Inspirational elder discharged from hospice raising money for service

A church elder who spent eight weeks receiving end of life care in a hospice made a "miraculous" recovery and is now limbering up to do a sponsored five-mile walk.

Harry Marsh, 83, will walk the distance round the loch at Drumpellier Country Park near Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire on 19 May to raise money for St Andrews Hospice.

He said he owed a debt of gratitude to staff at the Airdrie facility whose dedication "put him back on his feet"

"There is no way I can repay them for the care and kindness in every aspect of human dignity they showed me," he added.

"But money helps keep the system going and I want to raise awareness of the wonderful work they do."

Mr Marsh, a member of Bothwell Parish Church in South Lanarkshire, has set up an online fundraising page that people can use to sponsor him.

Explaining what happened to him, he said: "On 3 November last year, my life changed forever when I became victim to Streptococcal A infection with Necrotising Fasciitis (a bacterial infection) which led to septic shock.

"I spent a month in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie on intravenous antibiotics, and continuous oxygen to compensate for lung damage.

"These treatments, together with the skills of the medical and nursing staff, no doubt saved my life.

"I was then transferred to nearby St Andrews Hospice, where I spent the next eight weeks since there was no other treatment the general hospital could offer.

"It appeared palliative care was the best and only option."

Mr Marsh, a grandfather of four who turns 84 on 6 May, said he and his family and friends drew on the strength of their Christian faith to sustain them.

"The love, prayers and concern from our many friends and the congregation of Bothwell Parish Church was amazing, and was a great support to my wife and family."

Mr Marsh admitted the first few months of his recovery at home were tough.

"My horizon was impossible to see, I couldn't see a future because I could only see myself house-bound and not able to do what I did before," he added.

"Many prayers were being said for me and I did not know if there was going to be a future for me.

"But a good friend looked me in the eye and said ‘you have been saved.

"God must have a purpose for you and you have to find out what that purpose is."

Mr Marsh no longer has to rely on walking aids, his breathing has improved and he has been working hard to build up his fitness again.

He is lucky to have been a fit man before his illness and in 2021, he raised £9,000 for Bothwell Parish Church after completing a virtual bike ride between Land's End and John o'Groats.

He pedalled for a total of 62 hours in his garage to complete the 951-mile route which saw him hitting speeds of up to 40mph on downhill stretches.

Mr Marsh said: "I am confident I can complete the five-mile walk as I am doing quite a lot of different exercises which are helping me to get stronger.

"I am pushing myself to do things, I still have the static bike and I can ride five to six miles in 25 minutes."

Mr Marsh, a retired business management and development consultant, said he was overjoyed when he completed one circuit on the country park a month ago.

He said it was a "joy" to know that Rev Iain Majcher of Bothwell Parish Church, his wife and five children were taking part in the walk as well as other friends and St Andrews Hospice staff.

The minister said: "Since I've known Harry he has shown me that age is never a barrier.

"I must admit that I wasn't totally surprised when he wrote to me telling me that he was going to walk five miles for St Andrews Hospice as this is who Harry is, always proving the world wrong.

"It seems like only yesterday when I visited him in the ICU at the end of last year and then earlier this year in the hospice when he was unable to sit himself up in bed, let alone walk.

"Miracles are often easy to overlook but no one can deny the miracle of Harry's journey back to health, and I, and so many others including Harry and his family thank God for this miracle."

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Mr Majcher said he and his family are delighted to "walk side by side with Harry and cheer him on" as he raises much needed funds for St Andrews Hospice.

"All the staff and volunteers at the hospice work so hard to create a space of peace of those who are often coming to the end of their life without them or their families having the added worry of costs," he added.

"Despite an increased demand for their services, the charity continues to face urgent financial challenges."