In September 2018 my wife Jennie gave birth to our twin daughters Sophie and Jessica. They were born at 28 weeks and as a result, both suffered significant complications.

Jessica faced enormous challenges in terms of her breathing and unfortunately, after just 15 days, she passed away.

Sophie on the other hand, coped well with breathing, but initially struggled to feed. After 11 days we were told that she had developed an infection called Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which attacks and kills part of the intestine. Two days after the loss of Jessica, Sophie underwent emergency surgery to remove the affected piece of
small intestine.

This surgery left Sophie with a stoma and she began her long recovery on the Jessops Wing of Sheffield Teaching Hospital. She was transferred to the Children’s Hospital later in October and received wonderful care from the staff on the neo-natal surgical unit. Following further surgery to close the stoma, Sophie finally made it home on December 23^rd, just in time for her first Christmas

Unfortunately, less than a month later, Sophie became extremely unwell again. She was rushed to the Children’s Hospital and it was discovered, on examination, that part of her small intestine has twisted and this had cut off the blood supply to a large area of her bowel. Despite the surgeon’s best efforts, this area had to be removed and this left Sophie with just 23cm of small intestine (a child of her age should have around 2 metres), two ‘tube stomas’ and a diagnosis of ‘short bowel syndrome’.

This lack of intestine makes it very difficult to get the necessary nutrition that is required for growth; especially in someone so young. This has meant that Sophie now receives ‘total parenteral nutrition’ (TPN) intravenously, so that she is able to grow, and her stomas require around the clock care as it is very easy for them to become blocked which can lead to other serious complications.

Currently, Sophie’s condition is being managed by Jennie and I, with regular contributions from hospital staff thanks to our numerous appointments. The plan currently is for Sophie to have further surgery in an effort to lengthen her bowel, and then hopefully, as she grows, it may be possible for her to be taken off intravenous feeding.

The premature arrival of the twins, Jessica’s passing and Sophie’s continuing difficulties have made this without doubt the most difficult period of mine, and Jennie’s life. The demands of Sophie’s care, and the very stark differences between what we imagined life as new parents to be like, and what has become our reality, is extremely difficult to cope with on a day to day basis.

We both feel certain that these challenges would likely have overwhelmed us both, were it not for the outstanding support that our family has received from the Children’s Hospital.

The nurses, surgeons, medical doctors, physiotherapists and dieticians involved in Sophie’s care, as well as the psychologists and chaplaincy team (along with hospital volunteers) who’ve been so helpful in addressing our wellbeing, have all been incredible. Words cannot adequately express the gratitude we have for these brilliant people who have not only saved Sophie’s life on at least two occasions, but who have also shown endless compassion and patience with us as a family, and made an impossibly difficult situation more bearable.

The Children’s Hospital is an incredibly humbling place. It is a place of fear, nerves, heartache and grief, but it also a place of incredible hope and happiness and love. Despite the difficulties we have had there, the Hospital will always be hugely significant in ours lives, and it is for these reasons that I would like to try and give something back.

Every year the Children’s Hospital Charity organises an overseas trek as part of their fundraising efforts. For the year 2020, the trek takes place in Peru and involves walking the Inca Trail to Macchu Pichu.

This is a hugely challenging undertaking; covering over 30 miles in 4 days, at altitudes of up to 13,500ft, however, it is a challenge which, having been inspired by the patients and staff at the children’s hospital, I am desperate to complete.

Participation in the trek is reliant on fundraising for the Children’s Hospital; with a minimum target of £4500. This is a daunting target; however, I am sure that with your generosity, it is wholly achievable.

The students at my school have already shown their commitment to the cause by raising over £500 in just three weeks, so anything that any of you could add would be amazing!

The Hospital Charity is currently looking to fund projects totalling £14 million. This includes the construction of a helipad, as well as redevelopments and refurbishments in both the emergency department and ward 6 (the ward used to care for children with cancer and blood disorders).

I’m sure you will all agree that this is a fabulous cause and one which makes a tangible difference to hundreds and thousands of young people every year. With that in mind, please donate to this page; it really doesn’t matter how much you give, every pound raised has the potential to help a patient like Sophie, or a family like ours.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, and thanks in advance for your kind donations.