I'm raising money to help friends that are like family to me. Miika's story is detailed in full below. I'm asking you to help me to make a difference to this family and give Miika every chance in his rehabilitation.

I felt I was only able to help with words and hugs as Miika became ill, had a long wait in Great Ormond Steet for a heart transplant and the subsequent rollercoaster recovery. Now I know I can make a real difference to this little boy, his amazing twin brother and even more amazing parents.

Whilst it's a small gesture, I will remove the beard that has been essential face furniture for almost 10 years.  My two children have never seen me clean shaven, so hopefully they will still accept me as their father...

To help me help them, please contribute as much as you can. To REALLY help me to help them, please contribute and ask your friends and network to do the same.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

David

A link to his story in the Evening Standard - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/parents-of-miracle-heart-failure-survivor-appeal-to-fund-boys-rehab-a3804581.html

Miika's Story 

In Sept 2015 our world changed forever, at 20 months, Miika was diagnosed with a heart condition, Restrictive and Dilated Cardiomyopathy, and we were told he would eventually need a heart transplant! In May 2017 Miika deteriorated significantly and was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital.  Several days later he was placed on a Berlin Heart machine, an “artificial heart” that pumps blood around the body.  He would live in hospital on the Berlin Heart until a donor heart became available but with the Berlin Heart came major risks of brain damage.  Over the next few months Miika suffered two brain injuries, a bleed on the brain on Father’s Day and a stroke on our Wedding Anniversary!We can’t describe how it felt to not know 100% how Miika would be effected but he has always been a warrior and soldiered on with rehabilitation until we received the call, they had found Miika a heart! A beautiful gift from a stranger! A miracle and a tragedy in one day. Miika recovered well from the transplant and has spent the last 3 months living at The Children’s Trust in Surrey, a brain injury rehabilitation centre for children,where Miika is having intensive rehab to help him to try to walk, talk, swallow, use his right arm and improve his cognition and learning which has been significantly impaired. We have 2 weeks left and we will finally be home together again after 10 months! Miika will need intensive therapies over the next 4 years to make a real impact to his life (the NHS are only able to offer us the 3 months and to continue we need to fund ourselves).Studies show that the first 5 years after a stroke is the most crucial part of rehabilitation. We want to share Miika’s journey with you and record the moments and opportunities that the gift of a heart has given our family and use this platform to raise awareness of Organ Donation. We hope that you will join us in helping us to raise the funds Miika so desperately needs for his rehabilitation.