Paul goes from patient to porter after inspirational weight loss journey
A former bariatric patient who couldn’t walk 10 steps four years ago is now working as a porter at Royal Derby Hospital – walking up to 35,000 steps during each shift!
In 2016, 39-year-old Paul Stevenson’s weight had reached 51 stone after living on a diet of junk food which started after the death his mum. In 2016, Paul had a sleeve gastrectomy, where part of the stomach is removed, at Royal Derby Hospital and has now reduced his weight down to 18 stone.
After four years of hard work, Paul secured a position in the ISS team as a porter in December 2019 and is now working in the hospital which he says saved his life:
“This is the first job I’ve had for about 15 years. Because of how big and ill I had become, work became impossible. I have always said that if there was ever anything I could do to give back to this hospital then I would do it, especially if it involved helping patients.
“I was visiting a patient here last year and I asked how I could go about getting a job as a porter. So I enquired, applied and thankfully got the job and I’m really enjoying it.”
Paul’s role involves a variety of tasks, including taking patients to and from their appointments and for scans, and Paul has continued to play an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“I’ve been all over the hospital, from theatres to Day Case to A&E to scanning. All of the staff and everyone at ISS have been really good. For someone who couldn’t take more than 10 steps without feeling like I was going to collapse to doing 37,000 steps on my first 12-hour shift is crazy. I thought that I would be aching for days on end but surprisingly, I’ve been okay. I’m definitely ready for my bed when I get home though!”
During his shifts, Paul gets to see some of the staff that cared for him during his time as a patient, which is an added bonus for him.
He added: “I get recognised by staff on the wards when I’m there and it’s really nice to see them. These are some of the people who saw me at my worst so I think it’s good for them to see where all of their hard work has gone to.
“This hospital and the NHS have saved my life.”
Mandy Linnington, Senior Sister on Ward 313 where Paul spent time both before and after his procedure, said: “I always feel quite choked when I see him because I can’t believe how different he is now compared to when I met him.
“It’s quite humbling for me as I went to meet Paul in his house when he was housebound before he came to the hospital. So to see him now when he’s going on holiday, is out and about, he has a job and is getting married is really fantastic. To know that you’ve played just a small part in the process that’s made a massive difference to his life is brilliant.”
As well as helping patients as part of his day job, Paul has also volunteered his own time to come to the ward and help bariatric patients who are on the same journey that he has been on.
Paul said: “I always said if there was anything I could do then I’d do it. There was a gentleman who came in from quite far away and his family lived far away, too. So I offered to help in any way that I could and I came in couple of times a week to give him some moral support because I know how hard it can be when you’re stuck in a side room and physically able to get about.
“If that helped him get through his time here, which isn’t easy, then that was as important to me as it was to anyone else.”
* Please note: All photos and videos were taken prior to the introduction of social distancing measures *