Our Patients' Stories

I still have my little red morocco bound Bible given for good attendance at the Mildmay Mission Sunday School.

I’m sitting here at home recovering from a very simple day procedure yesterday and thinking about the kindness and compassion of all the staff at the hospital. I was reminded of an occasion when I was forced into your care and thought I’d relay my tale and beg your indulgence.'

"I was diagnosed with HIV in 1990 and decided to go into denial. I never expected treatments and simply carried on with life until... the brain swelling..."

"I remember waking up on September 1st, hardly able to move. Something was wrong. At that time I was at my flat in East London so I booked an emergency appointment with my GP. She sent me straight to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. I was admitted immediately. I still had no idea what was going on at this point. Tests were carried out that night including one for HIV."

In the 1990s, Mildmay were so wonderful, caring for some very special friends of mine...

Liam was a secondary school teacher when he became acutely sick and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with HIV. He was referred to Mildmay’s Inpatient Unit and when he arrived he could not walk or move his neck. Any movement at all caused severe dizziness and he was completely bed-bound.

Rhoda is living with HIV in Western Kenya. Aged 23, she was gravely ill and weighed just 24kg...

Margaret is a Mildmay-trained Community Health Worker in Kenya. Here she talks about visiting Rachael, who is living with HIV and had just given birth to her third child, Maria.

I was born in Mildmay Hospital in October 1940. My Dad was fighting in the war and my Mum, Nan and Grandad were bombed out of their home...

"I was a patient at Mildmay from 26/12/20 until 4/02/2021 when I was transferred from Royal London hospital after a major surgery as part of my treatment for colorectal cancer."

"Hi. I am a former patient of Mildmay Hospital. I came to Mildmay after being in the Royal London Hospital. I'd been found near to the Tower of London after blacking out and with amnesia. They also found out I have skin cancer whilst I was a patient there. I could not remember anything since the blackout (possibly earlier) but my name, but I have been learning all the time and knowing more and more every day...

"I was admitted to the Mildmay when I was 6 years old in 1946."

Margaret was referred from Bart's Hospital where she had been admitted after collapsing with a severe stroke and being diagnosed with HIV. Margaret was referred to Mildmay for day therapy and physiotherapy.

"Hello, l love Mildmay, cos it removed me from the grave cos I was going to die but Mildmay healed me, and it has changed my life.

Hoho I love Mildmay Uganda god bless u.

May 2020, via Facebook

Nine-year-old Patricia was brought to Mildmay Uganda by police officers after being found almost lifeless, living in a pigsty...

A year before, Othini was bedridden and frail. HIV had affected his mental state; he was erratic, aggressive, unable to cope with taking his medication and was struggling to stay alive.