As the medical strike rages on in the UK, one mum has come forward to share the powerful story behind a viral photo that captured hearts and minds everywhere this week.
In case you are unaware, junior doctors have gone on strike over proposals set out by England’s Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, which they claim will leave staff overworked and more liable to make mistakes on the job.
Amid the hundreds of placards and signs visible at the protests this week, one held by a child became the subject of a now viral photo. Clinging onto a doll, the little one was seen holding a piece of cardboard that read, “A junior doctor saved my life and my mummy’s too”.
After being shared to social media and reaching viral status, the mum behind the photo came forward to share the story behind the powerful placard, in a series of tweets.
Okay, so this picture of my bairn is doing the rounds and I think the story that goes with it is probably important. pic.twitter.com/0wPMrCD1WO
— geralt of rivia (@thewildestsea) January 12, 2016
Known only by her Twitter handle, Geralt of Rivia, the mum’s story went like this:
“Okay, so this picture of my Bairn is doing the rounds and I think the story that goes with it is probably important. I went into labour on a Friday. Having had a very blasé day of minor contractions, we went into the ward at 8pm. I was triaged.
“After saying I didn’t want to go home, even only being a few [centimetres] dilated, I met the first of three junior doctors. She moved me to antenatal.
“I wasn’t the intended use of the antenatal ward, and despite not having my notes, that doctor evaluated my situation and found me a bed. I was on antenatal for less than an hour…when they found another junior doctor.
“The second junior doctor agreed to move me to the labour ward the moment I was dilated enough, and made sure I was given adequate meds. I had an epidural, then slept ‘til around 3am. The staff made every effort to accommodate me. They turned down the lights so I could sleep. They found Jos a blanket so she could sleep too. At 3am, the midwife woke me gently without taking the lights up, and said that they had lost #stripelet’s heartbeat. She was calm and soothing and said she’d probably just moved from the monitor and that she’d attach another.
“Within 30 seconds, the room was bright and full of staff. A man I had seen on my way in, sat in the room/cupboard labelled ‘junior doctors’ was suddenly in front of me, explaining quickly and as clearly as he could that he was going to save my child. I wasn’t given time to fear.
“It took three minutes exactly from this point to when #stripelet was born. He let me touch him before taking him to the resuscitator.
“This junior doctor, working at 3am on an otherwise vacant ward on a Saturday, talked me through patching me up, and gave me more anaesthetic.
The grateful mother went on to add: “I cannot imagine being that alert at 3am on a Saturday, and being that fast and clear and caring. But that doctor who saved #stripelet was. If he had worked a dangerously long shift in the run-up to that 3am emergency, #stripelet probably wouldn’t be alive. Neither would I.”
Please remember that the people on strike today are people, and they are heroes, but they are not magical, or untiring, or infallible.
— geralt of rivia (@thewildestsea) January 12, 2016
If you want to be treated by heroes rather than fallible people, then you need to give them space to be people outside of work.
— geralt of rivia (@thewildestsea) January 12, 2016
Tweeting in reply to the mother’s powerful story, Twitter users were moved to tears by the tale and also expressed their gratitude for her strong message.
