To support the Fetal Medicine Department in Birmingham Woman's Hospital

I am walking the Coast to Coast Walk for the above charity, starting at St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire.

Please, please donate whatever you can. Even if it's a really small amount, it doesn't matter, it all counts and it will go towards helping and supporting couples and their unborn babies, research and staff training.

Below is a testament from Veronica Donovan OBE ( Consultant Midwife in Fetal Medicine , Birmingham Women's Hospital), which tells you, in brief, what the Fetal Medicine Department does. Should anyone wants to contact Veronica to clarify what I'm doing, or the cause, please do so. THANK YOU!

Charity fundraising event - ‘West to East Coast’ - on behalf of the West Midlands Fetal Medicine Centre

Fetal medicine is a branch of medicine that includes the assessment of fetal growth and well-being, the maintenance of fetal health and the diagnosis of fetal illnesses and abnormalities. As prenatal diagnosis has improved, so has our capability to diagnose problems before birth. Therefore, the fetus is increasingly becoming an independent individual, and fetal medicine is the speciality that addresses this ‘unborn patient.’

Fetal medicine can be divided into two branches:

a) Prenatal diagnosis (comprising approximately 80%) Prenatal diagnosis is the ever-improving ability to detect abnormal conditions of the fetus (and to differentiate them from normal fetal development).

b) Fetal treatment (20%). Fetal treatment (or fetal therapy) is the ‘operative branch’ of fetal medicine. It includes a series of interventions performed on the ‘sick’ fetus with the aim of achieving fetal well-being. These interventions include medical (i.e.non-invasive) and surgical procedures.

Surgical intervention on the fetus may involve either a direct operation on the fetus, or an intervention on the placenta, as in the case of Twin-Twin-Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS).

The treatment of TTTS has improved exponentially over the last 10 to 15 years with laser ablation offered when indicated. This is particularly pertinent for Gary and his family as we first met Gary and his wife Michelle when they were expecting their identical twin girls. Sadly for them, laser treatment was not available to them and we will never know if this treatment would have helped save their little daughters. However, over the years that have passed since, Gary has made a tremendous difference to our service and his continued support through fantastic fundraising events, like the one he is proposing to complete now – walking from the west coast (St Bees) to the east coast (Robin Hood Bay, Whitby), has contributed to the development of our service for high risk twin pregnancies and the choices we can now offer to these couples.

Gary has become a particular friend of the staff in the Fetal Medicine Centre and we feel we have been part of his journey ever since. It is a privilege to know this family and we are truly grateful for any assistance you are able to give Gary with his fundraising efforts. The funds raised will continue to support couples going through the Fetal Medicine centre by supporting service development, research and staff training.

Thank you in anticipation of your support

With kind regards

Yours sincerely

Veronica Donovan OBE

Consultant Midwife in Fetal Medicine , Birmingham Women's Hospital,

Tel: 0121 472 1377 (ext 5265) E-mail: veronica.donovan1@nhs.net