A disabled North East councillor who was close to death during a five-month hospital ordeal is making it his mission to help other people in crisis overcome “impossible” odds. Alistair Chisholm was suddenly hospitalised in October 2021 with a life-threatening case of infective endocarditis, requiring open heart surgery to replace an infected valve.
The Newcastle Labour councillor went into organ failure, suffered multiple strokes, and contracted Covid-19 during his long stay at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital, of which he remembers little.
His condition became so serious that, in December 2021, husband Geof and their two daughters were told that he might die and that he might struggle to function even if he did survive.
Recovery
But, since being discharged the following March, he has since made a remarkable and inspiring recovery.
He has had to learn to walk again and perform basic tasks like brushing his teeth, but since 2023 has returned to his full duties as a councillor representing communities in the city’s Ouseburn ward.
The long-term effects of his illness mean that Alistair, who had previously spoken publicly about his battle with PTSD after a terrifying car crash, is now classed as being severely visually impaired.
Life Shift North East
Counting himself as “very lucky” to be able to enjoy his life again, the dad-of-two is now launching a new project called Life Shift North East – a community interest company designed to support other people who have experienced a health crisis.
Alistair told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It is quite a thing to get access to work and the right support in place. There is quite a lot of work to do with employers about helping them understand the longer game of supporting people.
“I want to support people to keep their options open. It is easy to be discouraged, but there are new ways of living and working – things that can seem impossible become possible.”
Alistair describes his vision as being like constantly having a spotlight shining in your eye or trying to see underwater, and he also struggles with navigation.
That has been helped by the arrival of guide dog Umber, who he says has made a “huge difference” to his life – helping him to travel independently, as well as proving a hit in the civic centre and when talking to residents on the doorstep.
Umber has even saved him from being hit by an electric car that Alistair was unable to hear as he stepped out into a road.
Alistair, who also has the invaluable help of support workers, has also worked with organisations like the Royal National Institute of Blind People and North East Action On Transport to help improve bus accessibility by introducing audio announcements on journeys.
He believes that his experiences have made him a better local politician, more willing to “allow myself time to think about things and be reminded that everyone has barriers and problems to overcome”.
Alistair plans to stand for re-election when his term of office is up next May, saying he wants to continue as a voice for people with visual impairment and other disabilities in the city’s corridors of power to ensure their perspective “is listened to”.
But he worries that other disabled people will struggle to enter politics due to a lack of specialist support to help them campaign, saying that if he was not already elected when his illness struck then he would likely not be able to run for office now.
Speaking to the LDRS at their home in Heaton, Alistair’s husband Geof said he was “amazingly proud”.
Recalling the day he told their daughters that Alistair could die, Geof added: “The doctors at that point were saying that even if he did recover and they could operate, he would not be able to communicate. They were really expecting the outcome to be that bad.
“Then when he woke up we realised he couldn’t see anything at all. If you think back to then and look where he is now, it is extraordinary what he has done.
“His positivity and humour has somehow managed to continue throughout, despite the fact that everything has changed.”
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