Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page

We want to make a difference….. So after speaking with Alder Hey Charity about what we can do to help, We have set up this just giving page & decided to try and raise as much money as we can as a thank you. We have a few things in mind what we would like to do. To name a few we will be doing a few charity day events. A lot will be happening at Henri’s grandparents pub, Henri’s grandad mick is also organising some events, Pool knock outs will be taking place, fundraising boxes will also be on the bar permanently for the whole 10 months and emptied regularly. A monthly meat raffle will also be taking place at Henri’s grandparents pub. Henri would also like to do something at school. A few friends have also asked to do things in Henri’s name within their work place and own events.  We hope lots will be happening over a few months. The more the better, this will help massively to smash Henri’s target. 

I’ve set up the just giving from now (31st January) to 1st December so it can run to cover all events. All money raised during the 10 months will be added to this just giving. Lots of time to make a difference. 

Henri will be going to Alder Hey for a cheque presentation  on the 20th December 2023. This will be the anniversary of when he arrived into hospital. 

I know it’s hard to always be at these kind of events as life is always so busy so we wanted to make sure it was over a few months.
So myself Andy and of course Henri would absolutely love it anyone would like to do any events in Henri’s name or if you’re in a position to add a donation using the link. Honestly it all adds up.
We have lots of friends on Facebook so share away please and let’s give this incredible hospital some thanks they truly deserve for saving our son.

For people who don’t know what happened to Henri here’s a little bit about what the little hero went through….
Henri is 9 years old. 

Prior to this Henri was healthy and never had any serious medical treatments. 
After having a mild head ache for 2 days and then it going away we simply thought maybe it’s just a viral/flu or excitement for Christmas. It was easily manageable with Calpol. Henri was otherwise ok in himself, eating well & no other symptoms. He was his usual self. Enjoyed breakfast with Santa & going to a party with friends. Then the headache came back a few days later alot stronger and causing Henri to be lethargic and not himself. Paracetamol wasn’t touching it now. His eye looked slightly puffy. He didn’t have any temp, eating and drinking still well at this point. He just looked so drained. I wanted to get Henri checked over especially been so close to Christmas wanted him back on form. After calling the GP for advice, his headache was becoming more concerning. So I took Henri to A&E to be checked out more so for a peace of mind. He walked in like nothing was really wrong. He had lots of tests which were all negative, which ruled out covid & flu. They were saying it’s probably viral let him sleep it off and see how he goes. They didn’t seem at all concerned. So they dosed him up and Henri was comfortable. The last resort was a CT scan which didn’t seem like it was going to be done at first after a nurse kept changing her mind to do one.  She said she was, then wasn’t and couldn’t really make her mind up. Henri then became to really complain his head was hurting and was really restless. After been in A&E for around 8/9 hours Henri deteriorated and began then been sick, wasn’t keeping pain relief down, screaming his head was hurting, very confused and not keeping any fluids down. He couldn’t keep still he was up & down. We couldn’t believe the difference how he was. We were finally listened to that this isn’t Henri and we were then taken for the CT and had to wait another hour for the results. Then our world collapsed the results showed that Henri had 10cm of fluid on his brain which was the reason he was in horrendous pain with his head. Over the next few hours it all went just a blur.  The only way to relieve Henri from pain and stabilise him was to be put to sleep whilst they prepared & transferred him to a specialist children’s hospital . They moved Henri to resus and started to work on him for the transfer. I had to give dad the dreaded call giving him the bad news of just how poorly he was. After texting keeping him updated we just expected to be taking him home after a few hours. That was so hard to actually say out loud and telling him just to be quick it’s so serious. Our poor boy really was so poorly. 

