It has been 17 years since I was treated at the fantastic Frenchay Hospital and I now have the chance to give something back. 

In  2002 I was driven to Bristol in an ambulance.  That journey for me was fun and exciting as the paramedic showed me all the cool things that we had around us but my parents would tell that story very differently. Arriving in the middle of the night, I was welcomed by smiling nurses who work through the night to care for all the children in the facility. My parents were allowed to spend the night with me, and the staff ensured we all had beds. My surgeon, Mr Pople, reassured us, explained exactly what he needed to do and I had surgery later that day to remove a benign brain tumour from behind my optic nerve. While being taken to the operating theatre my parents were allowed to stay by my side until I was asleep. “We can work around you” we remember them saying. 

While in ICU, I had 24 hour care and the nurses made me smile every single day. The medical care I received was second to none, but the kindness shown by all staff is what we remember the most. I commented on my love of dolphins to one nurse, and the next day she came in with dolphins on her uniform. A smiling man tried to deliver tasty hot food to me every day, even though I just wanted sandwiches made by my mum. Every staff member I met was incredible. 

Realistically speaking I was one of the lucky ones. I was in and out within a week but there are many children who spend months or years in a facility like this one. For this reason there are places to play and things to do to keep them and their families entertained. It is therefore really important to me to be able to fundraise to ensure this continues. Places like Bristol Children’s Hospital are places that you hope you don’t need to use, but this is my way of making sure future patients can have that experience made as positive as possible.