A year after Queen’s Hospital staff ensured she could go home for Christmas, Kate Baker returned as Santa’s little helper at Queen’s

She spent the run-up to Christmas 2016 recovering from surgery on a benign brain tumour.

And as a thank you for her care, Kate, 36, arrived at the hospital in Rom Valley Way bright and early this Christmas morning. She spent the day handing out presents to patients, serving Christmas lunch and helping out on reception, all on Sahara B ward, where she was cared for last year.

Kate said: “At the lowest moment of my life I found myself surrounded by some of the most wonderful and caring people you could ever meet. I saw a place where there are no egos, everyone pulls together as a team and the patient is the centre of everything they do.

“So while it was great that I got to go home for Christmas last year to spend it with my family, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wished I could have one more day to really tell them how grateful I was.”

Kate, mum to four-year-old Max, has spent the year showing how grateful she was for the life-saving care she received by raising £1,500 for the King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity by taking part in several running events, including the Birmingham Half Marathon in October.

After spending Christmas Day bringing festive cheer to other patients this year, she went home to Colchester to spend the evening with Max and her parents.

Maria Curtin, Senior Sister on Sahara B ward, said: “It was absolutely lovely that Kate came to volunteer with us on Christmas Day, and the staff were delighted that she brought cake of course!

“It’s wonderful to see how well she is now and I’m sure it helped to bring a bit of festive cheer to patients who had to spend Christmas Day with us. We know it’s not ideal to be in hospital over Christmas, so our staff and volunteers work hard to make it as festive as possible.”

To find out more about Kate’s fundraising, or to donate; visit her JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thankyouqueenshospital.