John Etches (5 Oct 1946 - 6 Mar 2024)

We would like to share our dad’s story

John/Dad had a fall early in the morning of Saturday 24th February. As he was short of breath and appeared unwell, an ambulance was called and he was taken to the A&E department at the QMC. Following a chest X-ray he was diagnosed with pneumonia. A decision was made to admit him, he remained in A&E for 24 hours with loved ones by his side, whilst waiting for a bed on a ward at Nottingham City Hospital.

John/Dad was transferred to Morton Ward (respiratory ward) at Nottingham City Hospital at 8am Sunday 25th February. He appeared reasonably well despite his pneumonia. He enjoyed his porridge and honey for breakfast (he loved sweet things) and a roast beef dinner. However soon after he developed severe Bradycardia (slow heart beat) and became acutely critical. This became a very frightening experience for him and his loved ones who were by his side at this time. Within minutes there were a team of doctors and nurses trying desperately to treat this condition. John/Dad was reviewed by the on-call cardiologist and was diagnosed with complete heart block and was then transferred to ACU (Acute Coronary Unit) to await a temporary pacemaker insertion. Unfortunately before this could be carried out, he suffered 5 cardiac arrest late on Sunday night, after receiving CPR by the amazing doctors and nurses, they managed to revive him to allow him to remain in our lives for a further 10 days. Where we were able to tell him how much he was loved.

After his 5 cardiac arrests, John/Dad was rushed to cath lab (Cardiac vascular theatres) where a temporary pacemaker was inserted and then placed into an induced coma and was then cared by the wonderful team of doctors and nurses in the critical care department (where only the sickest patients in Nottingham are treated) He had made a steady recovery, until he suffered another cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday 28th February. He received a successful CPR and underwent another insertion of a temporary pacemaker 2 days later. Unfortunately he developed a further pneumonia and respiratory failure (we were warned at the very beginning by the critical care consultant that patients receiving care on CCD tend to take 2 steps forward and 5 steps back) Just as we started to believe he would make a full recovery, things suddenly looked bleak. The critical care consultant had a careful discussion with the whole family regarding John/Dad’s needs as he had become severely fail and extremely exhausted by all of these events and it was evident that his body was unable to cope and was beginning to shut down. As a family with the support of the critical care consultants, the heart-breaking decision was made with love at the centre of this, that he should be started on the end of life care-pathway.

End of life pathway started Tuesday 5th March and he was able to spend time with his beloved wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren and sister in law. We had cuddles, kisses and so much love from him before he became distressed and needed to medicated to make him relax and comfortable. His whole family was by his side till he sadly passed away on Wednesday 6th March at 18.30.

We cannot thank the team on ACU and CCD enough for saving his life 6 times and by them doing this, we got to kiss, cuddle and love him for a further 10 days. These teams are absolutely amazing and we would like to raise as much money as we can for these departments at Nottingham City Hospital so they can do the same for another family like us! To donate money please click on the link below.

In loving memory of John Etches who sadly passed away on 6th March 2024.

John leaves behind his beloved wife Christine, 5 daughters, 2 sons, 18 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

My darling husband will be sadly missed by myself and all his loved ones.

For John’s celebration we respectfully request donations in lieu of flowers (if desired) to the chosen charity of NCH ACU/CCD