Lewis was born December 2018 and was sent home a healthy baby. Within 24 hours he was admitted to the Edinburgh Sick Kids with breathing difficulties. It was quickly discovered that he had a heart murmur, meningitis, pneumonia and a UTI. At 6 days old he was diagnosed with a large VSD - hole in his heart. Lewis got home on 31st December to await surgery which was planned for Mar/Apr 2019.

But within a couple of weeks Lewis was in heart failure and he had open heart surgery at 6 weeks old. Leaving home was made that little bit easier by Ronald McDonald House. This charity gave us accommodation which allowed us to be close to Lewis when he was in intensive care. It gave us a direct phone line to his nurse so we could check his progress 24/7. It gave us somewhere to get a hot shower and something to eat. It gave us somewhere to rest and charge our batteries. It gave us somewhere to bring our 3 year old to see us out-with the hospital ward. 

We would like to give something back to keep this incredible charity being able to provide families with somewhere close to stay when their child needs them most.

Ronald McDonald House Charities provides free 'home away from home' accommodation at specialist children's hospitals across the UK, enabling families to stay close to their child and maintain a degree of normal family life.There are many families who need support. To help build even more Houses across the UK, I will be running #TeamRMHCUK at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2022. Please help Ronald McDonald House Charities to keep more families with their sick children by donating and supporting. Thank you.