Welcome to our VHI Women's Mini Marathon 2023 challenge page. Myself and my 14 year old daughter Tia are taking part in this challenge to support the patients and the staff in Children's Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres. 

Tia fell sick in early February of this year. It all started with some mild symptoms at home, high temperature, vomiting. Her condition worsened and she developed pain and a rash in a number of locations on her leg. She was admitted to University hospital Galway and was diagnosed with Invasive Strep A, Sepsis and Septic Arthritis. Her condition worsened and decision was made to transfer her by ambulance to Crumlin Children's hospital. She spent 3 weeks there undergoing x-rays, MRI scans, ultrasounds as the infection unfortunately worsened and spread through her body. She had a number of surgeries, had a picc line put in to help provide all the IV antibiotics, pain and nausea medications and IV fluids. She recieved fantastic care during her time there, from nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, physio and occupational therapy. She went from being bed bound to a walker and then crutches. She was also approved for an OPAT service which allowed her to go home sooner and get IV antibiotics administered at home. She has made a phenomenal recovery and is still undergoing physio locally in Galway. If it was not for the dedication and care she recieved during her time in Crumlin we may have had a different outcome. 

Please join me and Tia in supporting this essential, urgent and life-saving work and make a real and lasting difference in the lives of sick children.

Please donate what you can to help give every sick child every chance, to create a child-centred, home-from-home environment for patients in hospital and to ensure that children continue to have access to the very best facilities, services and equipment when they need it most. This is the power of your support.