Jemma's brother Joseph along with a group of Jemma's friends from school, swimming and music are running, or walking, the Manchester Colour Run to raise money for Alder Hey.  It's a fun 5K run where competitors get covered in different colours of paint, it's something Jemma would love and find very funny.

Thank you to each person who has entered as Team Jemma.

Harrison, Fraser and ian Schofield, Molly Addis, Charolotte Atack, Katie Baker, Nicola Brennan, Jessica Bullock, Steph Burns, Annellen, Liam and Noah Fazackerley, Jonathan Ford, Lauren Gaskell, Bethany Hill, Jessica Hill, Megan Hornby, Thomas Jukes,Kieran Kinealy, Jess Kirk, Edward Moore, Abigail Moss,Libby Murray, Mio Okubo, Harriet Olurankinse, Lucy Parkinson, Hannah Pilkington, Alyson Roberts, Joseph and Tony Roberts, Cerys Robinson, Ashley Stephens, Andrew and Grace Sutton, Georgia Taylor, Eva Taylor-Seriatou, Charlotte Thompson, Georgia Valentine, Angela and Lydia Woolham, Kelsey Monks, Stacey Slade, Abigail Wilkinson, Nathalie and Paul Chapple, Sarah and Shaun Cooper, Sharon and Georgia Atherton, Kelly Rothwell and Lucy Rutter.

Jemma's story 

Jemma became poorly during Feb half term 2014.  She was initially taken into Wigan Infirmary A&E but was quickly transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital.  As her condition continued to deteriorate she was then transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool for life saving treatment. 

Jemma initially displayed symptoms of a common sickness bug, however her condition deteriorated rapidly as she developed an infection of her blood which resulted in septicaemia. Jemma’s body reacted in a rare but devastating way which caused a condition known as toxic shock resulting in systematic multi-organ failure.

The NHS staff worked tirelessly in a bid to save Jemma, and successfully managed to stabilise her condition with the use of an artificial Heart & Lung to support her (ECMO).  Jemma’s condition appeared to be showing signs of improvement until she suffered a bleed to her brain from which she never recovered.     

Jemma and her family were cared for wonderfully throughout by the many consultants, nurses and other staff in PICU. We know that each and every person who came into contact with us and Jemma had tried their very best.  They really did become our family in the short space of time we were there and their support helped us through such a difficult time.

Throughout Jemma's short illness we stayed in Ronald McDonald House.  There are facilities there for families and it meant we didn’t have to keep making the journey to and from hospital each day.  It also gave us the security of knowing should anything happen to Jemma we were only a few minutes from her bedside.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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