Part 3 of 3: Shirley

May I introduce one of my bestest chums, Shirley. She lives within the Scone Palace Estate. She has two beautiful daughters, is a marvellous hostess and cook. The, "you are just about to eat a coronary on a plate" to die for White Chocolate cheese cake will stand testament to that. She throws polo parties that are legendary, Gin and Tonics that will fell you, ball parties for the young- the list goes on. But last summer she too stood in an ICU, Dundee Ninewells this time. Praying and negotiating with God.

Stacey, her eldest, had a marvellous speciman of the equine world, "Buzz". A giant of a horse, an eventer. Stacey was a horsewomen. Not a polo women like her sister Abby, but eventing. Solid monsters of jumps, dressage to negotiate and then the relatively safe jumping.

Buzz was amazing, dressage was to be worked on. But oh my those jumps, well they held no challenge.

Stacey was enthralled with him from the beginning, he was boxed up and brought home to the "factors house". Many hours spent hacking and jumping in the many acres. Much time spent perfecting her dressage discipline.

Stacey had not long graduated from St Andrews, bright girl, now ensconced in a large firm as a graduate trainee, doing some kind of fund/stock thing. You can tell I'm up on the technical things. Well thought of, brilliant career assured, game fairs, balls, right boots and all (Dubarrys of course). This girl has it all.

Then one afternoon, I took the call. "Charlotte, Stacey has had an accident on Buzz. She is in ICU in Dundee. She is in an induced coma."

Time stood still. Shirley had entered her own nightmare. Her beautiful daughter lay hooked up to machines.

The days passed, tests done, Shirley was strong. She battled the medical opinions, answers sought, was there damage. A head injury, the very worst. Only time could tell. Shirley fought every minute with Stacey. But Stacey fought the hardest.

I apologise Shirley. I didn't know the hell that you went through. We all thought of you and Stacey, we all prayed, we all thought we knew what you were going through. But we didn't. The weeks passes, she amazed them all. She came round, signs were good, medical staff cautious, she kept going. Milestones were passed slowly but surely, Shirley's beautiful child returned to her. A weekend home turned to a week, turned into a month. Test were taken to find out the extent of any damage.

We all got on with life. I'm sorry Shirley. Sorry that our lives seemed unaffected. But she came back and more!

110%, living the good life in the fast lane in London. Parties, balls, new chums. Fab new career in the city. All she wanted is now at her feet. Onwards and upwards. The time in hospital a distant memory. Consultants amazed, friends and family grateful.

And for Shirley, well a little bit of her must have died that awful day. The little bit of you that protects your very being. But she is strong. She, like me, would fight to the death for the ones she loves. And so she did. Abby and Stacey are her testament.

I take my hat off to you Shirley. You were one of the first to phone me, you were the one to say " you can do this, you will do this" at the time when I needed it most. You were and are a constant e-mail connection. But I just want to say sorry Shirley. Because no matter how much I thought I knew your hell, I wasn't even close.