My name is Roy Traynor, and this year, I am running the London Marathon in memory of my Great Niece Daisy Fraser who we sadly lost in June 2004 aged just 10 months old.
Daisy was born in July 2003 with short bowel, so unable to feed, she spent all of her short life in Hospital. 7 months at Sheffield Children's Hospital & 3 months at Birmingham children's Hospital.
Because Daisy wasn't able to feed naturally, she was fed intravenously, which in the end, caused Daisy's liver to become damaged.
After 7 months of doctors trying various methods to help her feed, they transferred Daisy from Sheffield to Birmingham Children's hospital where they specialise in Liver & Small bowel for a liver biopsy. The results showed her liver was 50% damaged. The Doctors informed us that if they could help Daisy to feed, then her liver could actually repair itself.
Unfortunately after doctors  efforts, this wasn't the case, and so Daisy needed a new liver.
After being on the organ donor waiting list, Daisy received her new liver in April 2004. It was a very 'special' liver from a mature lady who lived in Gothenburg, Sweden . She was a living donor.
At this time, this was a very rare case. Doctors told Lucy & Scott that there were no 'matches' for Daisy in the UK, so they urgently needed to look further a field. Daisy's perfect liver would ideally be one from a donor of similar age & weight, so a baby or child, but families in turmoil, very rarely decide to donate the organs of their child, and so this is why there are so many children desperate for organ transplants.
Daisy needed a new liver within 24hours, so they had no other option but to carry out the transplant from an older living donor. It was a very rare case, transplanting part of the living donors liver, called a 'lobe' but it was a matter of life or death. The liver lobe was flown over to Birmingham Children's Hospital and Daisy went through a 7 hour transplant. Overnight, Daisy's skin went from a yellow/green colour to a lovely, healthily looking pink. We were so grateful.
Sadly, weeks later, Daisy suffered a cardiac arrest, and in 6th June 2004, Daisy passed away.
During Daisy's short life, my Niece, Lucy Fraser & her Husband Scott, Daisy's parents, were supported tremendously by numerous charities at both hospitals. One in particular and is especially close to their hearts is The Sick Children's Trust. Treetop House at Sheffield Children's Hospital.
Being so far from home, The Sick Children's Trust provided Lucy, Scott & Scott's Daughters, Mollie & Anna with free home from home accommodation for 7 months, allowing them to be as close as possible to Daisy on a daily basis. It not only gave them some 'normality', but a place where they could spend time together as s family, in a homely environment, away from a hospital ward.
They made friends and we're able to talk to other families who were going through turmoil themselves. Treetop House and the fantastic staff provided support to Lucy & Scott at their time of need and financially, it was one less thing to worry about during this stressful time of their lives.
The Sick Children's Trust reply entirely on voluntary income to provide this free remarkable service to families with Sick children in hospital, like my Niece, and this is why I have chosen to raise funds for them.