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First of all I would like to thank everyone for all their support when I took part in the EDF Birmingham Half Marathon.

It seems that I have caught the running bug, soon after completing the EDF Birmingham half marathon. I started to look for a new challenge and a colleague told me about the Kilomathon.  This is the first 16 miles race in (Nottingham to on the 14 March 2009) and I could not resist signing for.

Soon after I had entered the Kilomathon race, I was informed by the Birmingham Children's Hospital that they have a place for me to take part in the London Marathon on 25th April 2010. After consulting my friends, colleagues, family members and careful consideration, I accepted their offer and I have also managed to get Linda Foster a place as well.

This is where I need your support and assistance, everyone that knows me, will know that the BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL has a special place in my heart. It is a brilliant place which helps hundreds / thousands of children each year even though, they were not able to help our son  Hitan Patel (03 July 2000 - 10th August 2004).

Below are more details of the care and the treatment that my son received at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It’s my account of the events:

 

Our son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour called  “Medulloblastomas” on 20  October 2003, If you would  like to read more about the condition then please click on the web link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulloblastoma.

The brain surgeon who performed the operation on our son was Mr Walsh at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The operation was very successful and Mr Walsh was able remove all of the tumour. He gave us our son back with no side affects from such a difficult operation. Hitan still had that cheeky smile and sparkling personality.

A day after operation, when Hitan woke up, the first thing he wanted was to go home and see his big sister Divya, who he hated to be parted from. This was a very difficult time for Divya as she was only 6 at the time, but she handled the whole situation with great maturity.

Following the Operation, Hitan was transfer to the Oncology ward under the care of Mr Martin English for further treatment which would have lasted 9 months.

The treatment designed was a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and finally a further dose of chemotherapy. During this period Niran (mum) made countless emergency trips to the hospital where Hitan required blood transfusions and night stays on ward due to infections or reactions to the blood transfusion.

During this time Niran has seen things that you do not wish to see. I am saddened that I couldn’t have been there but I had to keep working during the treatment and it was difficult especially when Hitan phoned me to tell me to come home!!!!! Now, I have to say that Niran was the rock that kept the family together in difficult times.

 

After first session of chemotherapy which ended in February. In March 2004, we were told that all of the cancerous cells had gone . As you can imagine all of the family felt a sense of relief and joy that Hitan was free of cancer and that our son could look forward to a normal life. However, we had to continue with the treatment to ensure that all of the cancerous cells were killed. 

All of our visits to the Children’s hospital were made bearable by the staff who looked after him and by all the creature comforts; toys, video games, play stations and TV  that  were made available to all of the kids there.

The second stage of his treatment was radiotherapy, which was not easy as you had take him every morning to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak Birmingham this lasted for 6 weeks.

We all celebrated his 4^th Birthday on 3 July 2004. He was full of life and spark. If you saw him or met him, you would never have guessed that he was ill. He was a fighter, he never showed any signs of his illness, he just got on with it.

We were into the final phase of his treatment in August 2004, on 7^th of August 2004, which was Saturday, these are all things he did:

·         He had a water fight with his cousins.

·         He went shopping with Niran (mum) and sister (Divya) for some clothesand swim ware.

·         Made me cut the lawn when it didn’t need cutting.

·         Then asked if we could go to Pizza Hut. As we had already eaten, I said that I would go and buy him Garlic bread with cheese, which is all he ate from Pizza Hut. He would only eat the cheese and  then he would pass the garlic bread to his sister.

·         Before he went to bed that evening he made me play game on the play station.

These are the last good memories that I have of my son.  The following  morning we had to rush him to the hospital and we were informed that the cancer had returned. It was very aggressive and  had spread all over is brain, which is why he could not speak or move. Hitan finally lost his fight against the Brain tumour 10^th August 2004.

I hope that this story has not been too stressful or draining. That was not the aim.  It was meant to highlight the good work that the Birmingham Children’s Hospital does for our kids.

They try hard to make kids lives easier in difficult situations and I hope that you will understand why I am running for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and that you will support me in raising money for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Your donation will help to make the kids visits more comfortable in difficult times.  Your support is very much appreciated by me and the Birmingham children’s Hospital.

So Big thank you from me.

Harish Patel