I have run for a few years but I have never run a marathon before [and I had never really planned to! ] so.... this is a real challenge for me.  Recently, however, I was given an opportunity to raise money for the amazing Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, inspired by the journey of my good friend Alex Cookson and his beautiful family- Jas, Esmae and Evie. I feel compelled to do my best to support.

Evie's story:

On the 11th April 2022, at 04.34am, Evie arrived into Alex's family making their family complete. Later that afternoon, just after 2pm, Evie and Jas were discharged from hospital and everyone went home to greet Evie's big sister, Esmae. On arrival home everything was great, they were exhausted but happy to be all together, after 9 months of excitement and anticipation. That night, Evie wouldn't settle at all, her knee's were tucked into her chest, she was vomiting and seemed in pain. She wouldn't feed and Alex and Jas began to feel something wasn't right. The following morning Evie's condition deteriorated, Then, their world stopped. Evie was not breathing -her eyes were wide open and watering, she was blue. Alex himself began life-saving CPR. Within minutes of calling 999, the police, two ambulances, a critical care doctor and an air ambulance were on scene. It was just as the ambulances arrived, while Alex continued  to give CPR, that Evie began to cry and take a breath for herself. The Paramedics took over, Evie's heart rate was 260bpm, and her o2 levels were down to 46%. She was taken to the ambulance and prepped for transport, where they had to resuscitate her again. Evie was rushed to Worcester Hospital and onto the Paediatric ward where she was given more life saving treatment by several nurses and doctors; early antibiotics were administered as a precaution against sepsis. Birmingham Children's Hospital sent a Children's Critical Care Ambulance for Evie and transported her to their Intensive Care Unit. By the following morning, she was on a ventilator in readiness for emergency surgery. Over the following three weeks, tiny, beautiful Evie endured multiple operations and both Alex and Jas had many difficult conversations,  even told to expect the worst. Tests were multiple and on-going, including more episodes of lifesaving treatment. The next few weeks , including  multiple infections, more operations, minor and major, brought the family small steps closer to being able to hold their baby girl again without wires, tubes, and bags. At 4 weeks old Evie was moved from Intensive Care to a high dependency ward where she spent a further 3 months. During this time she received more operations, blood transfusions and underwent treatment for repeat bouts of sepsis. Finally she was moved to a normal ward where she was treated for another two months before being allowed to go home. In total, she spent 183 days in hospital before being well enough to go home where she remains an outpatient of Birmingham Children's Hospital. 

Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity believes there’s always more we can do for sick youngsters and that’s why they will always strive to do more for their patients and families. It’s their mission to raise the vital funds needed to make a real difference to all who use the hospital. Vital funds empowers it to take innovative approaches to treating some of the sickest children in the UK, including making the the hospital feel just like home. Continued donations will greatly help to find new ways to treat and cure childhood diseases.

Thank you so much for supporting. 

Peace.