This October, I'm swimming 8K to raise money for GOSH Charity. 

As some of you know I found out when I was 11 weeks pregnant that our ‘Little Bud’ had a number of health issues including his heart, liver and bowel.  It was suggested I terminate due to the complications but I refused to listen and went on to have further tests to discover very luckily that his complications weren’t genetic so a higher survival rate to make it to term.  My gut told me to continue to fight for him.  

We were told he had Exomphalus, quite severe with his bowel and liver on the outside of him.  The amazing specialists at UCHL told me that I could grow him out to 26 weeks before making a decision to terminate.  Thankfully his heart was tip top 🤩 

We met the team at GOSH to discuss what would happen if I made it to term, the procedures, best & worst case scenarios. They were incredibly supportive and listened to all our concerns.

Every week I was scanned at UCHL to check on my Bud, and he was continuing to fight.  I was told not to think ahead, that his heart could give up due to complications so take each day at a time. Which we did 😊

On 21st Feb, my waters broke and I had the emergency c-section at UCHL.  I of course hadn’t even packed my overnight bag much to my Partners dismay!!!!! 🤣

I saw a glimpse of my boy before he was blue lighted by an incredible team of paramedics to GOSH nearby. My Partner Ross was able to go to GOSH to be with him and take him down to surgery.  He witnessed the exomphalos which he hadn’t expected to be shown! Put it this way, never again! 🤮🤣

Jacob had life saving surgery within his first 24 hours of life.  The team were so fantastic.  The task was to roll his organs like toothpaste back into his stomach.  We were told this process would take about 3 months to achieve but the team decided to try and get the organs back in in one go!  And they succeeded! 

I was unable to see my Bud, now named Jacob for 48 hours due to my surgery.  Once I got the all clear, GOSH put you up in family accommodation for the duration of your time there.  It was such a relief not to have to worry about commuting to the hospital etc.  

After 5 days in ICU and 7 days in high dependency our Bud was allowed home! We’ve had a few bumps along the way and we still are under GOSH care but Jacob is now 10.5 years old, hilarious, happy, thriving and football mad!!!!  It’s thanks to GOSH that he is here with us 🤗 We will be eternally grateful.

Every day, more than 750 seriously ill children and young people from across the UK arrive at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Every day, doctors and nurses battle the most complex illnesses and conditions and come together to achieve pioneering medical breakthroughs.This extraordinary hospital has always depended on charitable support to give seriously ill children the best chance to fulfil their potential.

If you can donate, we would be grateful.  I haven’t swum in a long time but been meaning to get back into training again so this is my launch pad! 

Thanks for reading our story 😊