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6 years ago our utterly incredible son, Herbie, was born. Unknown to us at the time, he was born with several serious life limiting heart defects. When you are told the news that your perfect 13 week old son isn't quite as healthy as you first thought and won't survive the first year of his life, your world crashes down around you. I don't think either of us really heard the rest of the conversation that took place in that room after hearing those words 'there is something wrong, very wrong with your sons heart.' As more and more doctors and nurses entered the room, we quickly began to realise that a mistake hadn't been made and that our perfect son was actually quite seriously ill. After a little bit of begging (and a fair bit of wailing from me!) we were allowed home to collect some belongings, on the proviso we were back within 4 hours, as we prepared for our stay at The Brompton. On the eve of Herbie's surgery we were told that things were worse than first thought and Herbie would need open heart surgery immediately to correct the critical aortic stenosis and the two holes in his heart. (This time, we weren't allowed to leave the hospital and I can remember quite clearly the random selection of clothes my husband bought up to the hospital for me to wear!) With this further bad news, once again our world came crashing down around us and I don't know how we would have managed had it not been for the incredible care and kindness shown towards us by everyone at the hospital. The level of care, knowledge, expertise and kindness is absolutely world class. At The Royal Brompton hospital, the Doctors perform miracles and the Nurses are like angels.

After copious questioning from me ('Have you had breakfast, I don't want your hands shaking?' was probably the most daft thing I could have asked Herbie's two surgeons as they prepared for a long day of surgery!), Herbie had his surgery and made an amazing recovery. His initials don't spell HARDD without good reason! He is now a very energetic 6 year old who enjoys racing around the garden chasing his sisters, playing rugby and generally proving to everyone how fit and healthy he is.

The Brompton Fountain is an amazing charity that provides emotional support, practical help and friends for life when you really need it. The charity provided us with family accommodation so that we could be near Herbie at all times, gave us access to the playroom to spend much needed time as a family with Herbie's two amazing sisters and regularly popped by on the ward to see if there was anything we needed either practically or emotionally. At the time, Herbie's sisters didn't know when they would see us next or know just how poorly their brother had been, the charity provided us with so much support as a family. The charity also provide parents and families with essentials whilst in hospital as many cases like ours end up with emergency stays. All this is funded entirely by donations.

6 years on, The Brompton Fountain family continue to be a big part of our lives. We love to meet up with other amazing heart heroes like Herbie at various  parties and days out, funded entirely by the charity. These events are so important to us as all of the families have gone through the same life changing experience as us. Seeing children running around, proudly showing off their huge scars all becomes quite normal! We don't know what the future holds for Herbie's heart or when more surgery will be required,  but we do know that whatever happens next, we will be very well supported by the hospital and The Brompton Fountain. Quite simply, they saved our sons life and we will be forever grateful.

As a very small gesture to show how grateful we are as a family, I am going to try to raise money for the charity by running The Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon. It is a really daft thing to do and I will moan non stop whilst doing it and complain for days afterwards too! Please help us to raise some money for such an incredible charity or alternatively come and shout at me on the day and tell me to 'get a wriggle on!'. Either way, I'd be really grateful!

You can hear about some of the work the charity does by watching this short video:

https://youtu.be/xTfDdY0EMS0

It's a bit of a tearjerker!

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