The Repair Shop took on four very important fixes during a special episode that aired on Wednesday, June 28. The BBC One programme saw Jay Blades and the experts celebrate 75 years of the NHS, which was founded in 1948 by health secretary Aneurin Bevan in order to provide free healthcare for all.
As they marked the national treasure's birthday the programme explained they would be welcoming staff and patients from the past, present, and future into the famous barn in order to chronicle the evolution of the publicly-funded healthcare system. Among those paying The Repair Shop a visit was children's author and poet Michael Rosen, who was hoping bookbinder Chris Shaw could repair and preserve a daily diary kept by nurses and carers whilst he was in a 40-day induced coma at the start of the pandemic.
The spiral notebook, Michael explained, was precious as it is a record of those that looked after him when family members were unable to visit. Michael revealed the diary was gifted to him when he was finally discharged from the critical care unit and explained that he wanted to keep it forever.
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After arriving at the barn with his daughter Elsie, Michael said: "This is my patient diary, or as I call it, my very patient diary. So this was written by nurses when I was in an induced coma for about 40 days, in intensive care for about 48 days, in March 2020."
Explaining the scary time the Covid-19 survivor said he was told he had a 50:50 chance of survival if he went on a ventilator. Returning to the diary he explained: "This was handwritten by the nurses watching me every day and telling me what's going on.
"Each day they wrote an entry. That's the bit that gets me upset, actually, is just thinking about them and thinking about them looking after me saying: 'Today I held your hand' and they'd sing to me and tell me things every day like that."
Michael then read out an entry from a nurse who told him that he'd celebrated his birthday on the ward and expressed her hopes that he'd soon be reunited with his family. "Every time I read that..." Michael said getting choked up, "It's just amazing."
As the experts pointed out that nurses risked their lives during the pandemic Michael said: "Some of them died – you have to remember that. Some of those nurses and helpers died, particularly in the early stages. These people saved my life many times."
Michael then explained the diary was falling apart with entries falling out and so he wanted it repaired so it would last forever. He also revealed he'd brought in some illustrations children had drawn on get well cards during his time in the hospital in the hopes they could be bound together and displayed.
As Chris got to work preserving the enduring record of Michael's battle with Covid, which chronicles his time spent in the life-saving care of the NHS, it was clear he was touched by the project and went the extra mile creating a rainbow-coloured scrapbook for the cards and a special box to store it all in. As Michael returned he said he was feeling "very, very jumpy," and added: "It's a very special book for me and so I'm wondering what you've done with it."
But it was clear Michael had nothing to be nervous about. "Oh my goodness," he said upon seeing the books, before adding: "They are beautiful." Picking up the diary, he said: "It's identical but not identical. It's just wonderful."
Next Michael was presented the scrapbook and read out a letter before explaining: "You see some of the details of these things. When they are in a pile you don't read every detail but when it's in a book like this you do."
Chris then revealed the keepsake box he'd made with the words "My very patient diary" emblazoned across it. Upon seeing it an emotional Michael took his glasses off and wiped his eyes then paused before he said: "It feels very warm to see that."
After leaving the barn Michael said to the camera: "I'm overwhelmed to see something so beautifully made, complete, and tidy and there for me whenever I want to look at it, which will be quite often. It's like an act of love to work away saving people's lives and doing it with this wonderful spirit of teamwork and cooperation and it's in the book, it's in the box, and I've got it forever." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
