Last year (2010) started so well for us, we had a lovely family holiday and then shortly after we were expecting our 2nd child, but it all went downhill from there. Our baby must have been about 14 weeks when we had to have an emergency scan, the scan revealed that there was a large amount of fluid on the back of it's neck. We were told it could be a number of things and it could just get smaller itself, so we had to wait and go back for another scan a few weeks later. When we had that next scan the fluid was still there so they sent us to Oxford Hospital for a scan of the baby's heart, as a heart problem may have been causing the fluid.
So, we went to Oxford Hospital and had a thorough scan of our baby's heart and was then told the news that we were fearing. Our baby had a severe heart condition and wouldn't survive more than a few weeks, its heart was so poorly that it was struggling to cope and when our baby got any bigger it would just stop working.
By this time our baby was about 16 weeks old so it had to be delivered, so we went into hospital that Friday morning so that the baby could be delivered. This was obviously very stressful for both myself and Kerry and I can honestly say that it was the worst moment of my life. It took forever, the baby was finally born on the Sunday (31st October 2010).
Everyone at the hospital were brilliant, I lost count of the number of midwives we saw in the end as we were there for so long, but they were all amazing.
We also read some very good information that was provided by ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices), they offer balanced, caring and informative support to parents in similar situations to us. They are focussed on raising awareness and providing training to midwives and those within the health care profession who have to deal with this difficult subject.
I now want to be able to give something back, and help in any small way that I can, anyone in a similar situation. It is an absolutely horrible thing for anyone to go through and ARC do so much to help people through it.
I have decided to try and raise some money for ARC and will be doing a few events to try and get donations from anyone who knows me or just wants to support this very good cause.
I have already ran 'The Silverstone Grand Prix 10K" on May 4th 2011. I somehow managed to run the full distance in under an hour (56:52), many thanks to James Pettitt for running it with me and helping me through it.
I have also done "The Blisworth 5 mile Run" on August 5th 2011, with my running buddies James Crawford, James Pettitt & Ian Sayers, thanks to all of you for all the help with my training and support.
The next event that I will be doing is the Northampton 10k run in October.
You can follow how I am doing with my training on my Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/tonyhill1978
I forgot to mention earlier, we found out that our baby was a little girl, and I am doing all this in memory of her.
"Never got to hear you cry or see the colour of your eyes. Never got to hold you in my arms but will hold you in my heart forever! Always in our hearts and thoughts, too beautiful for this world!"