Henri was then transferred by blue lights in the early hours to Alder Hey. The image of Henri with all those wires and tubes broke us. Nothing can prepare you for that image of your child.  The care at Royal Stoke from A&E staff to Resus staff was amazing and acted very quickly following the results. I was allowed to sit in the front of the ambulance whilst dad had to follow behind. The ambulance staff were so supportive and kept conversations flowing for the journey. When we got to Alder Hey lots of medical staff were waiting for Henri to arrive. Some called in to help. His first operation Henri was away from us for over 6 hours. Which felt like weeks. The risks of this operation and procedure were what any parent dreads to hear. The thought of what’s going to be happening to your child was the worst possible feeling. You are literally handing over your child’s life to strangers. I couldn’t even sign the forms my whole body was numb. You spend all your time protecting your child/children and at this moment we couldn’t help him.  We sat crossing everything we had that Henri would come out of surgery the Henri he went in with no lasting damage. We finally got to see Henri in Intensive Care and couldn’t believe just how poorly he was from hours earlier still his happy self. During his time in Alder hey he had to have 2 Craniotomy Operations and also 1 Aspiration Surgery to remove the infection. This meant Henri was cut from ear to ear and also had a smaller insert at the crown of his head.  All the operations were a week apart. Henri spent time in Intensive Care and the High dependency ward,  before spending his recovery time on ward 4a. Royal Stoke weren’t sure what the fluid was at first , just that he was a very poorly boy and Alder Hey specialise in neurosurgery for children so that’s why he was sent to Alder Hey. The fluid was then identified as ( puss) infection. A sample was sent to the lab and the results showed this was Strep A. Which then caused Empyema of the brain. The puss kept refilling in pockets of the brain resulting in the 2nd and 3rd operation. It’s hard to get this kind of infection under control as it’s in a place what’s usually protected from any medication. Henri didn’t have any symptoms of strep other than the headache and they think this was started possibly by a sinus infection. It really has put life in perspective things can change so quickly. Always go with your gut and take your children to be checked over ❤️ They like your bloods to be under 4, when Henri arrived at Alder Hey he was at 257. Which just goes to show how poorly he was and how things can go from ok to life threatening so quickly. Henri wouldn’t be here today or the Henri he’s always been if we hadn’t of taken him to be checked over when we did. Don’t delay time. You know your child better than anyone. As the saying goes ‘ mums know best’  Every single person who treated Henri were incredible. We honestly couldn’t fault anyone’s care. 

Henri spent 4 weeks and 1 day in hospital which was all over Christmas. We left the hospital on the 17th January 2023. We finally had Christmas with Henri’s little brother and older sister as a family when we returned home. Henri’s sister Daisie who is 13 wanted to wait till Henri was home to have Christmas together. We were so proud how she dealt with the whole situation.  Our family helped with childcare for Daisie and Eddie so we could be with Henri at all times. As parents our life had never experienced anything like this before. Mentally it will be with us forever. Been told they didn’t know if he would be ok when I asked that question will always be in our minds. It’s something you expect them to say he’s going be absolutely fine when you ask the question. Alder Hey were absolutely incredible. Every person we came into contact with couldn’t help us enough. We never thought we would ever need a children’s hospital like this. They truly are amazing. They really do deserve so much recognition and thanks. Henri received the best care to the very best standard. 

They saved our sons life and we will owe them everything so this is just something to give back as a thank you. There was so many people who played a part in making sure Henri recovered well. Henri bonded so well with the nurses on ward 4a. They really are amazing. 
Henri has been simply amazing throughout the whole experience he really is one strong little boy. He’s now home and slowly getting back to some normality. He’s back to school for a few hours a day for the mornings. He is thrilled to be back to some normality. He absolutely loves school and his friends. For those who saw my updates on Facebook you will know how poorly he really was and how well he has recovered. He’s smashed it. Henri is currently having his antibiotics through his PICC line daily from home care nurses in the afternoons which is due to end middle of February. We are incredibly proud of him. 

Alder Hey deserve the world. They are an outstanding hospital with the best neurosurgery team. We hope to raise as much as possible even though there isn’t a price on Henri’s life this is a thank you they truly deserve. 

I’ll be sharing this link often & hope to spread Henri’s story far & wide 
Please share & spread the word too.
Thanks so much in advance for any support coming to fundraisers, any donations or shares. 

Love Carly, Andy, Daisie, Henri & Eddie ❤️

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