The Marketing People

30/11/2023

Update-
Today is only the 3rd day since November 1st that I have not been visiting 1 or 2 hospitals on the same day, which is excellent news because it means-

Harvey has had the all-clear following the infection and the emergency visit last week at the QE last Saturday. His new Kidney is performing well, and he will have another check-up at one of his regular weekly clinic appointments tomorrow. He has another small procedure in the next 2 weeks or so and he is then wire, cable, stint, line etc free and with scars that look like a shark attack victim he will be self sufficient on the donated Kidney. Still not a moan, or self-pity pity etc. just concern for his mum, and thanks to all this who have helped him get to this point and wished him well throughout. He knows he can't take this for granted and must maintain his clinic appointments and continue to follow all given instruction and advice. We hope he continues to recover quickly and look forward to less frequent hospital visits.

Amanda had a terrible time with her return to the QE hospital last Monday following 2 previous weeks of pain and feeling awful, with her deteriorating day by day while in the hospital last week with peritonitis and suspected sepsis. She was desperately ill; it was frightening to see her like that. On Friday last week, her intravenous medication and pain relief were changed, and the next day, she started to improve with a reduction in her infection markers. Her follow-up scan has shown that she now has an angry Liver; we aren't sure what that will mean for her in the long term, but will be monitored regularly. She could still not eat or drink, but from where she was, it was a good sign. Things continued to improve to the point where yesterday at a marker of 50 - she was given the option to go home and continue to recover in her bed with ongoing medication, with a review on Monday and also a clinic follow-up next week. She has been a very patient - patient, even though concerned that it looked at one stage that she may not recover, and has maintained her composure and dignity and that whatever the future holds, it has all been worth it.

You have all made a positive impact through the kind words and support shown over this last month. The flowers, chocolates, and Cornish Cream tea have been and are still being enjoyed, and those messages bring a smile to our faces.

I didn't post any of this to look for sympathy or responses; it was to ensure those who knew had the information that I have been unable to manage as individual responses and the very little time each day to compose and post. Having to repeat and say it out loud makes everything real and right in your face, so a few updates have made it easier for me to deal with to be honest. I hope you understand, and a big thank you. I hope I will soon be able to post something like.

"All is good with Amanda and Harvey. Thank you, everyone, and I hope those of you suffering from any problem stay positive; many people are thinking of you and sending sincere best wishes.

During this whole process, it has become apparent and we have witnessed that many donations/transplants have a worse outcome than ours. Our hearts go out to all those who have not been as lucky as we have.
David, Amanda & Harvey

25/11/2023

Lots of support and people wanting to know what’s happened since Amanda went into hospital on Monday.

Here goes- Amanda actually made a little progress today and her bloods show that she is now stable after becoming increasing ill day by day since she went in on Monday. The multiple antibiotics and pain relief meds have helped her get stable at last as of today. Potential peritonitis and also checking for sepsis as well as she has not been able to eat since last Sunday and constant heaving and sickness. Still very poorly but at least levelling off.
And this morning as I was getting ready to go and see Amanda Harvey had a lot of blood in his urine this morning, following a few calls he was called into the QE straight away to the renal assessment ward, we have just got home and he has some meds and been told to stop some of his immune suppressant meds to help fight the infection, which can be detrimental after a kidney transplant if not effectively treated immediately, and he must go back to QE first thing Monday morning for scans. And more tests.
I hope the next update in the next week or so will be more positive, and we get to celebrate the successes of the donation and transplant soon enough. Again with all sincerity thank you everyone, I am sorry if I don’t get back to you all, I hope you understand.

22/11/2023

Spoke too soon.. Don’t count your chickens etc etc
Harvey is doing really well… thankfully.
Sorry to have to say that while waiting to make sure all was OK before I posted the update mid last week, I had to take Amanda back into the QE urgently on Monday morning following 3 days of pain fever and unable to keep anything down. They are trying hard to find out why, and how to fix her. Speaking briefly to her this morning she is feeling worse each day. I am not bieng lazy or disrespectful in posting one update rather than reply to all. I hope those who have messaged and I haven’t replied understand. Thank you.

14/11/2023

Transplant update

Following of from the Nov 2nd Post-op post.
Thank you, everyone, for the flowers, cards, gifts, well wishes and support. We really honestly mean that with heart-felt appreciation to you all. Thank you.

It’s been a while since the 2nd of November, and now we have a good idea of how things have panned out following the surgeries 12 days ago; I thought I would do an update.
The surgery went as planned, but both Amanda and Harvey were in surgery for an extended time because the 2 arteries that were supplying Amanda’s Kidney had to be managed: usually, only 1 artery supplies each Kidney, and after only 48 hours, that Amazing, brave, selfless, altruistic, beautiful both inside and out woman that I am lucky to call my wife, Amanda, was released from the hospital and came home Saturday late afternoon 4thNov to recover.
The trip back to the hospital the next day to see how Harvey was receiving was a bit too much too soon for Amanda, and she was told to rest (she almost listened to me). Harvey was recovering well, and everything was progressing OK, and his new Kidney was doing well, a little to well. His fluids had been raised from the restricted to no more than 1 litre of fluids every 24 hours (includes any and all fluid, sauces, gravy, ice cubes, etc ) he had been on for months prior to the op to 5 litres per day. Harvey again dealt with whatever was needed obligingly, courteously and pragmatically: obs every 30 mins, then hourly, no sleep or rest, blood tests, urine tests, ECG, drips, drugs, catheter, cannulas, he has been the epitome of a brave young man. He continued to progress, and by Tuesday the 7th, he too was able to come home only 5 days after the transplant.
Both Amanda and Harvey are doing well; Harvey is recovering better than Amanda. She is still very uncomfortable, but that’s to be expected. The surgeries are more intrusive for the donor than the recipient, and the position in theatre for the donor is rather extreme and can cause a lot of back discomfort for some time. Harvey has to attend post-transplant clinics to closely monitor his anti-rejection and other medications and how his body is coping with the new norm; so far, so good. We are all in isolation until the new year, just as Harvey celebrates his 25TH Birthday tomorrow, the 15th of November. It is the first in years where his system isn’t full of toxins and carrying that almost 5 stone in fluid weight. It is incredible, and we are so grateful that this procedure is available.
Thank you all again for your support; it has helped, and we wish you well wishes.

