CHAS Is a childrens charity that means a lot to my family.Please take the time to read this and make as big or as little a donation as you wish.

Last january, My 11 year old brother Niall suffered a brain hemorrhage. Niall was then submitted to Glasgows southern general hospital ,where he went through lots of tests and suffered three more brain hemorrhages from january - april.On the 13th of april after the dreaded craniotomy operation, to remove what we believed was a benign slow growing brain tumour,actualy turned out to be the monster they call glioblastoma multiforme or grade 4 cancer.To think that seeing him lying in recovery in intensive care following his massive brain operation was difficult.I now think where we stand today ,without him and still .... can't quite comtemplate where it all went so wrong.

Statistics say that 3 children in the uk a year will be diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme.Lottery odds I guess you could say that it happened to our Niall.

From April onwards he spent a little more time at home.All that could help at this point was palliative care :-2nd operation to reduce brain fluid southern general, radiotherapy at the beatson, yorkhill schiehallion for chemo medicine, platelet checks and the ocassional weekend in malcom sergant house at prestwick for a break.His prognosis was 9-12 months, as the tumour was deep and central, in the thalamus.

Steroids and morphine mainly kept Niall going.We managed to squeeze in a family holiday to Devon in june 2011 so the whole family could be together with him, make time count.But after the holiday a necessary steroid medicine change he had to have, had accelorated the next stage of his deterioration.Mobility worsened, headaches more frequent and higher morphine doses given throughout the day.

(Niall always wanted to be out and doing things or just going out a run in the car with me..to mcds or watching dvds.He began to care only about the simple things in life and so did we,material things didnt matter playing his xbox didnt matter.Having family around him did.Our house wasnt ideal for his mobility we had to bump him up and down stairs on his bottom.He had to be washed dressed and taken to and from the bathroom .One of the family had to be in with him at night to manage pain relief every couple of hours)

My mum and Dad decided to contact Robin house a childrens Hospice in balloch to give help with Nialls care plan.We would of been more than happy to strain ourselves but never at Nialls risk, he was too fragile.So it was the right thing to do for him.

Robin house had all the facilities to make his life a bit easier.Hoists to get him in and out the shower and bath.It meant we got to spend quality time with him.Robin house had nice grounds to take Niall round in his chair a swimming pool, pool table, scensory room, quiet room ,games room ,craft room family area accomadation.Not only are these great facilities intended for the children of robin house, their siblings who stay or visit also get the use.Each child at robin house is assigned a care worker for the day some parents use this time to bond with there other children who don't have medical needs but do need their parents time.Some decide to use Robin House for their own restbite and can have as little or as much involvment with their children.Parents and families of children who have life limiting illness often become carers.its easy to slip into this role naturally through love .Robin house try to be the carers and give the family quality time.Its such a casual and calm environment, doctors and nurses dress down every day and spend time with parents and children throughut the day.Mums and dads have a bit of freedom from juggling caring, working and the day to day chores at home that pile up.... when time is so demanding.The work that RH do is phenominal, a lot of the loal community fundraise and provide home baking weekly.

I thought we would have brought Niall home from the hospice. I thought it was a stepping stone to to a miracle we hadn't stopped praying for.

Niall passed away in Robin House hospice on the 16/08/11.

and thanks to the staff and volunteers at RH, they made a terrible situation a more bareable one, with their care and support.

It costs over 7 million to run Robin House.I cant imagine this is an easy find year-on-year.Which is why I am looking for sponsorship as I take on the great scottish 10k run sunday 02/09/12.If I know that another family can benefit from the money I raise.Id be happy knowing that there in good hands..Ignorance definately isn't bliss i've learned this the hard way.Children with life limiting illness's will always need support.Although time with CHAS was very brief for us as Nialls condition was very sudden, I still appreciate, not only what the charities in our country provide for us but the very special individuals who work to support others in such a compassionate, caring way.People who prepare to bond with children to lose them.Who choose to be in scenarios most people would want to run from.

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