ORDINARY ANGEL

On the 30th of May this year Sheila McCabe died after a 3 year battle with cholangiocarcinoma. She was 41 and the mother of three children. Two weeks before Christmas 2002 Sheila underwent a radical hepatectomy under Professor James Garden and his team at the Liver Unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. This was a 7 hour operation during which 70% of Sheila's liver was removed. We were hopeful that the surgery might prove curative but alas not. Nonetheless it almost certainly gave her 2 years of extra time with her family.

Her husband Stephen, who is a GP in Portree, spent the last 2 years putting together a CD of Scottish traditional/folk music to raise funds for the Liver Unit at Edinburgh. The unit is now at the forefront of research into the causes and treatment of chronic liver disease and hepato-biliary malignancies.

Everyone involved with the CD has given their time freely - the artists, the recording studios, the record company, the graphic designers and the web site team. Even the mighty Sony Corporation agreed to manufacture the disc for next to nothing. The reason that everyone was asked to donate their services was to ensure the maximum funds went to the unit.

Of the 14 tracks on the disc 11 were specifically recorded for it (including several new compositions) and 2 have never been released on CD before. Artists involved include Michael Marra, Rod Paterson, Donnie Munro, Blair Douglas and the Peatbog Faeries. The disc is called Ordinary Angel and it has received favorable reviews.

For more information on the CD and to purchase a copy please visit the web site www.ordinaryangel.org

All proceeds from the disc will go to the Liver Fund which was set up by Professor Garden to assist the research programme at the Unit."

hoolet is the magazine of RCGP Scotland. It is supported intellectually, financially and emotionally by RCGP Scotland.

This issue maintained by Robert Hallam.