A WOMAN who suffers from a debilitating condition has bought TVs for “wonderful” hospital staff and patients to thank them for their treatment and encouragement.

Kim Purkis, 29, has suffered with intestinal failure for three years, meaning she cannot eat normally and receives all her nutrition via a line into her vein.

She spent 47 weeks at Southampton General Hospital having treatment and has her mind set on thanking those who helped her while she was in Ward F11.

Enlisting the help of her beloved dog Dudley, Ashurst resident Kim took to running a mile for every week she was in hospital.

Kim actually ran 57 miles, smashing her target, and raised £1,150, which meant she was able to purchase TVs for all 10 rooms on the ward, as well as all the leads, six bedside fans, 53 DVDs and a £190 cheque.

She told the Echo: “It was a new ward four years ago, and it was horrible because there was no entertainment.

“As wonderful as the staff are, they can’t entertain you all day.

“I’ve been there so many times over the last three years with my sepsis, I just had to help them.

“I came up with the idea of running a mile for every week I’ve been in when I was admitted during October, and started as soon as I was back out.

“I did it because I’ve been in there so many times and they’ve helped me so much.

“They are the reason I am alive.”

She donated the items when she went into the ward as an inpatient earlier in December, with the help of her partner Peter Nicholson.

Her brown seven-year-old Cockapoo, Dudley, joined her every step of the way. “Dudley’s my faithful, loyal Cockapoo.

“He’s not a medically trained dog, but last time I was admitted he could tell something was wrong a couple of days before I had obvious symptoms, and he stuck closer to my side.

“Two days later I was admitted to A&E.

“The plan was to surprise the ward nearer Christmas with the TVs, but as I was rushed back into hospital at the beginning of the month with another sepsis infection, I delivered them to the ward as an inpatient instead.”

Beth Hall, head of fundraising at Southampton Hospital Charity, said: “It is always amazing to hear how people who have been treated at our hospital want to raise money and help other patients.

“Kim’s achievement is remarkable and we all would like to thank her for doing this.”