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Rob's Story

Rob's Story

For you that don't know about VEDS Vascular Ehlers Danlos perhaps you're asking....

Why is the work of Annabelle's Challenge so important?

Why is it so crucial to raise awareness?

Why does it help so much to come together and support each other as a family?

Why......? I hope this story helps....

This is my story and there are so many more just like it.....begins on 23 October 2009.....Our son, Ryan Luke Eaton died on this day aged just 17 and a half...barely two months after his granddad Bryan.....Our world stopped!

Ryan suffered a ruptured Aortic Aneurysm, he died in our arms in Poole Hospital. Being there with him, for him, is the only silver lining that we still cling to today and I will be forever grateful to Joanne Tomlin for that.

How do we go on? .....We just do.....but it's very, very dark.....
For Debbie and I, the love and support of great friends and family has kept us alive......
So when on 12 Nov 2011, my 47th birthday, Debbie, our close friends Martin and Penny and I were sat at the breakfast table, a really happy moment! I learnt once again how things can change in a heart beat! Debbie complained of severe pain in her belly, alarm bells were sounding in my head...not again...Ryan.... 
WHY?.....

Debbie and Ryan suffer from VEDS previously known as Ehlers-Danlos Type 4 Vascular look it up, it's scary reading! Debbie collapsed unconscious, no colour, I couldn't find a pulse and her breathing was really shallow...it was happening again!

Being ex-military, training kicks in. It doesn't mean you are not scared, just the opposite. You just control it, you have to! A airway B breathing C circulation. Into the recovery position, maintain Debbie's airway and 999 our only hope. Debbie's splenic artery aneurysm had spontaneously ruptured pumping blood into her belly. I prayed they would be quick as no matter what I did there was no way I could save her.

I knew only too well that I needed an amazing surgeon and alot of help from the "Big Man" upstairs. That day my prayers were answered.....and it doesn't matter who you pray to....we all do! 8 days in ITU (Intensive Care Unit) and 3 weeks on Ward B4 and then unbelievably, Debbie came home.

Debbie had an Angel on her shoulder that day...Hey Ryan.....

THAT'S VEDS....
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After losing our son, how could I possibly repay the man that against all the odds saved the life of my wife? I know full well lesser men would have walked away..Tas didn't .....our paths were meant to cross.

This is how Tas, Professor Tas Qureshi saw that day: "When I first met Mrs Eaton, she had suffered catastrophic internal bleeding which was a risk to her life. This was due to a ruptured blood vessel called an aneurysm.

Although it was known Mrs Eaton had this aneurysm, it was deemed too risky to operate on routinely. The situation I was faced with meant that without intervention, Mrs Eaton would have died, therefore I operated to at least give her a chance of survival. Thankfully, I was able to control the bleeding and fix the aneurysm.

Understandably, the recovery was protracted due to the massive blood transfusion required, but it was largely uneventful. Obviously we are all absolutely delighted with the outcome, which is also due to the tenacity and determination of Mrs Eaton herself."

Modest for a surgeon, but that day I saw his eyes and the sweat on his brow, Mr Tas Qureshi knew he had earned his pay that day. More than that, my total admiration, respect and undying thanks.

Raising awareness means surgeons like Prof Qureshi don't walk into a dark room.....VEDS patients are the Zebra in a row of horses....and that knowledge and understanding of the condition can mean the difference between life and death.

The work of Annabelle's Challenge raising awareness, supporting families, looking to the future is quite literally a life saving endeavour which I'm proud to be a part of.
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