It’s not every day you find out your having twins, it’s not every year they're born on a leap day either but following both wonderful cases of luck we were then plunged into odds so astronomical that mathematically, a lotto jackpot should be on the cards for us by Christmas.

Whilst recovering from a difficult caesarean it was noticed a mild birth abnormality in our youngest twin Rosie, and with the sharp eye of midwives and doctors at Princess Anne this was escalated to the exceptional consultant team, who by day 5 had established it to be more than unusual. After the elation yet exhaustion of almost a week of hospital recovery following the section, we were then discharged only to accompany little Rosie up to theatre on day 6 for the 1st of 3 major and specialist operations- procedures that can be undertaken at Southampton amongst few hospitals in the UK. MRI scans found a tumour growing both on the interior and exterior, with cancer, immobility and incontinence all likely outcomes if swift intervention hadnt been made.

The rarity of having both Curaninos' triad and a sacroccocygeal terratoma is so rare that it is as such undocumented, but the consultants were aware of 10 such cases in the South of England currently with Rosies condition.

This intervention took place 2 months later, with specialist paediatric surgeons performing life saving surgery to remove the teratoma, correct the positioning of her genital anatomy and offer her a half decent chance now at living a normal life.

Our subsequent story has consisted of twists and turns in her recovery from these, managing catheters, stoma bags, dilations as well as the regular hospital visits on top of raising our other young baby twin Poppy. This journey will continue, and regular oncology check ups and genetic follow up will be a matter of our lives now for at least the next 5 years.

One constant throughout all this is the exceptional institution and staff that is the University Hospital Southampton. At every point of this process, we have been cared for, looked after and nothing has ever been too much for these wonderful people to reassure us in the difficult times and celebrate with us in the good..

Much of this support has come from the SHC, who work tirelessly on the back of donations to support the hospital and particularly for the parents of incredibly sick children they offer a comfortable and positive environment, accommodation, an element of home given most have travelled for these specialist procedures to Southampton from far across the south coast, often by air.

My other half Susie and I owe this incredible place and the amazing professionalism, kindness and common good of the heroes that work there quite literally everything, they are lifesavers.

For us there is still a long way to go in this journey, however we plan through a variety of events over the months ahead to give back and support this wonderful cause with funds going directly to the upkeep and renovation of the family room at the neo-natal ward. Living locally, we were lucky on grounds that we could ‘commute’, but given the specialism of the care provided here most families travel from anywhere south of the M4, including the Channel Islands and Cornwall, residing for months on end at the hospital to stay by their childs bedside. The support thus provided by SHC in looking after these families is life changing, not least in providing a friendly family environment and atmosphere as parents endure the emotional stress of watching and supporting their babies and children receive life saving procedures. We're so proud to support SHC, and to know that the funds raised will go directly into the upkeep and renovation of the family room where parents spend countless hours, days and months.. put simply- ordinary people coping the most extraordinary limits, this way we can say thank-you and give back to those who got us through such difficult times.

The plan is to start off this fundraising campaign with the Great South Run, on the 20th October, raising awareness for these wonderful people whilst hauling myself around 10 miles of Portsmouth, followed by various other challenges in the weeks and months ahead!

Thanks for you all your support.