In December 2021, we were in the car on the way to my twenty week scan, and I was telling Stu how sometimes these scans take a while as they look at everything in detail, but that usually doesn't mean anything is wrong. Unfortunately our scan took a long time because the sonographer couldn't see what she needed to see with the baby's heart. The next day we saw the Cardiology team who told us that our Son was going to be born with Transposition of the Greater Arteries (TGA) and that this condition is "not compatible with life".  Further scans revealed that aside from his heart, the baby was completely healthy and developing well; but he would need open heart surgery when he was about one week old. 

The staff at St Michael's and then at Bristol Children's Hospital, in particular on Seahorse Ward, were all amazing. It is no exaggeration that they saved Ben's life; and the incredible staff also kept us going while we spent day after day in the hospital, watching his sats levels and cherishing every cuddle. Ben had his first procedure while he was a few hours old to help him survive until he had his main surgery when he was just 7 days old. Unbelievably, he was home with us just 5 days later. 

Four of us are running and fundraising for the hospital because we want to show our gratitude in anyway we can. On the ward they had some comfortable, padded chairs that reclined, but not enough of them. 6 hours after giving birth I was in an upright, plastic chair at Ben's bedside and it was pretty uncomfortable. We're hoping to raise funds to provide more comfortable chairs. If we can make another parent's time in PICU a bit more comfortable because they're on a decent chair, we'll have done something. 

We also bought the nurses a Nespresso coffee machine and at least £100 of the raised total will be spent on more coffee pods for them. 

Huge thanks to Amy at Fourth Trimester Trainer for getting me up and running again - wouldn't be able to do the training without her! 

Information from the Grand Appeal, Bristol Children's Hospital fundraising department:

From helping staff, patients or their families, The Grand Appeal puts Bristol Children's Hospital at the heart of everything they do.They support the hospital through:Family accommodation: they run three accommodation houses that provide a safe and supportive place for families to stay while their child is in hospital.Medical research: they invest in medical research programmes to ensure the hospital remains a hub of innovation, where everyday experts pave the way for sick children through a network of projects with international impact.Equipment: they fund state-of-the-art equipment to save lives. Music, play and art therapy: their music, play and arts programme can be seen in every ward at Bristol Children's Hospital, helping young children to deal with the stresses and fears they may face during treatment.Art enhancements: they work to make sure Bristol Children's Hospital provides a fun, stimulating and comforting space for the brave children it cares for.