NHS 75th Anniversary: Preserving the legacies of those who make up the national institution

From miraculous birth stories to surviving life-threatening illness, StoryTerrace, the UK’s leading memoir-writing service, celebrates inspirational medical stories from the last decade

The 5th of July marks 75 years of the NHS. Founded in 1948, the public health service has seen decades of medical advances, evolving to meet the health needs of multiple generations, including that of the Covid-19 outbreak. Fronted by millions of doctors, nurses and unsung heroes, StoryTerrace, the UK’s leading biography-writing service, honour some of the medical stories that have entered the service over the last ten years.

Meet Darren Buttrick, one of the first people to recover from COVID in intensive care in 2020:

Darren Buttrick’s moving memoir, 15 Minutes and Counting: Never Stop Fighting, describes how he was rushed to the hospital three days after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in March 2020. Doctors told him he had 15 minutes to call his family and let them know that he would be placed on an induced coma with a 50% chance of survival.

Being one of the first COVID patients admitted to intensive care, Darren was sure that those 15 minutes would be the last chance he had to talk with his loved ones. After ten days, and what he describes as ‘second to none care’ by the nurses at New Cross Hospital, he was discharged. He describes how this traumatic experience led him to have a new lease on life, saying that “Since contracting Covid-19, fighting for my life, and winning that fight, my perspective on life has changed. I have found a purpose in giving back.”

Meet Louise Warnerford, who penned her memoir: “The Miracle Mother:

When, after 18 unexplained miscarriages, Louise Warneford was finally able to carry a baby to full-term, she felt overwhelming gratitude to those who had made this birth possible. She knew that without the incredible help of her gynaecologist and obstetrician, Dr Hassan Shehata, and the expert fertility service, she would have remained childless. Her memoir, written by StoryTerrace, tells of how she went from constant grief and loss to experiencing the joy and magic of motherhood. Her miracle baby, William Oliver Warnerford, is now two years old.

Meet Timothy Cooper, the man who turned a life-threatening brain tumour into an opportunity to help others through his moving memoir:

Tim details his journey of overcoming a large brain tumour in his frontal lobe in his memoir: “A Stone in My Head”. Fortunately, the tumour was in an operable location so he was able to receive effective treatment. His memoir recounts the trauma that both he and his family experienced upon receiving the news of his diagnosis.

After seeing a senior surgeon and devising a plan for his operation he finally underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove it. Before undergoing his surgery, Tim’s memoir tells of all of the dark ponderings he had on death and morality – in documenting these experiences he realised that in the future he’d want to organise a charity that supports cancer survivors and gives people support in going through recovery and prognosis.

Rutger Bruining, Founder and CEO of StoryTerrace, comments on the importance of preserving stories that honour and celebrate the national institute saving lives everyday:

“As the NHS celebrates its remarkable 75-year journey, it is essential that we preserve the stories that honour and celebrate this iconic institution. These stories highlight the strength, stamina and ability of the nation in the face of adversity and relentless healthcare crises.”

“Sharing experiences has always been a powerful tool of expression and preservation. Now we know as research suggests, it also is also extremely beneficial for our mental health and represents a beacon of hope for others going through similar circumstances. When we take a step back and consider the value of sharing and telling our stories, we see only benefits to the individual, their family, friends, loved ones and even members of the public who can relate to a similar experience.

“There is power in the written word, and I am honoured to work at a company where our amazing ghostwriters get the chance to enjoy their love of writing and curate relationships with clients where they feel listened to and appreciated. The magic of books – is that they are there forever. The legacy is literally preserved in an art form to be cherished and passed down.”