In October 2019 we discovered our eldest daughter Scarlett had a rare benign tumour on her pituitary gland called a Craniopharyngioma. This had been causing her increasingly worsening headaches and also had halted her growth, she hadn't really grown much in the last 3 years. The tumour was the size of a golf ball and was removed (through her nose) in a nine and a half hour operation at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Manchester on November 4th by two surgeons whose names I will never forget, Mr Pathmanaban and Mr Bhalla. It was the longest day of our life and something I would not wish on anyone, 

However the surgeons worked absolute miracles, as well as being wrapped around her pituitary gland the tumour was attached to both her brain and her optic nerve which added a layer of complexity.  I remember going into the recovery room to see her "Post Operation" praying she would still be able to see, thankfully due to the skill of the two aforementioned gentleman her eye sight has actually improved....

Immediately after the operation she spent 6 days in a high dependency ward and then a further 6 days on the ward, her sole mission was to get home before her 13th birthday (which she managed) with a few days to spare.  I have always held the NHS in high regard but having seen first hand the level of care Scarlett received my respect for them has gone through the roof. 

Scarlett then received pioneering proton beam therapy at The Christie to "zap" the last remaining bits of the tumour that couldn't be removed in theatre. She finished her 28 session plan (every week day for nearly 6 weeks) on 13th February 2020 and "rang the bell" in front of all her family. An emotional afternoon.

We have been blown away by the care and support we have received from the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House (where we stayed to get some much needed rest between being bedside with Scarlett) and The Christie and we vowed as a family we would raise some money for all three so here is my fundraiser for the hospital. 

We always think chronic illness is something that happens to "other people", I did,  however the last 18 months has taught me that someone always has to be that "other person" and this time it was us. Things can change very quickly and when they do it is very easy to take for granted the incredible work the NHS do for us...

Thanks for listening and please give what you can, every penny counts.

Thanks 

#teamgardner