Wow what a totally amazing unbelievable day I’ve just had! On Friday 8th December, Mum, Dad and I set out from Coventry station heading for London Euston, on a freezing cold winters day. I was wearing a very sparkly dress and glitzy jewellery, makeup and tights... along with two pairs of thick socks, fleecy joggy bottoms, ski trousers, a thermal vest, long sleeve top, two dresses, a thick fleece jumper, a winters coat, hat, scarf, ski mittens and hiking boots (I feel the cold) but the dress and jewellery were on me somewhere too.
We got the fast train to Euston and then wandered along Oxford Street to Marble Arch and down to a place none of us have ever been before, to The Dorchester Hotel! I had been nominated for the headway Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year Award. It was the annual Headway glitzy award ceremony.
We arrived at The Dorchester, I was feeling a bit over dressed like I’d just come in off the ski slopes, we went all through where people were having very posh afternoon teas and we were taken to a changing room and I then felt like Cinderella, changed into my glitzy dress, sparkly shoes and jewellery. It felt really exciting to be all dressed up.
We were greeted and shown all around and taken to somewhere I could put my feed pump on, we were in our own little room which was lovely. We then headed through the drinks reception and into the ballroom, it was absolutely amazing!! I couldn’t believe I was there, a huge room, with big sparkly chandeliers, pink, blue and white light shining on the ceiling, round tables all set with lit candles, shiny glasses and cutlery and name places and a stage at the front with soft blue light. The room was empty of people at this point and I was shown round and then taken to the place that I needed to sit at during the awards ceremony.
We were shown from there to the champagne drinks reception, in a beautiful area where we met lots of other people and people from Headway came and introduced themselves. I was fascinated by all the mirrors and lights and how amazing the rooms were.
After a short while we were all taken into the ballroom, it was good because I knew where I needed to go and all the nominees were taken to sit along the front by the stage ready for the awards ceremony to start. I was facing out towards the room and could see everyone sitting at their tables, I can remember thinking how I just couldn’t believe I was sitting in front of all of those people, I was chatting to the people sitting next to me and we were all thinking what an unbelievable experience it was. The lady stood by us, so I didn’t feel nervous because I knew if I needed to go onto the stage she would show me. I felt really calm.
The awards ceremony started and we were introduced to some celebrities in the room and James Cracknell came onto the stage. My award category was the first and I felt really glad of that, the first man went up and then another man and then I got called up, but I was announced as the winner, which I really couldn’t believe! I couldn’t believe I had won, I’m just Nat but I suddenly felt a wave of pride and I felt quite excited, emotional, proud, and panic of ‘don’t knock anyone over as you go on stage Nat!’ I got onto the stage and James Cracknell shook my hand and gave me a certificate and the winner’s tray. Wow!!! I felt quite speechless.
I then turned to the screen and everyone watched a film that my friends at Headway Coventry had made, it was at this point that I really felt emotional, I had no idea they had done that and it felt so brilliant that they were there with me in a different way. It was a really really special moment and I loved watching that. I went off the stage holding my prize and couldn’t believe that had all just happened!!
Once the award ceremony had finished we went back to our tables and I sat with my Mum and Dad, they all had the most amazing meal and everyone sat chatting. Lots of people came to me and congratulated me, I just felt so so touched by it all. The atmosphere in the room was so brilliant, full of laughter, lights, sparkle and hope.
The afternoon then continued with people handing their donations to Marc Almond and then Eric Knowles did an auction, I found that fascinating and fun!! A lady then showed a song she had written when her partner had been very poorly in hospital and it just made everything feel so real and reminded me of where we have all come from to get to here, it made me feel grateful, lucky and also made me feel I have lots to give and share from my journey to maybe help other people on their journey, even by just showing that there is hope at the end. I never would have pictured myself going up onto the stage in front of all of those people to collect an award all dressed up and in a glitzy sparkly room when I was in hospital back when I was poorly. I had the feeling that life was over and that what would happen now, but to sit there in this room full of life and fun just felt a real honour and privilege.
We came out of the ballroom and Cinderella turned back into all my winter ski clothes and we came out of the magic of The Dorchester Hotel and went all along Oxford Street to see the Christmas lights.
My day was the most magical fairy tale day that I feel so privileged to have had, I will treasure it and remember it and will remember all of my family who have been there through every step, the medical people and all of my friends at Headway who nominated me and made it possible.
Thank you to everyone who made this happen for me, I’m just Nat and I just want to live my life to the full and help other people live their lives to the full too. But today I have been Nat in the most magical, special dreamlike fairy tale that I never want to forget, what a totally amazing unbelievable day...I’m home now and I just smile because my fairy tale was 100% real wasn’t it! Thank you.
