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**Hugh** · 04-03-2008, 12:40

From the Times, January 30, 2008 Linky
"Stephen Smith, 58, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said that he was “over the moon” but that the huge windfall was overshadowed by the diagnosis three years ago of an aortic aneurism – a swelling of the artery, which could burst at any time.
“It’s a ticking timebomb inside me,” he told reporters at a hotel in Watford. Referring to his wife, Ida, he added: “It’s her I worry for, it’s leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her because there are no shops in the cemetery, are there? I want to spend it with her. I want to spend my life with her.”
The condition means that Mr Smith has to be able to reach a hospital within 30 minutes at all times. He said that the jackpot of Ã‚Â£18,992,109 would make no difference to his health: “I can’t go private and say, ‘Fix this for me now, it doesn’t matter what it costs’. [The aneurism] has to get to a certain size before they can operate on it.”"

And last, but not least, from the paper originally quoted, from February 23, 2003 Linky2
"A lottery winner who scooped nearly Ã‚Â£19million last month has had an emergency heart op. Father-of-two Steve Smith, 58, spoke of his life-threatening condition after he won - and said he would trade his millions just to be well. He has an aortic aneurism, a weak point in his main artery. Surgeons operated just 24 hours after he was admitted to hospital with chest pains.

Yesterday he was recovering at Watford General Hospital with wife Ida, 68, by his side."

He had his operation on the NHS at Watford General Hospital, and I am glad to hear he is recovering. His lottery winnings had nothing to do with his surgery.

So, should we change the thread title to "Good luck to Stephen, well done NHS"?

04-03-2008, 12:40	#4
Hugh laeva recumbens anguis Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 68 Services: Premiere Collection Posts: 43,621	Re: Good Luck To Stephen, But Shame On Nhs From the Times, January 30, 2008 Linky "Stephen Smith, 58, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said that he was “over the moon” but that the huge windfall was overshadowed by the diagnosis three years ago of an aortic aneurism – a swelling of the artery, which could burst at any time. “It’s a ticking timebomb inside me,” he told reporters at a hotel in Watford. Referring to his wife, Ida, he added: “It’s her I worry for, it’s leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her because there are no shops in the cemetery, are there? I want to spend it with her. I want to spend my life with her.” The condition means that Mr Smith has to be able to reach a hospital within 30 minutes at all times. He said that the jackpot of Ã‚Â£18,992,109 would make no difference to his health: “I can’t go private and say, ‘Fix this for me now, it doesn’t matter what it costs’. [The aneurism] has to get to a certain size before they can operate on it.”" And last, but not least, from the paper originally quoted, from February 23, 2003 Linky2 "A lottery winner who scooped nearly Ã‚Â£19million last month has had an emergency heart op. Father-of-two Steve Smith, 58, spoke of his life-threatening condition after he won - and said he would trade his millions just to be well. He has an aortic aneurism, a weak point in his main artery. Surgeons operated just 24 hours after he was admitted to hospital with chest pains. Yesterday he was recovering at Watford General Hospital with wife Ida, 68, by his side." He had his operation on the NHS at Watford General Hospital, and I am glad to hear he is recovering. His lottery winnings had nothing to do with his surgery. So, should we change the thread title to "Good luck to Stephen, well done NHS"? __________________ Thank you for calling the Abyss. If you have called to scream, please press 1 to be transferred to the Void, or press 2 to begin your stare. If my post is in bold and this colour, it's a Moderator Request.