Dad who spent eight months in hospital pays tribute to life-saving medics

A man who made an “extraordinary journey back to health” after spending more than eight months in hospital with a potentially fatal pancreas condition has thanked the medics who saved his life.

Brian Wands, 45, from Hamilton, was diagnosed with pancreatitis in March 2022 after waking one night and “literally passing out” because of the pain in his stomach.

After spending six weeks at Hairmyres hospital in East Kilbride, he was transferred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI), where he remained for seven months.

During this time he spent 84 days in intensive care, four weeks in a coma and underwent multiple life-saving operations, as well as a 95-day blood transfusion.

After making a full recovery this year Mr Wands wrote to staff at GRI expressing his “heartfelt thanks” to them for saving his life.

The letter begins: “I am writing to pay formal tribute to the staff of Glasgow Royal Infirmary for the care that saved my life and restored me to health during a prolonged, life-threatening illness that began in 2022.

“I recently completed my care under the nutrition team in September 2025, marking the close of an extraordinary journey back to health, a journey only made possible through the dedication and collective expertise of the hospital teams.”

The letter pays tribute to a number of individuals at the hospital, including consultant surgeon Mr Euan Dickson, intensive care consultant Dr Tara Quasim and physiotherapist Jill Meldrum.

Mr Wands also credited teams across the hospital, including nurses, radiologists, dieticians and domestic staff, saying: “I may not know every name, but I will never forget what was done for me.”

He also recognised the work of the GRI’s InS:PIRE clinic, whose aftercare supported him and his family “on the long path back to normal life”.

The letter concludes: “To every member of staff involved in my care, please accept my heartfelt thanks – I will never forget what you all did for me and my family.”

Since completing his treatment in September Mr Wands said he has regained a level of fitness he said he could “never have imagined” during his darkest days.

This includes doing pilates every day, being able to hold a five-minute plank, and playing tennis again – all of which he says is possible only because of the hospital staff who brought him back to health.

He said his family is also preparing for their first holiday for three years.

Mr Wands said: “Thanks to these teams, my wife still has a husband, my children still have their dad, and I have been able to return to my role.

“I think about what happened every single day, and I am profoundly grateful for everything that was done to save me.”