In December 2001 Bethany was born, a beautiful healthy baby.  Two weeks later she was diagnosed with RSV Bronchiolitis and our local hospital simply did not have the facilities to care for her.  We were transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at St Mary's in Paddington.  Bethany was unable to breathe for herself and was ventilated at our local hospital.  Transporting a child on a ventilator requires a specialist team, one was dispatched from St Mary's with their own specialist ambulance.  

Once at St Mary's we found there were no facilities for parents to stay on site and miles from home we had to find a hotel.  Fortunately COSMIC stepped in and found and paid for accomodation close to the hospital for us.

The staff and facilities on PICU were incredible, much of the equipment provided by COSMIC, through generous donations.

We were very lucky that thanks to the amazing care we received Bethany made a full recovery.  Nothing can explain the awful feeling when a consultant tells you that realistically your child's chances of survival are very slim, but watching dedicated staff battling tirelessly to save them is humbling and the feeling of happiness and relief when they improve is beyond expression.

Bethany leaves primary school this summer, without the fantastic care of all on PICU at St Mary's Paddington this may never have been possible.

Sadly there are many children that need caring for on PICU and the cost is enormous.  Let's dig deep and help an amzing charity who do such fantastic work.