02/11/2023

So following on from taking Amanda & Harvey to the hospital yesterday morning.. (pic) I am leaving home now to go to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where today our youngest son, Harvey, will be having a kidney transplant due to him being emergency admitted to hospital in June 2022, with chronic kidney failure of both kidneys. Amanda, his mum and my wife is the donor of the kidney Harvey will be receiving later today. We keep our selves to our selves and rarely post stuff, but on behalf of us all, thank you for all the support, love and well wishes we have received from family, friends, neighbours, customers and acquaintances along with others who have found out and wished us well and particularly Harvey for the way he has conducted himself throughout the last 18 months and for his transplant surgery today and Amanda who today is going into surgery at 8.15 to donate a kidney to Harvey. I am so proud of both of them for the way they have and are handling the whole affair. And while I am sure both surgeries today will be OK today I have everything crossed for them both. Thank you again to all that have known the extremes of the last 18 months and who have found out and supported us. Special thanks to Wendy Hammond & Jon Hammond for all your support for us and our furry babies throughout.

25/11/2021

A fantastic digital marketing seminar hosted by our MD, David.
On behalf of the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, David hosted an insightful and informative seminar on digital marketing for regional business owners and MDs last week. After receiving some fantastic feedback another seminar may take place again in the future, we will share the details as and when they are confirmed by the Growth Hub. Thank you to all who attended last week and to read more about the event, head over to our blog.

On behalf of the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, our MD David Mitchell, hosted an

17/11/2021

Digital marketing seminar is fully booked!
The digital marketing seminar taking place this Thursday 18th November 2021 at our head offices, hosted in association with Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub is officially fully booked. Our MD, David, is looking forward to hosting the event and welcoming local and regional business owners as they learn how to plan, implement, and oversee their business’s digital marketing strategy. The interest in the event so far has been fantastic and a second seminar is already being considered to be hosted in January 2022. If you would be interested in attending another free event like this in the future, please let us know. Check out the details here: https://stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk/event/digital-marketing-i-need-to-understand-it-and-see-how-it-can-help-me/

05/11/2021

We’ve designed and produced an exhibition pull-up for Ginho, ready for next Thursday’s Let’s Do Business Expo taking place at Uttoxeter Racecourse. It's a fantastic brand awareness and sales tool to help Ginho stand out for the right reasons at a busy exhibition.

03/11/2021

Another happy customer, BSC Die Casting & Finishing.
We would like to share the launch of the new brand ID, strapline, and website for our client. Since a change in ownership six years ago and after much progression, investment, and growth, a rebrand was required to reflect the positive business changes, goals, and to guide their future progression.

Applying the new branding to various physical and digital touchpoints, we built an informative and easy-to-navigate website that showcased BSC’s full capabilities. The presentation of information & downloadable documents across the website makes it easier for BSC’s clients to access relevant content and find out more about each service offered. Additionally, we wrote engaging copy, produced videos, created process diagrams, and retouched images to be implemented across the new website. To read more and view BSC’s new website, read our latest blog post.

https://themarketingpeople.com/fantastic-new-brand-strapline-website-for-die-casting-company

We have supported BSC Die Casting & Finishing with an important rebrand to help them

26/10/2021

A successful day of business 1-2-1 support clinics.

Today was a great success as the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub hosted their first face-to-face business support clinics since lockdown in collaboration with Jonathan Percival of Lichfield District Council and Maxine Darrock of Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce.
The event brought together a range of local business owners seeking support and advice and the 1-2-1 support clinics helped spark ideas and strategies for future growth and development. The business support clinics were of great benefit to all who attended and we’re already looking forward to the next event on the 30th November 2021, held at our Burntwood offices!
Read more about the success of today’s event and find out how to book your place onto the next support clinic, visit our blog https://themarketingpeople.com/a-successful-day-of-business-1-2-1-support-clinics
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

The first face-to-face 1-2-1 business support clinics since lockdown were a great success! Today was

25/10/2021

We’re attending Staffordshire’s largest business exhibition!

We are looking forward to exhibiting at the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Let’s Do Business Expo, taking place at Uttoxeter Racecourse on the 11th November 2021. We’ll be positioned in the 1907 Suite on stand B35, come and say hello! With just a 5 minute chat with our team, you can find out how we can benefit your business through intelligent marketing. It’s free for all to attend, so book your place here: https://www.letsdobusinessexpo.co.uk/

We’re pleased to get back to face-to-face networking alongside other businesses and decision-makers, the Let’s Do Business Expo is a fantastic opportunity for the best companies from across the Staffordshire region to come together and promote their products and services.