Mr Rafid Al-Mahfoudh 2016-09-17 Person 5 5 0

I believe in providing feedback to the provider whether that be negative to enable necessary development or positive to provide credit where it is due. It also enables me to share my thoughts and experiences with others should they wish to read them. I was admitted to Princess Royal Hospital on 3/7/16 following a fall which left me with no movement in any of my limbs below my neck and the fear of this being permanent. Following investigation including xrays / CT scans / MRI scans for brain, neck and spine and diagnosis of brain damage and spinal cord injury, I was transferred to the Neurosurgery team at Royal Sussex County Hospital on 4/7/16. Between 3rd and 21st July my care was overseen by a variety of medical personnel and various interventions were considered ranging from a spinal operation within a couple of days to no longer requiring any intervention and resorting to physio / rehabilitation instead, which was very confusing and concerning as although I had regained the use of the majority of my limbs (although weakened and restricted), my right hand was still compromised / restricted and I had very little if any movement / feeling in my right foot and right leg from the knee down to my toes. I was disheartened and still fearful of not regaining the use of my right leg / foot. However, I then met Mr Rafid Al-mahfoudh for the first time on 22nd July when he became involved in my care. He took time to chat with me and my husband and explained his diagnosis and why he felt I required surgery on my cervical spine involving C6 corpectomy and C4/5 disc fusion with metal plate / cage framework. He ensured he explained all the risks in simple terms but also provided them in a statistical measurement, enabling us to be fully aware and able to make an informed decision about the way we progressed forward. He was very approachable and willing to answer any questions we might have. For the first time since my fall, whilst we knew there were life threatening risks and/or permanent paralysis involved with the surgery, these were risks we were prepared to take in order to hopefully regain movement in my right side and on going independence. We felt optimistic about the future and decided to go ahead with the operation feeling at ease and reassured we would be provided the best possible outcome under Mr Al-mahfoudh's professional expertise and care. Mr Al-mahfoudh was going to be at that hospital on rotation until Thursday 28/7 and my operation date was scheduled for Tuesday 26/7. Despite further medical issues such as discovering I had a systolic heart murmur and dangerously low diabetes blood sugar levels (I'm type 2 diabetic with usually well controlled blood sugars), Mr Al-mahfoudh ensured all the necessary investigations / interventions were carried out. Given some of these issues presented themselves on the day of the surgery, not only did it delay the time of my surgery, but it also lead to Mr Al-mahfoudh and his theatre team ending their work shift hours later than they should have and me being taken to HDU overnight as ultimately, my care and well-being was their main priority. Mr Al-mahfoudh and each of his team put my needs before their own without hesitation and I will always remember and be thankful to them for going above and beyond their duty for me. Despite their late finish on 26/7, Mr Al-mahfoudh visited me in HDU early hours of 27/7 to check how I was doing and to update me regarding the operation. He then visited again the following day when I was back on the ward and I couldn't express my feelings of absolute joy and relief as he asked how I was doing and I was able to not only lift my right leg, but was also able to draw circles in the air with my right foot, less than 48 hours after his surgery! Absolutely amazing! I was discharged home on 2nd August for rehabilitation / on going recovery. Not only has my progress to date amazed my myself, husband, family and friends, but it's been positively commented upon by the Occupational Therapist, Phisiotherapist and GP overseeing my rehabilitation / recovery. We saw Mr Al-mahfoudh for review on 14/9 and he's delighted with my progress and very reassured by the xrays taken - everything is recovering amazingly and he's confident that this progress will continue over the forthcoming months and he will continue to check progress with us when we see him in about 8 weeks time. We owe Mr Al-mahfoudh so much - without him / his intervention, I could easily still be sitting with very minimal mobility if not worse! Thank you so much, you're a star and an absolute credit to your profession as well as being a wonderful caring person. If ever I need further spinal work done ... you'll be my first port of call without any doubt!