In May last year my then 4-week-old grandaughter, Emma, developed breathing difficulties. She was taken to our local hospital but her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to Yorkhill's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit by their dedicated emergency ambulance, crewed by pediatric specialists. Emma spent a week in Intensive Care and a further period under close observation before coming home. She has since made a full recovery, thanks to the dedication and professionalism of the medical staff.

Emma's closest family, her mum and dad, and both sets of grandparents, all live within reasonable travelling distance from the hospital. In that respect, we were fortunate. But Yorkhill's patients come from all over the west of Scotland, including the remote western highlands and islands. In some cases it can take a full day for the families to get to the hospital. To return back home can take even longer, depending on ferry timetables and weather, for example. A family might be lucky to see their sick child once a week - and then only at considerable cost.

Emma's dad and his colleagues at work have already raised significant funds for the hospital itself and I know that they, and others like them, will continue to do so. I have the opportunity to raise funds for the Family House and I'm doing it because I know from my own experience how important it is for families to be close to their children at such difficult times.

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