Peggy Bourne Moved By Intensive Care Experience

Peggy Bourne Moved By Intensive Care Experience

A year has passed since the death of ace rally driver, Possum Bourne, but the memory of long hours spent in an Intensive Care Unit remains vivid for his widow, Peggy.

Memories of Possum: Peggy Bourne, a supporter of the 2004 Intensive Care Appeal, returns to Intensive Care a year on from the death of her husband, ace rally driver Possum Bourne. With her is Middlemore Hospital Intensive Care specialist, Dr Nigel Rankin and (background) ICU patient Sam Toa, of South Auckland

"It was an amazing experience watching the strength and dedication of Intensive Care staff at work. It is something I will never forget," says Peggy, a leading supporter of the 2004 Intensive Care Appeal, which runs from 10 - 23 May.

Possum Bourne died on 30 April last year from injuries suffered in a road crash.

"While my association with the Intensive Care Appeal is personally very sad, getting involved was something I wanted to do," says Peggy Bourne, who is a supporter of the Appeal through its "Become a Life Supporter" brochure.

"Like so many people whose lives are touched by an Intensive Care experience, you say 'What can I do to help?' You can do something - contribute to research and help the Intensive Care specialists help their patients."

Around 20,000 New Zealanders are admitted to the country's 31 Intensive Care Units each year.

The Intensive Care Appeal, run by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation, raises funds for research into four key areas - brain and lung injury, infection and overall prevention.

The Foundation says that if Intensive Care survival can be increased by as little as two percent, an extra 3000 lives could be saved each year - equivalent to the combined road toll of Australia and New Zealand.

"Knowing that Intensive Care research can play such a vital role in saving lives makes this Appeal especially important for me and my family," says Peggy Bourne.

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