Nigel and Martha return to the wards to give hope to other patients

A dad who spent more than 100 days in hospital with a rare condition that left him paralysed has returned to the wards to give hope to others in similar situations.

Nigel Avery’s family were told to prepare for the worst after he developed Guillain Barre syndrome, a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s nerves. Doctors put him into a coma to help his body recover, and he needed weeks of intensive therapy on a specialist ward to relearn how to sit, stand, talk and walk.

As well as regular visits from his wife Hilary, and other family members, staff at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C) helped arrange for his beloved dog Martha to visit – with immediate positive effects. It gave him such a boost that two years on the pair have completed therapy dog training and are back on the same wards where Nigel was treated.

The 57 year old, who took flexible retirement from his role as business manager at a primary school in Broadstairs and now works part-time there as finance and health and safety officer, said: “My aim was to come back and give something back to the place that helped me so much.

“The care I received was absolutely awesome and I can never repay the debt of gratitude I have to them.

“Martha’s visits gave me a little bit of light in moments of extreme darkness and I hope we can offer the same to other people.

“Animals can offer something medicine cannot; they can help put a smile on someone’s face.

“I hope I can also bring some hope and show people that there is a life waiting for them outside hospital.”

Medics believe Nigel’s condition was triggered by Covid, and it initially started with weakness in his legs. After he collapsed at home, his wife called 111 and the couple were advised to go to the emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Tests confirmed it was Guillain Barre syndrome, and Nigel, who lives in Ash, was transferred to the critical care unit at K&C.

He said: “I remember being in the ambulance to Canterbury but then nothing after that. I was intubated and hooked up to all sorts of machines as they did their best to treat the condition and save my life.

“My family were told I might not make it because the treatment wasn’t working, but they tried a second cycle and then I started to respond.”

Martha visited the hospital four times, and staff wheeled Nigel’s bed – complete with life-saving equipment such as a ventilator – outside to allow them to spend time together.

He said: “I don’t remember the first visit but the staff said it was clear it was having an impact.

“I couldn’t move at first but they put treats in between my fingers for her and each visit really gave me motivation to get better so I could get home to my wife and to Martha.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the awesome staff. They are so incredibly busy but found time to wheel me outside so she could visit.”

Nigel spent weeks recovering on the specialist neurorehabilitation ward, where many of his fellow patients were stroke survivors. It was them who gave him the inspiration to enrol Martha in therapy dog training.

He said: “Being there made me realise how lucky I was. I was getting better, although it was a very slow process, but for some of the others who had suffered a stroke, it was much more difficult.

“When I came home I saw some videos of stroke survivors in hospital who were visited by a therapy dog and it was clear the impact it had on them, so I thought it was something we could do.

“It also benefits their relatives who are visiting, and the staff, so it is a way to thank them for their care. Nothing was too much trouble for them, and I had the best of everything from the whole team; the consultants to the cleaners, and it is lovely to be able to give something back.”

Yvonne Mercer, clinical skills facilitator for critical care, said: “When Nigel left critical care, he couldn’t stand so it is absolutely wonderful to see him return looking so fit and healthy.

“It was clear he missed Martha when he was in hospital, and his wife told us she was really missing him too, so we thought a visit would help them both.

“We often see real benefits when a patient’s dog is able to visit; for their owner but also for the other patients, so we’re delighted to welcome Martha back as a therapy dog.”