As a few of you know, last year my Sister Verity and Brother-in-law
James spent 73 days in Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), with my niece Flora. Today, I want to share their inspiring story and express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible work done by the dedicated staff at GOSH.

Flora was born with a rare physical anomaly called an exomphalos whereby her liver, intestines and stomach were growing in her umbilical cord. Given the complication Flora was given a 54% chance of living and immediately rushed into GOSH intensive care. My Sister didn't get to see Flora being born, or to hold her baby in those first uncertain 10 days and had to ask the surgeons to take a photo at the birth in case she never got to see her beautiful girl, without tubes, alive. Trauma no mother should go through. However, the care they received from the GOSH team around them made it that bit more bearable. The care was unimaginable, the nurses, doctors and support staff are incredible people who make a real difference to lives every day.

Over the length of their stay at GOSH Flora had 14 operations, to “tuck” her liver and intestine back into her abdomen and thanks to their care and efforts they bought home a perfectly normal and healthy baby who at one point was given a flip of coin chance of making it to 2 months. The advice after her last operation from the surgeons was that there would be nothing she couldn’t do in life. We will be eternally grateful for the care they received.

Verity and James were fortunate, as GOSH facilities gave them the
ability to have accommodation locally for the duration of their stay, being in close proximity to Flora made such a difference, but it costs GOSH around £44/night. I will never be able to repay the care they had, but I need to start somewhere… so on the 9th September I will be doing the Thames Path 50KM Ultra Challenge, walking from Putney to Runnymede. For those of you who know me well I’m not the fittest I’ve ever been, so this will be a test, but not even a drop on the test Flora went through. So please support me in doing everything we can to pay back those nights spent at GOSH.

 GOSH is a place of miracles, not just for my niece but for countless other children and their families. I am reaching out to each one of you with a heartfelt request to contribute to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. Your donation, whether big or small, will have a significant impact on the lives of these brave children and their families. Together, we can support the hospital's initiatives to create a nurturing environment, filled with hope, love, and the best possible care.

Whilst Flora's check-ups and scans are now routine, the challenge continues for thousands of children, who need the unbelievable care and dedication the fantastic team at GOSH provide. Please consider donating, sharing and spreading the word about this great cause. Together, we can be part of the miracles that happen at GOSH every day.

Thank you for your support!

Much love,

Dom