Disaster strikes

I sat with Christopher, my daughter and granddaughter yesterday afternoon in front of the tv screen, in silence, and close to tears, as we watched the horrendous fire attempting to engulf the Royal Marsden in flames and threatening to burn it to the ground. Little Mia put her arm round me and her head close to mine as we watched the heroics of the amazing staff and teams of firefighters who were surely risking their lives to save this precious, precious place where anyone fighting cancer will feel loved, supported, special and safe and for the majority of us, it is free.

Miraculously, all six of the patients in intensive care were carefully and safely transported to a neighboring hospital safely. Amazingly two operations in progress were halted midstream (doesn't bear contemplating for too long) and the patients stabilised and moved to a place of safety.

Everyone else who was fairly mobile or in for day patient treatment carried on, it seems, cheerfully in the way we all do with our cups of tea, until it was time to move to the local church. The nurses who I have always referred to as ‘Angels from Heaven’ didn’t even stop to put their own coats on in the 3 degree freezing weather. The firemen could be seen on precarious and crumbling ledges taking their chances to strenuously beat back the flames. There was no panic, no screaming. Everyone in this amazing building was saved quietly; courageously and with dignity, and not a single complaint or winge voiced.

Thank God this morning, though too early to say for sure, it seems that the main part of the building will be operational in a day or two. The biggest problem will be for anyone facing surgery but, knowing the care that is always given to the patients, with their very best interests (and nothing to do with money) at heart, I feel confident that this problem will be tackled swiftly, and operating theaters found elsewhere very soon, so that patients can be given the same care with the same surgeons and anesthetists but in a different operating theater to the Marsden perhaps.

But why oh why is it not front page news on every paper? Why do salacious articles about Macca’s divorce or the latest gossip on newly sprung “celebrities” dominate over this tale of triumph over disaster? Why do tales of human bravery, human courage, human kindness, human spirit, and the wisdom and immaculate organisation of the super-professional staff at the Marsden, (not to mention the fire brigade) and the fighting spirit of the British at their best, NOT dominate the headlines?

We don't yet know how the fire started but the usual 'work going on on the roof' as it was at Windsor Castle a few years ago may give a clue!

Hopefully the sheer excellence, altruism, professionalism and genuine care of the management and staff and of all others concerned in the management of the Royal Marsden will be brought more into focus now and funds quickly accumulated to make it the even more magnificent "jewel in our crown" than ever before.