Author: sarah.rastrick@addenbrookescharity.org.uk

We are very sad to learn that transplant pioneer, Professor Sir Roy Calne, has died.

He will be missed not only by all of us at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), but also by the countless staff who worked alongside him, and the patients whose lives were transformed by his pioneering work. Thousands of families all over the world will have been touched by his caring and innovative approach – Professor Calne never accepted that something wasn’t possible and many people’s lives have been saved thanks to that determination.

Sir Roy performed the first successful liver transplant in Europe at Addenbrooke’s on 2 May 1968, and dedicated his life to turning seemingly impossible surgery into regular practice at Addenbrooke’s, where he established the kidney transplant service.

In 2018, Sir Roy helped launch ACT’s £250,000 appeal to run a state-of-the art ‘liver perfusion’ machine. This machine helps newly donated livers survive for longer and, crucially, enables surgeons to ‘test-drive’ livers on a system mimicking the body, ensuring their functionality before transplant.

The appeal reached its target the following year thanks to the generous support of the charity’s incredible donors and has meant that since the machine arrived in February 2018, 213 livers that may have previously been deemed unsuitable for transplant have been found to function well enough for them to be transplanted.

One of the stories we reported on was that of Paul, who in 1990 was diagnosed with liver disease. Paul experienced the stress of receiving a call in January 2018 asking him to travel to Cambridge as a liver was ready for him only to discover that, unfortunately, the liver was not suitable. In August Paul was called again, however this time the liver perfusion machine was in operation and, as a result, the liver was tested for suitability and confirmed for use. After a successful surgery Paul was able to get back on his feet and start enjoying the things he used to love like golf and cycling.

ACT CEO, Shelly Thake, said “We are so very sorry to hear the sad news of the passing of Professor Calne. He was such an inspiration and innovator in the transplant world, and we are honoured to have worked with him on our liver perfusion machine appeal that will go on saving lives for years to come.”

We offer our sincerest condolences to Professor Calne’s family at this time, and our gratitude to a man that transformed the lives of so many, and embodied the caring, innovative and world-leading approach that Addenbrooke’s Hospital is known for.

This year, our Christmas appeal is supporting parents with cancer and their families. At Addenbrooke’s, we believe that no child should have to lose their parents to cancer.

For mothers and fathers, the diagnosis can be particularly upsetting, as they naturally worry about what their children may have to go through, and whether they might be left on their own.

This letter below is from Ijeoma – a cancer patient and mother of four children. Your support this Christmas means more mothers like Ijeoma will be there for their children despite being diagnosed with cancer.

By making a gift today, you could help to make diagnosis, care and treatment even better for cancer patients at Addenbrooke’s, as well as their families.

Addenbrooke’s has become the first NHS hospital to use thermal ablation (hot needle treatment) to destroy life-threatening tumours in one go, including hard-to-reach cancers.

Through the generosity of ACT supporters, we were able to buy the £250,000 thermal ablation machine following a two-year pilot involving 50 patients with liver cancer. Less than half of those treated during the pilot needed further treatment. The hospital is now looking at how this treatment can be expanded to kidney and other cancer patients.

Combining the precision of AI and thermal ablation means hard-to-reach or very small tumours can be more easily and effectively treated without the need for repeat treatments.

Hear more below from Consultant radiologist Nadeem Shaida about how this incredible machine will save the lives of more people with cancer.

Read an interview with Dr Nadeem Shaida on the amazing cascination machine on pages 4 and 5 of our latest Impact magazine.

Read the coverage of the cascination machine on the BBC website.

As part of Biodiversity Action Week at Addenbrooke’s, hospital staff and volunteers planted nectar-rich flowers into 10 pre-filled planters, funded by ACT supporters, providing colourful, nature-friendly spaces around the hospital campus for all.

These beautiful planters have turned drab, concrete spaces into a more appealing place to be as well as given nature a helping hand.

Click here to find out more about the hospital’s Green Plan to reduce its carbon footprint and increase biodiversity.

A new wayfinding app ‘CUH Directions’ funded by hospital supporters has been launched.

Now patients, families and visitors to Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie will be able to easily find their way around the hospital site, meaning less worry and stress getting to and from appointments.

The app was developed with the help of patient feedback and maps a route of images and text instructions when you provide a start and end point.

ACT CEO, Shelly Thake, said: “The charity is delighted to help launch the new CUH Directions app which was kindly funded by ACT supporters. Patients coming to the hospital, including those who are sight impaired or have learning disabilities, will now be able to find their way to appointments and wards from car parks and the bus station more easily.”

Just visit the App Store or Google Play Store to download and install the app on on your device.

You can read more about the CUH Directions app on the hospital website.

Thirty amazing staff from across the Rosie Hospital recently signed up to support Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust by taking on Snowdon – the highest mountain in Wales. 

The team started their climb at 01.30 on 7 May, and successfully reached the summit to watch the most magnificent sunset – just look at those views!

The team raised over £4500 for ACT! Well done Team Rosie!

Could you do something to support Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals?

Yesterday, 5,000 bunches of cheerful daffodils, kindly supported by Scotsdales Nursery & Garden Centre Ltd and ACT, were handed out to Addenbrooke’s staff.

Volunteer teams from ACT and hospital supporters, Cambridge Commodities, were on hand to brighten people’s day and to say a huge thanks for all they do.

We loved seeing all the smiles as staff arrived or left their shifts. Who doesn’t like to receive a beautiful bunch of blooms?