Woman left with 'survivor's guilt' following blood transfusion after stillborn birth |
Teresa Goodwin, from Norwich, was aged just 18 when she lost her stillborn daughter at 33 weeks in February 1990.
After a traumatic 24 hours, she was given a transfusion of five units of blood, leaving her infected with Hepatitis C - a lifelong and potentially fatal condition.
Thousands have died in the UK because of the infected blood scandal, while thousands more were left infected.
Teresa Goodwin, from Norwich, became a victim of the infected blood scandal (Image: Silence to Song choir)
From the 1970s to the early 1990s, more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV due to receiving contaminated blood or blood products, primarily sourced from the United States.
Many of these products were used to treat patients with haemophilia and others who required blood transfusions.
In 1994, Mrs Goodwin’s GP became aware of the risks associated with blood transfusions carried out before the early 1990s.
As a result, she was referred to hospital for testing and it was there she was told she might have contracted an infection. The news left her both stunned and fearful for her young family.
Fortunately, Mrs Goodwin was able to clear the virus after undergoing a difficult course of interferon treatment.
Teresa Goodwin became a victim of the infected blood scandal - pictured are her children (Image: Silence to Song choir)
However, the stigma surrounding the condition has cast a shadow over her life for the past 25 years.
Even after successfully clearing the infection, she said she experienced discrimination.
In 1999, she found nurses unwilling to treat her when she went to have a mole removed.
“I used to live in a small village and there was no way I could discuss this with anyone other than my husband,” she said.
“I’ve realised, after all this time, that there was no need to be ashamed. But I still feel survivor’s guilt hangs over me, being one of the lucky ones who has come through it all.”
Mrs Goodwin is a member of the Silence to Song choir, whose debut single Together We Rise was recently released.
The choir aims to support those affected by the infected blood scandal through the power of music.
She described how joining the choir gave her the confidence to share her story for the first time with family and friends.
She added: “It is only through meeting people in the choir — people who have suffered similar trauma — that I felt able even to tell my parents, and others, what had happened to me.
"I joined the choir as it was my chance to get to know other people in the same situation but I’d never spoken about it until I met the choir. I kept that secret for 35 years.
"Joining the choir gave me confidence to speak out and actually have a voice."
Teresa Goodwin - centre right - became a victim of the infected blood scandal (Image: Silence to Song choir)
She remains angry about the way victims have been treated and the length of time it is taking to secure compensation and justice.
“One further personal thing which shocked me was discovering in my medical records that one of my twins had Hepatitis C antibodies — something no one had even bothered to tell me about,” she said.
“Throughout this scandal there has been so much dishonesty and so many cover-ups. Being part of the choir has really helped me deal with all this.”
Melanie Richmond, who founded the Silence to Song choir, said she is proud of the positive impact it has had on its members and hopes the message of Together We Rise will reach a wider audience.
She said: “From a community born out of tragedy, we hope the legacy of pain suffered by those infected and affected by the infected blood scandal can be transformed into a soaring testament to the human spirit through this song.”