March 2016

Freddie is now a very cheeky 3 years old.

He is nearly 6 months post liver transplant & has just had open heart surgery. Two life saving operations in 6 months and his recovery has amazed us all.
Freddie's condition has improved so much since his liver transplant. And as a family our life has got much easier already. We are hoping this is the road to recovery for us all now after a really turbulent & emotional 3 years.

We still continue to raise money and awareness for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. A fabulous charity that was there for us all from the beginning of Freddie's illness.

This year a team of 8 will be jumping on there bikes and cycling the coast to coast over 3 days.

Good Luck to all this years #teamfreddie

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this cause.

Emma & Phil McDonald

If you would like to read more detail about Freddie & our family please follow the link below;

http://www.angelinthenorth.com/2016/03/04/our-transplant-journey/

Freddie's Ball was amazing. We had 300 people attend and it really was a night to remember. 

We are hoping it will become an annual event and have already began discussing next year! 

Freddie's health has deteriorated this year and we are now officially waiting for a liver transplant to take place in the next month. 

Please keep him in your thoughts and if you don't want to donate money please consider becoming an organ donor. 

Thank you to everyone who continues to support #teamfreddie

I don't know where we would be without you. 

Emma xxx

January 2015. 

Freddie is now 2 and 4 months old. He is a cheeky little boy who is full of spirit and feist. This pleases me immensely; he will need this spirit to help him face, and overcome, some of the hurdles that life will present.

In August 2014, Freddie was reviewed by the Liver Team at Leeds General Infirmary. His symptoms had become more severe and his quality of life was gradually getting worse. The team decided he needed major surgery in order to relieve some of his symptoms and to improve his (and our) life. The specialists informed us that if this didn't work, we would have to progress to a liver transplant. Naturally we had to try surgery first. Freddie was in surgery for six and a half hours. The longest six and half hours of mine, Phil's and our families lives.

Leaving your baby in the hands of a team of surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses, knowing he's going to be cut open and re-plumbed and not being able to hold their hand throughout such major surgery is heartbreaking. It leaves you with an indescribable ache in your heart.

Freddie responded well to the surgery like the true, fighting soldier that he is and we haven't looked back since. 

He walked a month after the operation and his appetite has improved significantly; he is more comfortable, very chatty and generally keeping us all on our toes.

That said it doesn't change his diagnosis of having severe and complex health problems. His liver disease is serious and will potentially worsen. He is still tube fed through a gastronomy and has five drugs a day for his condition . We have regular hospital visits and blood tests in order to keep a close eye on the disease. Blood tests are getting harder because of his age and understanding of what is happening. I hate blood tests too and would gladly take them for Freddie. So would Phil. 

So why are we still fundraising? 

Because it helps me/us cope. It turns something negative into something very positive and that's a good feeling. I want to rid Freddie of his illness. But because that will never be an option, fundraising is. 

The Children's Liver Disease Foundation support children and families in the UK and fund reseach. 

So, in July 2015 we will be hosting a 'Summer Ball' in Freddie's name and aim to hit a new target of £40,000.  

And then who knows what we'll do next...........

Thank you for reading and supporting us all

Love Louie & Freddie's mummy

XXX

This year, our challenge will see 30 family & friends doing the Yokshire 3 Peaks to raise money for the Childrens Liver Disease Foundation.

Freddie is now 17 months old. He was diagnosed with chronic liver disease nearly a year ago. I'd like to say it gets easier, but so far it hasn't. 

Liver Disease unfortunately is a life long illness with no remission. Freddie will need life long medication, regular hospital checks and potentially a liver transplant at some point.  

Although he is the most happy, beautiful little soul he now has a daily struggle with two major side effects of his liver disease, Xanthomas & Pruritus. He also has a gastrosomy feeding tube, as another element of his condition is poor appetite & poor weight gain.

As a family our mission is to raise awareness and funding to help the research of childhood liver disease and its side effects. As well as helping other families like us get the support needed when they enter the scary & unpredictable world of liver disease.

Please make it your mission to donate anything, no matter what amount to help us achieve our goals.

Thank You

Freddie & Louie's Mummy & Daddy XXX

In the beginning........

At 4 weeks old our baby boy began tests for prolonged jaundice and conjugated billirubin.

Tests were weekly bloods which were taken from Freddies tiny hands or feet. Reassuringly the tests always came back negative and as a family we remained hopeful that Freddie would grow out of what ever was causing his jaundice.

We had a couple of hospital stays and more tests, ultra sounds, HIDA scan & Heart Echo.

At 18 weeks old the Consultants at the LGI Liver Team decided it was time to do a liver Biopsy on Freddie and took a piece for testing.

At 24 weeks old we had the sad news that Freddie has Chronic Liver Disease & will need life long medication, regular hospital visits and in worst case a Liver Transplant.

Freddie is a gorgeous smiley & giggly little boy who we all love dearly.

His 2 Aunties - Lizzie & Linsey & 2 family friends, Brendan & Graeme have got together and arranged to do a Sky Dive to raise money for the Childrens Liver Disease Foundation which is a Charity we & Freddie are likely to rely on for support in the future.

This will be on 25th May 2013.

So please donate towards such a good cause. 

Thank You to all our family & friends for their continued love & support.

For our brave little Soldier Freddie Jack.

You makes us very Proud

XXXX