Gillian Rowe contacted the Friends Membership Scheme to share her story and tell us why she became a Friend of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
"When I was born, 44 years ago, I became very ill very quickly. After many tests I was found to have kidney trouble and was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
They diagnosed that I was born with a deformed kidney and without a valve into the bladder from this kidney. I was very quickly operated on and a new valve was made using pioneering reconstructive plastic surgery techniques.
I am pleased to say that Great Ormond Street Hospital gave me the chance to have an active and normal life, for which I am forever grateful.
During recent tests I was given the opportunity to view the reconstructed valve and the consultant said,’ they did a brilliant job with the reconstruction on such a small baby’ and commented how similar it was in appearance to the ‘normal’ valve.
I am eternally grateful that I was given the opportunity to live a normal life and wish to say a big thank you to Great Ormond Street Hospital. I was too little at the time of the operation to remember my experience, but I had several years of check-ups and tests and remember the hospital and staff fondly (and thankfully my experience did not make me afraid of hospitals!)"
