THE ULTIMATE GIFT - LIFE
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In November 1990, one Monday morning, George went out at 8 am to see the builders as usual, came in at about 8.45 for breakfast. I put his coffee and toast in front of him and went back to the kitchen. Suddenly aware of a strange sound I turned around to see him collapsing onto the floor. I ran and helped him up and into a chair. I had never seen anyone have a heart attack before, but I knew instinctively what it was and how to recognise it now. He was a grey, chalk like colour, like alabaster, the skin almost translucent. He was sweating, not a clammy sort of sweat, but pouring, dripping from him. His shirt was totally soaked through.
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About the Book
An autobiography of Elsie Frederick’s life about meeting and marrying her second husband, the dynamics of taking responsibility and dealing with extended families; the stress of family life whilst coping with the financial crisis of the 1990’s and a serious heart condition becoming apparent. It is an amazing story of how life threatening health issues can be overcome and the vital importance of Organ Donation. It was a traumatic period to live through with some highs and lows, being bounced through every emotion, never peaceful and calm but never boring either. How she lived to tell the tale is astonishing and sometimes have to pinch herself to believe what they went through. In 2020 the Law on organ donation changed so that now it is presumed that permission to transplant organs is given unless the patient has specified otherwise previously and therefore is appropriate that this is published this year. It has been a catharsis for her to write, excruciatingly painful but necessary for her to remember as it is a true record of what happened. Hopefully one day her granddaughter will be able to read and understand what they all lived through.
About the Author
Elsie Frederick was born in Yorkshire but moved to the East Midlands when she was 6, to London at 12 and back again to the Midlands after finishing school. Her wonderful father, always her hero and inspiration, was a Consultant Mining Engineer, which took their family up and down the country. Her career began as a Management Trainee with the John Lewis Partnership progressing to Staff Manager. She has been a volunteer, Area Organiser and a past County Chairman for the wonderful charity, Action Medical Research, finally becoming Company Secretary for their family business. She is a qualified Interior Designer, and loves refurbishing and creating lovely homes and also, in her spare time, loves dressmaking, designing and making many outfits for family and friends. She lives in a lovely town that still has a village ethos in the East Midlands. Friendly and welcoming, it has very much become an integral part of her life. She is now a local Parish Councillor and retired from business. Now her time is spent gardening, which she loves, walking her two “best friends”, her Jack Russell’s, and her greatest joy is seeing her children, all grown up into wonderful people, the icing on the cake being her five year old granddaughter who is the light of her life. She is so lucky as well that she still has her mum at nearly 94 and still with her brain as sharp as a tack. If the genes are kind, that gives her hope for another 20 years at least. Her dad sadly died 4 years ago at 93 and she misses his wisdom and humour every day. She is so very lucky to have the most wonderful friends who keep her entertained, supplied with a glass of wine, give her support and have propped her up throughout. They make her laugh and she enjoys a great social life for which she is incredibly grateful. Without her family and friends, she knows that she would not have survived. Not unscathed, definitely damaged, but she is OK.