DONE IT !
Well, as promised a final write-up of my John’O’Groats to Lands End epic.
After 914 miles in the saddle, I did it ! Arriving at Lands End on Thursday 14 July at around 4pm.
Completed in 12 days, about average for a supported ride.
Many ,many thanks to all the people who have supported me on my trip and through their kind generosity I hope to soon be handing over a cheque to the Heartlink Glenfield team for over £2000. These monies will help many children and their families through the difficult times ahead. I wish it wasn’t needed.
Through the current ‘safe and sustainable’ review I sincerely hope Glenfield returns as the preferred option. Without their hard work and dedication cardiac services throughout the East Midlands would be at a severe loss.
Please help support Heartlink & Glenfield.
Thankyou to all, you should be proud !Tim
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
LINK UPDATE: https://sites.google.com/site/jonogroatsroutemap/ the route
LINK UPDATE: http://www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/safe_sustainable/childrens-congenital-cardiac-services
LINK UPDATE : http://www.eastmidlandscongenitalheart.nhs.uk/general-information/press-releases/heart-centre-consultation
LINK UPDATE : http://www.heartlink-glenfield.org.uk/
Well here it is, the big one.
What was i thinking back in November last year.
'I know, this sounds like fun, let's jump on a bike and pedal 900 miles across the UK...fall off, get up, fall off, 3 flat tyres and a busted chain..'..grrreat idea..
mmm maybe i needed my head looking at, maybe it was my '40 thing' kicking in...maybe i'd had one to many..
In my moment of madness i decided to cycle from Jon 'O' Groats to Lands End, 900 miles of two wheeled joy in about 10 days. Starting Sunday July 3rd. I also decided that i needed a motivational kick, someting to spur me on during the long training hours with mile upon mile of playing 'spot the pothole'.
I decided to do it for charity - Heartlink.
http://www.heartlink-glenfield.org.uk/
Liam's Story.
As I'm sure many of you are aware, last year was very difficult for our family, especially so for Donna,Daemon,Ellie and Ryan. It started off so bright yet rapidly turned into something truly horrendous, a nightmare..
Born at Nottingham City Hospital, 4:46am ,weighing 9lb 4oz.
Liam Alexander Lowe.
Soon after birth Liam was struggling for air, he was rapidly admitted to N.I.C.U (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), suffering with breathing difficulties and was put on a ventilator.
Suffering with very low oxygen to the brain, at 20hrs old Liam was transfered to Glenfield Hospital Leicester. Whilst there during that evening he was diagnosed with 'Transposition Of The Great Arteries' with a muscular VSD and small ASD.
A 'Balloon Arterial Septostomy' was carried out what seemed to be days later to repair his heart and stabalize his critical condition.
At 3 days old Liam endured 10 hour open heart surgury. (a switch operation).
Surgery went well until 6 days later a CT scan showed extensive bleeding on the brain and had suffered a chest infection which unfortunately meant more open heart surgery.
On the 25th of March 2010 Liam was then transfered to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where sadly more complications arose;
Liam was diagnosed with Hydracephalus (ventrical bleeding in the brain) and oddly enough a blood clotting disorder which made fitting an IV into the poor mites arms/legs nigh on impossible.
On the 1st of April 2010, after exhaustive efforts by everyone, every avenue explored, the sad conclusion was that Liam's problems were to great to allow any reasonable chance of a good quality of life.Under advisement Liams Life Support machine was turned off.
Liam was 35 days old.
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This brings me full circle back to Heartlink. Had Liam survived, Donna and Daemon could have turned to them for support.
Heartlink do so much. In hospital they provide various machines for PICU and the childrens ward. Bedrooms for parents to stay in (vital for staying as close to baby as possible, no need to travel home). They provide all the playrooms at Glenfield along with a vast collection of childrens books,games and videos (yep, video!). The list is endless.
Along with this there's the 24hr support for parents on and off ward, annual meetings / get togethers and 'days out'. Check the link.
http://www.heartlink-glenfield.org.uk/
It all costs money and the biggest bill at the moment is one for £161,000. A 4D Ultrasound scanner..not sure I'll raise that amount but a little modest top up should help.
'Heart Link were approached by Dr Frances Bu’Lock regarding a 4 D scanner during the summer last year. After research regarding this was presented by Frances to the Heart Link Committee it was decided that Heart Link should go ahead and raise funds to purchase the 4D scanner.
The Vivid 7 Dimension Cardiovascular Ultrasound System gives the ability to incorporate multi-dimention and 4D imaging into clinical routine.
The Real-time 4D volume enables more diagnostic information to be gathered from a single heart beat and fully integrating new dimensions into echo and stress exams.. The Vivid 7 Dimension enables clinicians to obtain Multiple imaging planes simultaneously. This scanner gives clinicians a better way to convey their findings to other cardiologists and provides more cardiac information to help them better communicate the heart’s structure and function
Heart Link have committed to buy the 4D Ultrasound scanner at a cost of £161,000.00. '
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To have another piece of equipment like this on a ward would be fantastic..another peice of equipment that can rapidly diagnose information , in turn allowing doctors to in inform parents as soon as possible, good or bad...the endless waiting and not knowing could at least be shortened a little bit.
Well, that's it for now...i'll be adding links and other info to this page as i go along. How long my route is , where we are riding , who's going etc .. that'll be on page 2 soon.
Meanwhile, every penny will help, my target is £3500, £100 for every day Liam was with us. Thankyou ever so much. Tim.
Oh one final happy note...congratulations to Donna & Daemon..expecting again !
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