A former NHS worker who fell into addiction after leaving the job has now thanked her former employer - for saving her life. Kim Targett, 53, began working in the NHS in 1988 but had to leave her job in 2018.
After losing her income, she was unable to find a new job due to an injury - eventually becoming homeless and dependent on alcohol. In December 2021 she was admitted to Derriford hospital after spending several days incapacitated on the floor, where she was found to be suffering from prolonged liver dysfunction.
She was only found after her friend Julie, working at University Hospital Plymouth, raised concerns with the police after Kim stopped posting on social media. As a result she developed a serious and potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy.
Thanks to several months of dialysis, rehabilitation and physiotherapy, she has now thanked NHS staff for saving her. Kim, from Plymouth, said: "It was a really tough time, and I was in a really bad place.
“I remember waking up in a side room with a lot of tubes attached to me. I had mittens on my hands to protect the tubes, but I wasn’t sure what had happened until a doctor informed me. It turned out that bacteria from my stomach had been transferred to my brain, causing encephalopathy.
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“The team on Hembury looked after me day in and day out. It was nice to have company, as at home, the only company I had was alcohol. I was later transferred back to a bay on Hembury ward and throughout my time there all the staff were amazing.
"I particularly remember that the healthcare assistants were fantastic and really looked after me. They brought in the Physiotherapy team where I met Jess Henry and Zoe Hardie – they really encouraged me to get back on my feet and did everything without judgement.”
Kim was determined to attend the wedding of her friend Julie's daughter after the pair worked tirelessly to help her during her 'lowest points'. With help from physiotherapists Zoe and Jess, she was discharged in July last year in time for the wedding in August.
Kim added: “Julie and her daughter helped me a lot when I was at low points of my life. I really wanted to push myself and get better so I could attend the wedding in August. Instead of eating in bed, I pushed myself to sit up when I had my food. I stood up and then had to do it again and again, correcting my posture and progressing through the physiotherapy process.
“I was helped so much by Zoe and Jess. If it hadn’t been for them, I think it would have taken much longer for me to recover. They took me outside on sunny days, took me down to the physiotherapy gym and eventually I was able to walk a few steps with the parallel bars.
“While I was at Mount Gould, I was able to progress to using crutches on the advice of Jess and Zoe. Then I was away – marching up and down the wards. I got to the wedding and I’m doing well now. I go on a long walk about once a week, I’ve joined a gym and I’m still working hard to progress with my physiotherapy. I am also proud to be over year sober and recently celebrated 400 days.
“My goals now are to be able to return to driving and get back on my Harley Davidson. I’m now in the headspace of ‘you nearly died; you have to sort your life out’ so I’m trying to do as much as I can. At the start of my recovery I was in touch with Jess and Zoe every now and then as I liked to share my recovery progress with them.
"I’m so grateful for what they, and all the other staff who treated me, have done for me. I owe my life to the amazing staff at UHP.”
