Lifeline ID

"Found to have a ventricular septal defect (VSD) which is a hole in the heart that's present at birth (congenital heart defect) Initially under regular review at Great Ormond Street hospital until 18 years of age, then moved over to University City Hospital. Underwent exploratory operation, at 23 years of age, and hole found to have totally closed up. My early life, medically, mirrored my late father, with allergies to penicillin, wasp & bee Stings, all found whilst in my youth. Regular nose bleeds, haematomas’ from sporting injuries, exactly as my father had experienced. It was only when my father tragically passed away, curiously, whilst having a stent fitted to a clogged artery, that, as a family we found the actual cause of death, and a reason for our bleed issues. An artery had been severed, which caused internal haemorrhaging, shutting down main organs as the blood flow was uncontrollable. Unbeknown to everyone, my father had a weak agonist response defect (WARD) which is a platelet function disorder, and can be hereditary. And yes, I have the same condition ………….. although, for me and my children……better forewarned than not, as various safety-precaution medicines can be administered prior to any surgery. Both of my 2 sons are allergic to penicillin, and my eldest son has inherited the platelet condition. Further tests will be carried out on my younger son & daughter in the future. So, not on purpose, but due to necessity, I have put my platelet condition to the test, to ensure internal bleeds can be controlled for sufferers. In the 15 years since I found out about the condition, I have undergone oral & nasal surgery, back surgery, a liver transplant that took 11 hours of surgery, and a major bowel haemorrhage operation. All have been successful, and most importantly, I am fitting fit, healthy and looking forward to many years ahead. I started wearing a ‘medic alert’ when I was 11 years of age, following my father as a wearer of the disc on a neck-chain. As things changed with my health, the engraving on the disc needed changing, records needed updating, and on a regular basis. Medic alert then introduced costs; yearly membership fees, updating the system fees, engraving, discs, emblems, bracelets, etc ,etc. I needed to pay for myself, 2 sons, and possibly a daughter, on a yearly basis…..so I started to think about an alternative solution and looked elsewhere. By chance, at a friend’s birthday party, I met his endearing 23 year old son, and we got chatting about our lives. During our conversation, he mentioned the early roots of setting up a company/website that produced and sold medical jewellery. I reached through my shirt top and pulled out my medic alert on a chain, and said “do you mean something like this”……………boom, eureka, it was a special moment. We couldn’t stop talking, and his idea was simply staggering; Your purchase an emblem/disc online, providing your name, date of birth and your NHS number, and these critical details are engraved on the back. These details are your life-blood and your opportunity to stay alive, should an accident occur, as everything about your health records are held by your GP and readily available 24/7. It’s a one-off purchase, no yearly costs, just you keeping your GP up to date with your health. Do the right thing, by making things easier for people trying to help you, get an item of MediWear jewellery……………it could just save your life ! ! !"

"I am still active, playing tennis and golf frequently and a regular gym goer. But you can’t always judge a book by its cover. From the outside I look fit for my age, but I carry a medical card for both steroid and anticoagulation treatment. I want these conditions to be known in an emergency. In the event of an accident or medical emergency, rather than rely on the medics actually searching through my wallet (which in any case I do not carry at all times), I prefer the comfort of wearing the key information on my clearly visible MediWear pendant."

“My late wife had a medical pendant but hated wearing it because it looked so clinical. When I came across MediWear I thought, this is what she would have worn. It looks like jewellery, not a label. Thank you for creating something dignified.”

“Very good quality, feels solid. Real silver, made here in the UK. Doesn’t look like medical stuff at all, looks like proper jewellery. The engraving is clear but discreet. Would recommend.”

"Only problem is that it took a little while to arrive but once it did I threw away my old one and have been wearing this ever since. Great quality."