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Bed 12
What do you do when the most important person in your life is about to die?
Who can help you?
How do you keep going?
When Alison Murdoch's husband catches viral encephalitis and falls into a life-threatening coma, everything changes. 'Bed 12' is a survival guide to the world of acute medicine, and a poignant and darkly comic account of what it's like to fight for someone's life.
Over the course of a summer, machines beep and clatter, medical staff come and go, and family and friends of varying beliefs offer well-intentioned advice. For someone unfamiliar with hospitals, death and dying, the insights of Buddhism assume a greater relevance than ever before. This book is an astute, profound and uplifting insight into how to cope with despair, heartache and the unknown.
'The object of my concern—or rather the entire focus of my current existence—is now lying in Bed 12.'
'Riveting!'
Dr Bob Grove, former Chief Executive, the Centre for Mental Health
REVIEWS
''Bed 12' is a love letter to the NHS, and the everyday acts of kindness that keep it afloat ...
this is a precious gem of a book.'
Dr Phil Hammond, NHS doctor, writer, broadcaster and comedian
'A powerfully moving book revealing the healing power that resides within the minds and hearts of each one of us.'
Thupten Jinpa, principal English translator to the Dalai Lama
'A fascinating and inspiring read for anyone who has experienced the serious illness of a friend or relative,
or who wonders about their own mortality.'
Professor Clare Gerada MBE
'This is a miraculous story told with great humanity.'
The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres KCVO DD FSA, Bishop of London (1995-2017)
'A remarkable achievement. Bed 12 contains so much
from which those of us providing intensive care could and should learn.'
Richard Beale, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Guys's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
'It should be on the reading list for all nurses and doctors.'
Dr Bob Grove, former Chief Executive, the Centre for Mental Health
Who can help you?
How do you keep going?
When Alison Murdoch's husband catches viral encephalitis and falls into a life-threatening coma, everything changes. 'Bed 12' is a survival guide to the world of acute medicine, and a poignant and darkly comic account of what it's like to fight for someone's life.
Over the course of a summer, machines beep and clatter, medical staff come and go, and family and friends of varying beliefs offer well-intentioned advice. For someone unfamiliar with hospitals, death and dying, the insights of Buddhism assume a greater relevance than ever before. This book is an astute, profound and uplifting insight into how to cope with despair, heartache and the unknown.
'The object of my concern—or rather the entire focus of my current existence—is now lying in Bed 12.'
'Riveting!'
Dr Bob Grove, former Chief Executive, the Centre for Mental Health
REVIEWS
''Bed 12' is a love letter to the NHS, and the everyday acts of kindness that keep it afloat ...
this is a precious gem of a book.'
Dr Phil Hammond, NHS doctor, writer, broadcaster and comedian
'A powerfully moving book revealing the healing power that resides within the minds and hearts of each one of us.'
Thupten Jinpa, principal English translator to the Dalai Lama
'A fascinating and inspiring read for anyone who has experienced the serious illness of a friend or relative,
or who wonders about their own mortality.'
Professor Clare Gerada MBE
'This is a miraculous story told with great humanity.'
The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres KCVO DD FSA, Bishop of London (1995-2017)
'A remarkable achievement. Bed 12 contains so much
from which those of us providing intensive care could and should learn.'
Richard Beale, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Guys's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
'It should be on the reading list for all nurses and doctors.'
Dr Bob Grove, former Chief Executive, the Centre for Mental Health
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2017
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 21, 2018
An absolute worrying time for Alison Murdoch when her husband, Simon falls ill. She has to call for an ambulance. Simon is rushed to St. Thomas hospital. The doctors have said that Simon is very ill and diagnosed him with encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain caused by an infection or when a persons immune system goes wrong . Simon is in a life-threatening coma and breathing by a ventilator. He is being fed and watered by a tube in his nose and urine is collected by a catheter. Alison is told that her husband's brain scan shows no sign of damage. This means probably that he hasn't had a stroke. This is an extremely a moving book. That I highly recommend. A few more things in detail happen, but I will let you read this true amazing story and find out for your self.
June 14, 2018
I went into this book thinking I may have some prior knowledge of what it was about to foretell. Having spent a lot of time in hospital, most recently a three month stint and during that time your bed becomes the focus of everything. So much can happen during the course of a day/night to BED so and so. The patient ceases to exist and becomes a number.
I have also viewed the BED from the other side as one of the nurses .. the two should equate and the understanding could become intense during the care and making life as comfortable as possible .. I’m not sure that is actually true … anyway was does BED 12 involve?
