On the 10th September 2022 Jason and I will be taking part in the Thames Path Ultra Challenge. Walking 50k between London's Bishops Park to Runnymede in Surry for Friends of PICU. A charity who supports families along with funding equipment for Southampton General Hospitals Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

I'm sure you are all aware but just to re-cap why we're doing this...

In March 2014 we took our new baby Callie to the doctor worried about a blue appearance and what looked like an odd breathing pattern. The doctor, after a discussion with the hospital, advised us to take her to A&E and take it from there.

Callie was rushed to the resuscitation area and the doctor then came to tell us that the x-ray was showing an enlarged heart, they didn't know why but they were on the phone to Southampton's PICU team who were advising them what to do. They told them to start her on a drug to keep open a valve in her heart and they were sending a team to collect her.

By 8pm a team of 3 walked into A&E and took over her care. As soon as she was asleep, intubated and in the transport capsule they got on their way.

That specialist PICU ambulance was purchased through donations made to Friends of PICU.

In PICU one nurse sits at the end of each bed and watches your child all day, every day working closely with Intensivists, Doctors, Surgeons and specialist teams. Because of the severity of her illness Callie had to have specially trained nurses to watch her.

Callie spent 2 days asleep before she was taken for her first open heart surgery. When she returned her chest was still open because of the swelling of her heart. her chest was closed, in PICU, 2 days later by the surgeon. She remained there for a further 3 days.

The following year in 2015 Callie had to go through another open heart surgery and spent another 2 nights in the care of the PICU team again.

Then unfortunately again in 2016 Callie had to undergo another open heart operation and spent more time in PICU.

1 night in PICU costs £3000! This is before drugs, x-rays and many other extra's that children need. This means that in total Callie has cost PICU in excess of £36000 and it's highly likely that she will need their support again in the future!

All you have to do is stand outside PICU for half an hour and you will see numerous red faced, swollen eyed parents coming back and forth from seeing their child in intensive care.

Friends of PICU also provide a cuddly elephant and blanket for every child who is cared for there.

All we are trying to do is raise some money to pay back some of the care and help that was given to us. Any money donated will go toward helping other babies, children, teenagers and their parents should they find themselves on the inside of a ward they knew existed but never wanted to visit.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.