I plan to row/run 500km (310miles).

That’s 10k a day for each of the 50 days our son was fighting for his life on intensive care.

Starting the 26th February 2024

The equivalent of rowing from Bristol to Newcastle!

Albie’s Story:

After just 8 days in a wonderful, slightly sleep deprived, love filled baby bubble at home, our healthy, happy boy developed a temperature. We took him straight to hospital for a review and he was found to have an Enterovirus infection. We were kept in for observation but told he would probably be going home in 24-48 hours.

He went on to rapidly and terrifyingly deteriorate as he had developed a rare complication causing inflammation and damage to the heart, resulting in a Cardiomyopathy.

He was rushed to Bristol ICU by the WATCH team. We were told that he was unlikely to survive and that his heart was barely working. They would do everything they could but we should prepare ourselves for the worst.

He was intubated and started on an insane amount of medications. They sat us down and said that should he deteriorate there was nothing left to try. There are no words to describe how we felt hearing this. It is the stuff of nightmares.

Over the next 7 weeks he had life saving treatment from the wonderful doctors and nurses on the unit. The care he received was incredible. He received cutting edge treatment including a medication shipped from the US, more infusions than I can count, various types of ventilation and one to one nursing care around the clock. We were provided with accommodation so we could be with him throughout.

After 50 incredibly difficult and brutal days in intensive care he was moved to the cardiology ward for a few weeks and finally, 2.5 months later we made it home.

Throughout the most awful and difficult days we were supported by the lovely, caring staff. Albie had physio, music and play therapy. The lovely nurses made some hand/footprints to make a Mother’s Day card. There were tiny moments of joy, like when he smiled for the first time. All the staff celebrated it with us on the ward round. His nurse printed a photo of him smiling and put it by his bed and his consultant added it into her ward round notes with an emoji!

The team at Bristol undoubtedly saved his life. He has a long road ahead as his heart is still badly damaged but his Cardiologist thinks he is slowly getting better. We are now home and he is amazingly and thankfully symptom free. He is a ridiculously jolly, chatty, active, wonderful little guy. He loves people, loves to eat, loves to play with the dog and loves a cuddle. Our only complaint is he is so busy wanting to hang out that he doesn’t want to sleep! We are so grateful to everyone who helped care for him and us. We are just so proud of him and how incredible he is. We’re praying we won’t have to go back into hospital, but it’s reassuring to know such an amazing team is there if he does become more unwell.

The Grand Appeal is the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity and help provide cutting edge care, research, music/play therapy and parent accommodation. Any donations that can help to support poorly children and their families would be incredibly appreciated.

Love Chris, Hazel, Albie and Terrence the dog