This February I'm challenging myself to a Dechox! Along with thousands of others across the UK, I'm giving up chocolate for a month to raise funds for the BHF's life saving research into cures and treatments for heart and circulatory diseases. That means for 28 days I'll be saying 'NO' to cocoa. 

If you’re on this page I’m sure you’ve heard of Oscar, but let me refresh your memory anyway. 

Oscar was my son. He was born in 2014 and lived for 23 days. He was born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Before he was born we knew he wouldn’t survive. We were told if he survived birth we would at best have minutes with him. He didnt receive this memo and fought for 23 days instead, including surviving a cardiac tamponade during open heart surgery. He is and will always be my inspiration. 

Before Oscar was born we received support from the BHF in the form of leaflets and also a nurse who was funded by the BHF. Her name was Nic and she was invaluable during those numerous hospital appointments. 

This year Oscar would have turned 5 years old. What you may not know is that “survival up to 5 years old” was a statistic that was given to us during my pregnancy. Five years survival was originally a goal we were focused on reaching, before we knew that would never happen for Oscar. Even in the relatively short number of years since Oscar was born that statistic has improved. It will continue to do so as long as research continues. While this research cannot bring Oscar back, I live in hope that one day it will stop other parents from having to loose their children to HLHS and other congenital heart defects. 

I’m a chocoholic, as anyone who knows me will be able to confirm. It is not an exaggeration to say that I eat chocolate every single day. 28 days without? Well, I’ll apologise in advance for anyone I’ll have to interact with in February! 

But, a tiny baby once showed me that impossible doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight anyway. Oscar taught me that sometimes impossible becomes possible. So, I’m going to give this dechox a go; for Oscar.