The Meningitis Research Foundation is a charity very, very close to the Crockatt Family's hearts - Without their hard work over many years, Sofia might not have survived after she contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia.  Mum & Dad, Nick & Karen, are very proud to be ambassadors for the charity.

Heather has been a close friend of the family for many years. She and Nick went to school together in the North East a few (ahem) years ago!  Heather will be running the half marathon GNR with Nick on Sunday.  Heather's kids, Luis and Izzy will be running the Mini GNR too!

Sofia's story.

February 17th 2007 - The day our lives changed forever!

After what initially looked like a minor flu bug, Sofia deteriorated, very quickly, and within a couple of hours was fighting for her life in The Royal Preston Hospital as the disease attacked her whole body.  After the amazing A&E team there had managed to stabilise her, Sofia was transferred to The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (then at Pendlebury) where the rollercoaster ride began.

Sofia spent 2 weeks in ITU where her life hung in the balance, each day. She fought each daily challenge, one at a time, despite being in an induced coma for the first few days.

Once Sofia was stable enough, she was transferred to Booth Hall Children's Hospital where the extent of the damage to her body became more and more apparent.

The Crockatts lived at the hospital for several months, with daily, painful dressing changes, debridements, operations, skin grafts for Sofia.

The damage to Sofia's lower limbs was much worse than had been anticipated, due to the lack of blood flow to her extremities - It was decided that the only thing to do was amputate her left leg, and fight to save her right leg.

Sofia bounced back after several operations, and was eventually healthy enough to come home!

Fast forward SIX years, and Sofia is in a very different place. It is hard to imagine what she was fighting only a few years back.

She is obviously not without her challenges, anyone who needs a prosthetic knows, this is an ongoing saga in itself, and an incredibly expensive process.  Ironically, it is her remaining leg that is more of a hindrance to her, due to muscle and tissue necrosis, bone deformity and the rigid "splint" that she has to wear every day.

However...please note...this is not a plea to raise money for Sofia...This is for the charity that CAN make a difference in reducing the incidence of, and eventually eradicating this devastating disease & its equally destructive sisters!

Sofia has an unparalled zest for life, a positivity and drive beyond her years and....the best smile on the planet, which rarely leaves her face!

Sofia is now in training for the Mini-Great North Run in September 2013.  Running 1.5km, with be a huge challenge for Sofia, but the aim is NOT to.... win, set a new record, become the next paralympian...it is simply to HAVE FUN, and complete the course as another milestone in her incredible story whilst raising awareness, and of course funds for the MRF.

Sofia has been taken under the very capable wing of Vicky Huyton, a UK Athletics coach and close family friend.  At a weekly Athletics club in Blackpool, run by James Walkington, Sofia has been undergoing training drills and core strength training to get her in shape for the run, and ensure she is able to finish.  There is also expert guidance from Hayley Ginn, who is a ParalympicGB coach and has worked with several amputees, including a certain Mr Jonnie Peacock who is now a Patron of the Meningitis Research Foundation, as he is, himself a Meningococcal Septicaemia survivor.

Please support Sofia's chosen charity, and pass this on to EVERYONE you know!

Nick's Story -

Sofia's Dad, Nick (42) will be running the main Great North Run in September, again in support of MRF.

Nick is currently in training, and, having never run such a distance, has the goal of simply completing the race, ideally without stopping!

Please dig deep, spread the word, and do what you can to raise awareness of Meningitis and Meningococcal Septicaemia.

Thanks

Sofia (aged 9 1/2) and Nick (42 & 11/12)

 

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