This journey started as many things do in the London insurance market with a discussion over dinner. It was early evening so I can't hold the alcohol accountable! Why, 7 years after completing my first and only marathon am I taking on the challenge again?

Whilst specific people were the catalyst for my marathon, as is so often the case with smaller charities, thousands of others both past and present who I have no connection with personally have seen first hand Evelina London do incredible things for sick children, young people and their families.

Ralph

On 8th September 2016 our friends son Ralph was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Ralph’s aorta and pulmonary artery were connected to the wrong side of his heart. Whilst Evelina is part of the Guy and St Thomas’s group, it is one of only two specialist children’s hospitals in London helping around 900 babies a year like Ralph! Before Ralph was born it was known that he would need open heart surgery and at 12 days old he underwent his surgery. From birth to the operation he was in neonatal intensive care at Evelina.

The operation took 8 hours including heart and lung bypass and following this Ralph had 1-to-1 care for the next 24 hours in the intensive care unit which was a tentative time requiring further life saving intervention within this period too. On 27th December Ralph returned home. His own battle in hospital, his strength and resilience shining through.

Today his smile and loving nature are infectious and his development is the same as any other lively 5 year old. This is all down to the staff of Evelina. From the lovely receptionists, cleaners, porters to the incredible nurses, doctors and surgeons.

Hendrix

My Allianz colleague Andrea shared her story.

Our amazing little boy Hendrix was born February 2021 and without the amazing staff of the Evelina he wouldn’t have survived. It is that simple. After a very straightforward pregnancy things took a turn for the worst during and after birth.

Hendrix was rushed from our local hospital to the Evelina to have lifesaving surgery shortly after being born. He needed to have an 8 hour surgery to stretch his esophagus so he could feed and reconstruct his bowel. He also suffered lack of oxygen during birth resulting in seizures and other complications.
He then spent 3 months on various wards in the Evelina and being seen by so many different specialists to help his recovery. In April 2021 he had another major surgery to help him breath, after having to wear an fully pressurized face mask for 23 hours a day, he was finally able to breath on his own. In May 2021 he was discharged and due to the pandemic this was the first time Hendrix could actually spend time with both mum and dad at the same time and finally meet the rest of the family. During the Autumn of 2021 he had another couple of surgeries but thank fully these were only short visits and they still took fantastic care of Hendrix. 

Unfortunately, in January 2022 during a routine follow up surgery his vocal cords were damaged so he spent the following 7 months back at what we now call his second home the Evelina. We came very close to losing him numerous times but once again the amazing nurses, doctors and surgeons at the Evelina worked so hard to keep him alive so we could see him smile again. He spent over three months in intensive care where were unable to move him at times but the staff did everything they could to help us through such a trying time. 

Thankfully in August he was discharged which was such an emotional day for us and the incredible nurses as he has spent 10 months of his 18 months so far in the Evelina. We will be eternally grateful for everyone at the most amazing hospital.
I can tell you first-hand that without this wonderful hospital our lives would be completely different. Hendrix would not have been able to celebrate his first birthday, first holiday with granny and granddad or first day at nursery. He has changed our lives in so many positive ways. My husband and I look forward to seeing him grow and learn about the world around him.