How would you feel if you watched in slow motion the person you cared most about unravels and collapses in front of you .. thinking you can take care of them and miraculously make them better? The acceptance of defeat as you realise this is serious and needs ambulance treatment to the nearest hospital and eventually ICU?
Alison’s husband Simon takes up residence in BED 12 .. her dashing husband is now breathing via a ventilator is being fed via a tube in his nose, the urine evacuates via a catheter tube. As she takes into account these signs that Simon is no longer with her, the reality begins to dawn … the scans show he hasn’t had a stroke so what can possibly be wrong .. eventually encephalitis is diagnosed.
This book is a learning curve for anybody who hasn’t experienced hospitals and illness on a personal level, for those that have they will be nodding their heads. As we follow each tiny incident that befalls Simon, his wife keeps note, it is truly a work of genius allowing the reader to ride that roller coaster of fragility between life and death.
While we are rooting for Simon to make a full recovery we don’t see the minute differences in character that make this man a stranger to his wife. During sickness and in health is muttered a few times. I think this will appeal to a lot of readers on so many levels.
My thanks to the author and publisher who kindly sent me a copy and invited me to participate on the blog tour. I read and reviewed voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
I have also viewed the BED from the other side as one of the nurses .. the two should equate and the understanding could become intense during the care and making life as comfortable as possible .. I’m not sure that is actually true … anyway was does BED 12 involve?
How would you feel if you watched in slow motion the person you cared most about unravels and collapses in front of you .. thinking you can take care of them and miraculously make them better? The acceptance of defeat as you realise this is serious and needs ambulance treatment to the nearest hospital and eventually ICU?
Alison’s husband Simon takes up residence in BED 12 .. her dashing husband is now breathing via a ventilator is being fed via a tube in his nose, the urine evacuates via a catheter tube. As she takes into account these signs that Simon is no longer with her, the reality begins to dawn … the scans show he hasn’t had a stroke so what can possibly be wrong .. eventually encephalitis is diagnosed.
This book is a learning curve for anybody who hasn’t experienced hospitals and illness on a personal level, for those that have they will be nodding their heads. As we follow each tiny incident that befalls Simon, his wife keeps note, it is truly a work of genius allowing the reader to ride that roller coaster of fragility between life and death.
While we are rooting for Simon to make a full recovery we don’t see the minute differences in character that make this man a stranger to his wife. During sickness and in health is muttered a few times. I think this will appeal to a lot of readers on so many levels.
My thanks to the author and publisher who kindly sent me a copy and invited me to participate on the blog tour. I read and reviewed voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
December 23, 2017
As a survivor of Viral Encephalitis myself, I found this a very interesting read. My husband also kept a diary of our time in ICU and beyond and we too were very grateful of the level of care we received.
A really candid and relatable experience to share.
A really candid and relatable experience to share.
March 6, 2019
It is the intrinsic interest of the subject matter that makes this book although the writing style is also lucid and precise. This is quite an achievement given that it is an account of living through an intensely emotional and life changing situation.
April 7, 2025
really moving. the whole book is a fantastic insight into the patient and family experience of ICU but i found the epilogue to be particularly revealing.
April 6, 2017
‘… a love letter to the NHS and the everyday acts of kindness that keep it afloat … it needs to be widely read.’
Dr Phil Hammond, NHS doctor, writer, broadcaster and comedian
‘This is a miraculous story told with great humanity.’
The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres KCVO DD FSA, Bishop of London (1995-2017)
‘A fascinating and inspiring read for anyone who has experienced the serious illness of a friend or relative, or who wonders about their own mortality. As a GP, I hope it will be read by everyone who cares about the NHS.’
Professor Clare Gerada MBE
‘Bed 12 contains so much from which those of us providing intensive care could and should learn … it is a remarkable achievement.’
Richard Beale, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
‘A powerfully moving book revealing the healing power that resides within the minds and hearts of each one of us.’
Thupten Jinpa, principal English translator to the Dalai Lama
Dr Phil Hammond, NHS doctor, writer, broadcaster and comedian
‘This is a miraculous story told with great humanity.’
The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres KCVO DD FSA, Bishop of London (1995-2017)
‘A fascinating and inspiring read for anyone who has experienced the serious illness of a friend or relative, or who wonders about their own mortality. As a GP, I hope it will be read by everyone who cares about the NHS.’
Professor Clare Gerada MBE
‘Bed 12 contains so much from which those of us providing intensive care could and should learn … it is a remarkable achievement.’
Richard Beale, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
‘A powerfully moving book revealing the healing power that resides within the minds and hearts of each one of us.’
Thupten Jinpa, principal English translator to the Dalai Lama
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews