On September 15th 2014, our beautiful daughter Isabelle was born. She is our first child and the first grandchild on both sides so there was great anticipation, excitement and joy at her birth. She is an absolute blessing to us and we all love her to bits.

At birth however, Isabelle was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. When she was 6 weeks old, she was fitted with hearing aids in both ears. We call them her ‘magic ears’ and they will always be a part of her life. It was a very difficult time for us, juggling our joy with our increased worries and concerns for her future following the diagnosis.
The support we have received from everyone has been fantastic. As well as friends and family, Wandsworth Hearing Support Service have helped us through the recent months by providing expert advice, visits and introducing us to families in their network who have children with hearing loss. It is for them that I have decided to run the London Marathon on the 26th April (My Birthday!), to raise money and awareness for them.
As some of you will know, Isabelle's birth was not an easy one. She was undiagnosed breach and I had to have an emergency C-section. My recovery was therefore slower and I was out of action for a couple of months. I’m back to my former self and now in a race against time to get in shape for the marathon, but run, walk or crawl, I am going to cross that finish line. I would like to ask you all to sponsor me and make this effort worthwhile.
Wandsworth Sensory Support Services ambition is to build a Family Centre on the site of Linden Lodge School. Any amount you can contribute to sponsor me will help them to raise vital funds to build this much needed state of the art facility in Southfields. It will help them to provide education, care and support to almost 1000 deaf, visually impaired and deafblind children from birth to adulthood. Families of children with sensory impairment are often isolated and in need of expert guidance as well. This centre will make a world of difference to both the children and their families.
If you are interested in learning more or hearing some truly moving stories, I urge you to follow this link…

And watch this video.. http://www.wandsworthsensorysupportservice.org.uk/234/family-centre-appeal-video/video/5/family-centre-appeal

Isabelle's case is mild but many other families are dealing with more severe impairments. Please help us build the facilities that will make a life changing difference.

Thank you for reading this and for your support.
Kate.

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