On 29th August 2012 I gave birth to the gorgeous Violet Mair Thomas-Evans by an emergency C-section.

After having some complications with my epidural, I wasn't very well after having Violet. I had to lie flat on my back for five days so I couldn't hold her or change her myself.

A few days later, I had surgery on my spine to correct the complications of my epidural. Later that day, I felt better and I held her for the very first time. It was amazing. I will never forget that feeling of holding her in my arms, sat up, admiring her.

Before I knew it everything changed. That same day, one of the nurses on the ward mentioned to me that Violet's head seemed a bit swollen. She went and asked a doctor to come and look at it afterwards. I didn't think much of it as she looked perfect to me.

Shortly after, Violet was taken for an ultrasound on her head. My Mum took her as I still wasn't strong enough to move around.

Thirty minutes later, a doctor came in and turned my world upside down. She told me that Violet had something called Hydrocephalus. Something I had never heard of before so I didn't have a clue what was going on. All I remember is as she was talking bursting into tears.

Hydrocephalus is a build up of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) on the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain. This caused Violet's head to become enlarged due to the increased fluid. In Violet's case she has congenital hydrocephalus which is hydrocephalus that is present at birth.

The next day we were taken to Alder Hey in an ambulance ready for surgery the following day. There were scans, tests and measurements taken all the time by doctors and nurses.

Alder Hey were absolutely incredible. Violet's consultant is Dr Mallucci who is just unbelievably talented. I cannot thank him enough for being so brilliant with my 9 day old baby Vi.

Violet had a procedure called an ETV (Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy). This is where the doctor made a small hole in the floor of the brain to allow the trapped CSF to escape to the surface of the brain where it can be absorbed.

Carrying my perfect little baby girl to the operating room broke my heart. Leaving her there was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Everybody at Alder Hey made me feel reassured that she was in the safest hands.

Unfortunately in December 2012, the ETV failed and had to be carried out again.

Violet has regular check ups and scans to make sure everything is still ok.

Violet is also seen by other doctors in Alder Hey in the Ophthalmology department and Endocrinology. Whether those problems have anything to do with her hydrocephalus - we will never know.

Violet is such a strong and brave little lady. She's been through so much and she develops more and more each day.

I am running this half marathon to raise money for the amazing people at Alder Hey and the unbelievable work they do each year to help children such as Violet and many others.

I am not a runner and haven't ran since PE in year 11 (and even then I didn't do it well!) so this is a huge challenge for me. But I would do a million of these if it meant my gorgeous girl being looked after and cared for by these incredible people.

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