Sophie gives back to St Thomas’ after they save her life
A student nurse is completing her training at the same hospital that treated her for meningitis and saved her life five years ago – the experience inspired her to study nursingA London South Bank University (LSBU) student nurse who nearly died from meningitis is now training at the hospital that saved her life.
Sophie Royce, 25, suffered multiple organ failure, went into cardiac arrest and was given a one per cent chance of survival after contracting meningococcal septicaemia five years ago.
A specialist team from St Thomas’ Hospital was sent to Surrey to stabilise her, place her on an ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machine, which takes over the functions of the heart and lungs, and transfer her to London.
When she returned home from St Thomas’ two months later, Sophie had a new desire to provide outstanding nursing care to those in need, just like she received in hospital.
Now in her final year at LSBU, Sophie is doing her practical training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
“There’s no way I would have considered becoming a nurse if it hadn’t been for what happened to me,” Sophie said.
“I was in hospital for a long time and being around nurses and seeing the difference they make to patients made me realise that’s what I wanted to do.
“It was a lovely coincidence to find out that I would be doing my training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ after the teams here did so much for me. I’d love to work here full-time eventually.”
Find out more about studying nursing at LSBU.
Image: Thanks to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust