My Christmas was ruined: I ended up in A&E after my mother made simple mistake – here’s my warning to make sure you don’t do the same

A man celebrating Christmas with his mother ended up A&E after she made a simple mistake and he now shares his warning to others so they avoid doing the same.

Mike Gayle ended up in severe searing pain, which he told The Guardian felt like ‘the heat of a thousand suns concentrated on to a single centimetre of skin’ after his mother microwaved gravy for five minutes.

His wife dashed him to the A&E department of Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital as he slumped over in the car, feeling hungry and sorry for himself.

But it all came just two weeks after being told his daughter had chickenpox.

As Gayle had still not succumbed to the highly contagious disease at age 36, he dashed to the hospital to collect some antiviral medication, but was rejected at the appointment.

He was told he had to quarantine away from his children during the lead up to Christmas Day, and so although heartbreaking, that is what he did to ensure he would be well for the big day.

But just three days later, the author woke up feeling hot and achy and noticed a scattering of spots across his stomach.

Although his wife managed to get him an emergency GP appointment, it was revealed he had been exposed to the horrific norovirus – better known as the ‘winter vomitting bug’.

Luckily, Gayle was over the worst of it by the time Christmas Day arrived after spending days vomitting and experiencing whole-body convulsions ‘like something out of the Exorcist’. 

Then came a shocking incident that would turn Gayle’s Christmas into the ultimate nightmare.

Back in 2006, while preparing the Christmas dinner, his mother had placed a jug of Bisto gravy in the microwave for five minutes.

Tying to be helpful, Gayle took the jug of the steaming liquid from his mother and within a moment it had spilt on to his left hand.

The scalding gravy sat on his skin as he writhed in pain, before he made his desperate journey to the accident & emergency room.

But his fears were not realised by medical staff as they laughed at his unfortunate accident and waited for the doctor to arrive.

In no time at all the doctor came out and wrapped up his wound and plied him with industrial-strength painkillers before sending him on his way.

Gayle thankfully made it back home in time to enjoy a Christmas Dinner – albeit without any gravy.