Hello, I am writing this message for my very special three and half year old son Patrick Skinner, who has been through more in his short little life than most ever would in a lifetime.
After keeping all his friends and family highly entertained every single day with his cheeky ways (especially at his nursery where he had lots of friends) he was unfortunately diagnosed with AML Leukemia in July 2008. He bravely fought it off and was in remission for just 3 weeks, and was looking forward to his first `proper' christmas when, due to one of the chemotherapy drugs, his heart failed less than a week before christmas.
He was stabalised but unfortunately again he deteriorated and finding out his heart was too damaged to ever recover, he had to be put on a double Berlin Heart on Boxing Day, which is basically an external heart that kept him alive while he awaited for a heart transplant.
Patrick received his donor heart on March 9th 2009 (unbelievabley just over a year ago from now) and is doing great, and is such a character and still as cheeky as ever!!
We are all so thankful to the family who were so so kind to think about being on the donor register, they will be forever in our thoughts.
Patrick received the best treatment while being treated for his Leukemia at the RVI by all the doctors and nurses (who he became quite fond of!) and also has had outstanding treatment from all the staff, and the truley amazing surgeons at the Freeman hospital, so this is why we have decided to do a fundraising 3-Peak Challenge, IN JUST 24 HOURS....... All for the Childrens Ward 16 at the RVI and the Transplant Ward at the Freeman Hospital.
It will involve climbing three of the biggest mountains in Britain (Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scarfell Pike in The Lakes and Mount Snowdon in Wales). And this has to all be attempted within 24 hours including travel between the mountains!!
This grueling treck will test minds, legs and feet! - but if we show half as much fight as my little man, Patrick has so far, we'll all do it no problem.
Please give generously.
Thank you so much.
Kevin
