I am a level 3 qualified Powertex tutor. In 2017 I am
delighted to announce that I will be adding a new type of Powertex workshops to
the ones I already offer. In 2016 my family was hit with an emotional roller
coaster. My husband was rushed to Papworth Hospital and placed on the
urgent waiting list for a heart transplant.After weeks of waiting on the
outside. Feeling utterly helpless. The phone call telling me that a
possible heart had been found. The kaleidoscope of emotions that bombarded
every inch of my being is impossible to adequately describe, I felt out of
control. Everything spiraled into a vortex of hope, fear, excitement and
nausea; and underlying all of the above was one other feeling. The
feeling of guilt, it was subtle for sure, in comparison to all the other
emotions that collided and collapsed into each other as the news sunk in.
But it was definitely there. Lurking uncomfortably amidst all that
hope. Whispering to me that as my family was being offered a lifeline,
another family somewhere had had that lifeline taken away from them. Then the
emotional roller coaster eased into a different gear, as I was told
that after undergoing lengthy testing, they were unable to use the heart
in this case. What do you do when this happens? What can you do?
There is only one thing you can do. Continue to wait. And hope
against hope for the next time. All the while trying to ignore that persistent
little whisper ‘your just waiting for someone else to die.’ Logically you know
that is not the case. Logically you know, from all the personal accounts
you make it your business to read, that donor families gain some form of
comfort in knowing that their loved one has done an amazing thing. From
knowing that their loved one has passed on the most amazing gift
ever. Logically you know all of this. But for me anyway, that
sense of guilt subtly, but stubbornly refused to budge.I had two more phone
calls like the first one. The kaleidoscopic assault on the
senses was just as vivid each time. And yes, the devastation you
feel when, for whatever reason, the heart cannot be used hits you like a ten
tonne brick each time. But thankfully, for me anyway that
lurking, unjustified whisper did start to recede.Eventually
reality sunk in. The reality that, sadly, the donor would have
passed away regardless of whether my husband received their heart or not.And
then a miracle happened. Another phone call. And then you get
the news that yes. This is it. This time it really is
happening.And after hours, and hours, and hours in surgery you get to see your
loved one. And your loved one is totally away with the fairies. And
battered and bruised. And looking pretty damn rough. But they have
survived. They have made it through. They are alive.The gratitude
we as a family have, will always have, to the donor and their family is
impossible to convey. We think of them often, and raise a glass to them
when we gave a toast at Christmas. And on special occasions. And
will continue to do so.They will never be forgotten. They are our
heroes.The other heroes are the staff at Papworth Hospital. Every one of
them. Sometimes those surgeons perform two heart transplants in one day.
Can you imagine that? Whenever I think I’ve had a stressful day. I
remind myself just how shattered they must be at the end of a shift. Not
just the surgeons though. Everyone at that hospital works so hard,
dealing with the ripples of organ donation every single day.Ripples of joy,
devastation, anger, frustration and many many more. Including those ripples of
guilt.The guilt I felt has completely subsided now. I am now at peace
with the wonderful gift that has been given to our family. And we give
thanks daily.Which leads me onto my very small way of giving something back.As
a level 3 Powertex tutor I run Powertex sculpting workshops. This is my
business, and is slowly but surely picking up again, after being put on hold
for much of last year.Alongside my regular workshops, I now offer Powertex Art
4 A Heart Workshops.Any time you see my workshops advertised as Powertex Art 4
A Heart Workshops, you know that a percentage of the fee charged will be
donated straight to The Papworth Hospital Charity. www.papworthhospitalcharity.org Details
of these Powertex workshops can be found on my facebook page
www.facebook.com/artmuralsbydonnamcghie and on my website
www.artandmurals.co.ukIf you fancy coming along and creating something
beautiful with Powertex, whilst also contributing in a very small way to the
fantastic work done by the Papworth Hospital Transplant Team then please do
come along.I’d love to see you.
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