Unbelievably, not once, but twice, we’ve handed over our newborn baby daughters into the care of the NHS, to literally save their lives.

Our youngest daughter Belle (now 13 weeks) was very ill, in intensive care for 4 nights, but made a full recovery within a week.

For Isla (now 2.5) it didn’t end there. Since then she’s had over 150 nights in hospital , 16 of those in intensive care. Countless ambulance trips, 3 of those in an air ambulance, dozens of GP and hospital appointments with ENT, GI, Dietician’s, paediatricians, Dalriada dr calls/visits, prescriptions, A&E admissions, home visits from SALT, community nurses. We’ve placed her in the arms of a surgeon 18 times. We’ve slept in hospital chairs at her cot side over 140 nights and reached points of exhaustion I didn’t think possible. (Like falling asleep in Failte restaurant on what I later discovered was valentines night 😂). #sorryhubby

Since May 2017 after a 9 week hospital stay, she weaned from being fully peg fed to now eating really well! She’s off all her medication except for reflux. She can run and play with her cousins, boss me and her daddy about and make me laugh until I cry. We’ve given back all of her medical equipment and yesterday we headed to the royal to find that the nerves in her airway are healing. So delighted.

None of this would have been lossible without the amazing support of the NHS.

While Isla and Belle were in hospital, especially for lengthy stays, we had no place to go for respite. Even when our child was in ICU, we werent guaranteed a place to sleep in the hospital. On many occasions we had to book into local B&Bs or hotels late at night. This is a wider problem for many parents and siblings of sick children.

To give back, we want to provide accomodation closeby. This accomodation can be a place of respite for a day time nap or warm meal, when a relative or other parent comes to take over. It can be a bright and welcoming place for siblings of sick children to spend time away from the hospital. This special project will take time to plan and money to move forward but will be invaluable to parents and siblings of sick children and make a very difficult journey much easier.

Watch our video which demonstrates the rollercaster we have been on with our girls, over the last couple of years. From sickness, to health over and over and now at long last, we have our happy ending.

Music : Basspartout; Inspirational Journey