold his eye socket in place.

“Looking at his handsome face you would never know it was there and fortunately his sight wasn’t affected. Thank you Mr D. Srinivasan, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.”

Thank you NHS.

Maria continued:

“So very many times to be thankful for the wonderful service of the NHS… last, but definitely not least, the births of our beautiful sons, Daniel, born on 14th July, 2003, and Calum, born on 29th May, 2007, both brought into this wonderful world safely with joy by the skilled nurses and midwifes of King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton.”

Thank you NHS.

Maria said she also wanted to say thanks and show recognition to Dawn Ellis (operating department practitioner), Sharon Norman and Sarah Ellis-Lock, nursing staff – three of my most treasured and loyal friends who have been there for me every step of my life and deserve recognition by the bucketload for being the most conscientious caring NHS workers. I’m so blessed and fortunate to have them in my life as wonderful friends too. I clap very loudly for you all.”

Thank you NHS. You are all heroes.

If you would like to share your story tribute to the NHS, email the details (no more than 600 words) to [email protected] and we will share here on the News Journal website.