What was supposed to be a straightforward medical procedure turned into a traumatic and life-threatening experience for Zoe Woodward.
The 52-year-old gardening influencer, who has been battling endometriosis for years, underwent a routine laparoscopy expecting relief.
Instead, she found herself fighting for her life due to a severe internal bleed and a shocking medical oversight—a cotton swab left inside her body.
Hours of Agony in A&E
Four days after her surgery, Zoe’s body began showing alarming signs that something was wrong.
Deep purple bruising spread across her lower torso, inner thighs, and stomach, indicating internal bleeding.
In unbearable pain, she was rushed to the hospital, where she was left waiting for six agonizing hours before seeing a doctor.
During that time, her condition worsened, with her skin turning black from the blood pooling behind her uterus.
To her horror, when she was finally examined, the doctor refused to provide any pain relief.
It was only through a CT scan that the extent of the internal bleeding was confirmed.
A Shocking Discovery
Weeks after the surgery, Zoe’s health continued to deteriorate.
Then, during a routine check-up, a nurse made a shocking discovery— a cotton wool swab had been stitched into her belly button using permanent sutures.
This was in direct contradiction to the hospital’s claim that only dissolvable stitches were used.
By then, Zoe had been suffering from severe complications, including persistent stomach pain, nausea, bloating, and digestive issues so severe that the inside of her mouth had turned black.
Despite all of this, she was left without answers, forcing her and her husband, Neil, to seek private medical assistance.
Desperate Measures to Seek Help
Feeling abandoned by the healthcare system, the couple made the difficult decision to remortgage their home to fund private medical care.
Their attempts to get answers through the NHS led nowhere, with their GP saying there was nothing more that could be done.
Neil took matters into his own hands, writing urgent emails to government officials, including the Prime Minister, Wes Streeting, and their local MP, in a desperate plea for help.
A response finally came from Wes Streeting’s team via Instagram, promising an investigation.
Meanwhile, an NHS solicitor who initially contacted the couple for an interview pledged to provide a specialist appointment within 48 hours.
However, that promise went unfulfilled, and Zoe was left waiting for three more weeks before hearing anything further—coincidentally, only after she started publicly sharing her ordeal online.
A Life on the Brink
Zoe’s condition has only worsened. She now lives in constant, excruciating pain and has developed several secondary health complications.
Eating has become a struggle, and her body no longer absorbs essential nutrients, leading to malnutrition.
Despite being scheduled for an NHS appointment at a specialist endometriosis hospital in April, Neil fears she may not survive that long if she catches the flu or COVID due to her weakened state.
What makes matters even more terrifying is the high dose of opioids Zoe is forced to rely on—double the amount typically given to end-of-life patients.
The prolonged use of such medication carries its own risks, making it a race against time to find the right medical intervention before it’s too late.
Turning to the Public for Support
Determined not to let Zoe’s suffering go unnoticed, the couple launched an online campaign documenting her struggle.
They started a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of private treatment, which has raised over £34,000 so far.
Zoe, once an independent and resilient woman, never imagined she would be in this position—desperate for medical help in a system that seems to have failed her.
“I can’t believe this is happening in our country,” Zoe shared on her fundraiser page. “All I know is that I need serious surgery, and I am desperate to get better. We don’t even know how much it will cost if robotic surgery is required, and that’s terrifying.”
Her friend Liz, who helped start the fundraiser, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Zoe is deteriorating fast. She’s in unbearable pain, losing weight rapidly, and unable to lie down without heavy medication.
Without immediate intervention, she and Neil face a tragic outcome. She has given so much to others—now, she needs our help.”
What’s Next?
Zoe and Neil are now placing all their hopes on an upcoming private hospital appointment.
If that doesn’t provide the answers they desperately need, their next available NHS appointment is still months away—time they fear they don’t have.
For now, they continue to fight for proper medical care, hoping that their story will bring change and that no one else will have to endure the same nightmare.
Meanwhile, their supporters rally around them, proving that sometimes, when the system fails, it’s the kindness of strangers that makes all the difference.