Samuel, Claudia and I will be taking part in the London Superhero
run to raise money for a cause that is very special to us. Since starting
preschool Samuel has become best friends with Lonnee. They are kindred spirits–two smiling, boisterous and energetic four year old boys. However, for the past year Lonnee’s smile has endured in spite of his and his family’s world being turned upside down.

Lonnee is a twin. Aged 20 months his twin brother Miika was
diagnosed with a heart condition that would eventually need a heart transplant. In May last year Miika’s condition deteriorated and he was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital. He was placed on an artificial heart, which he would live with in hospital until a donor was found. 
The artificial heart machine brings a high risk of brain injuries, and within  few months Mika suffered a brain haemorrhage and stroke. Nevertheless Miika soldiered on until a donor was found. He recovered well from the transplant and spent the subsequent months living at The Children’s Trust, a brain injury rehabilitation centre for children.

In the last few weeks Miika returned home. Having the whole
family together again is of course a blessing for Karla, Peter and Lonnee but it also brought some mixed emotion. Miika had made brilliant progress through intensive professional rehab, helping him to walk, talk, swallow and use his right arm again, and to improve his cognition and learning which were both significantly impaired. Sadly the 3 months provided by the NHS had come to an end. Samuel, Claudia and I will be running to raise money to help Miika continue this essential rehab. The Bradley Lowery Foundation supports families seeking to raise funds for medical treatment not available on the NHS, and will mean donations can benefit from Gift Aid. We really hope you are able to support us. However much or however little it all helps.