Sam Perkins
ORSON Raising Money for the RNOH
Fundraising for The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Back in 2012/13, when he was 6, Orson went through a year long procedure to correct a curved tibia and fibula and lengthen his leg by 2.5 inches. It involved breaking his leg and wearing a Taylor Spatial Frame for 9 months, a cast for 2 months and lots of physio. It was not a brilliant time but we got through it with lots of patience, smiling, the help of some fabulous friends and family, and the occasional hanky, Orson was amazing from start to finish.
The procedure was carried out at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore, which is one of the world's leading specialist orthopaedic hospitals, and has been at the cutting edge of orthopaedic care for over 100 years. This is entirely due to the dedication and the expertise of their staff, who operate from a series of 100-year old buildings and a collection of Portakabins and Nissen huts which date back to the Second World War!!
The staff were outstanding. We had to stay at the hospital for a while after Orson's initial "leg breaking" operation and we witnessed some amazing stories; kids with spinal injuries, kids with leg/hip problems, kids with bone cancer..... The staff were fabulous with everybody, their kindness and patience coupled with a steadfast determination to get these kids up and about, kids who were in excruciating pain after some pretty full on surgery, kids who wanted to lie in bed and weep, but the best thing for them was to get them up and walking. And those VERY hard working staff were just as kind and considerate to us, the parents.
The hospital facilities are old, inefficient and unsuited to modern clinical
practice. But funding has been secured to replace the old buildings with a new NHS orthopaedic hospital, which will be fully operational by 2018. Raising money through supporting events such as the Buttercup Walk will enable the RNOH to build and purchase essential, state-of-the-art facilities for their new hospital.
Orson has asked me this year if he can do the Buttercup Walk. It's 1 mile long, not far you might think, but for some of the people taking part completing the walk will be a big achievement. Orson, we are delighted to report, will not find it difficult, he has already overcome a huge challenge for one so young and now he wants to help the RNOH to raise funds so they can continue their excellent and necessary work.
So, if any of you lovelies would like to pledge some cash it would be more than wonderful. Our goal is £50 but if we could double or triple that well we would be more than delighted....x