Scarlett Phillips
Scarlett's challenge for Reuben
Fundraising for Reuben's Retreat
Story
Hi guys, as you probably know by now, I'm completing a 90ish mile bike ride from manchester to Llandudno with a fantastic team of people in aid of Reubens retreat, an amazing charity who's aim is to raise 1 million pounds in 23 months to build a retreat in the northwest for sick children and their families.
Not only am I doing the bike ride, I have a personal target to drop a dress size before the cycle date and every penny i raise will be going towards this.
Below is Reubens story and the start of Reubens retreat. Please read it to the end and support a fantastic cause.
thank you from the bottom of my heart
Scarlett xxx
Reubens story!
Every parents worse nightmare
Reuben was enjoying a family holiday in Devon; he was his usual happy self, having fun crabbing with his older brother Isaac. Reuben had been ill for 3 weeks on and off and despite several Doctors visits, nobody was unduly worried. He would be sick in a morning and then he would recover within minutes and be fine for the rest of the day. A tell-tale sign for things to come, but never in their wildest nightmares could they have known what was about to happen.
Reuben had a fall and became pale and distressed, his worried parents took him to A & E at Barnstaple Hospital and when Reuben failed to respond to some routine tests he was sent for a CT scan. The scan showed a large mass on his brain they suspected to be a tumour.
He was quickly transferred to the neurological unit at Frenchay Hospital by air ambulance where he underwent hours of surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. Plans were quickly put in place for further surgery but sadly Reuben arrested during the night and his organs began to fail, despite fighting his way through another 5 hour operation some two days later he was too poorly to undergo any further surgery. He was transferred again to PICU at Bristol Children’s Hospital so they could help his organs to recover. Reuben fell asleep in his Mummy’s arms on Tuesday 21st August 2012.
The diagnosis
Reuben had suffered an ATRT which is Atypical terratoid rhabdoid tumour, it is a very rare and aggressive form of Cancerous tumour, only 4 to 5 children will be diagnosed with this tumour in the UK per year and there are very few symptoms.
A legacy in his name
Despite the devastating grief that comes when a quarter of your family is gone, his brave and inspirational parents have set up a charity in his name, they plan to have a retreat in the north west countryside for children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses, with a support and bereavement counselling centre for Mummy’s, Daddy’s and Siblings who have lost their precious children. A place where families can take in the rolling hills and countryside, a place of comfort, peace and tranquillity, a place where memories can be built.
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