Team Olivia
John's Sponsored Walk, from The Rosie Hospital (Addenbrooke's) to Home.
Fundraising for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Back just after Easter 2020 (in the height of all the Covid-19 restrictions) my wife suffered a placental abruption during her 25th week of pregnancy. She lost 3.5 litres of blood and nearly didn't make it herself.
A little Baby girl was born into our world 14+ weeks early, requiring 16 minutes of resuscitation. A very rocky start to a long bumpy journey began.
She weighed just 850g (1lb 14oz), required ventilation for 2 weeks, and suffered a significant bleed in the brain (IVH). The full extent of the affect of this bleed in regards to her development is unknown and only time will tell. Initially the main affect was that it led to her requiring 7 lumber punctures as she suffered Hydrocephalus.
Many other complications of being born so early also included; Two ducts in her heart not closing fully so requiring some oxygen support. Blood vessels in her eyes not developing correctly (Retinopathy Of Prematurity). Damage to her lung tissue from requiring breathing support for many weeks.
After 16 weeks in Hospital (7 at Addenbrooke's, and a further 9 at our local Hospital) Olivia was finally able to come home and meet her older sister for the 1st time!
She has been a little fighter, and has overcome a lot of the hurdles she has been given. She is unlikely to require any more interventions for the Hydrocephalus. Her ROP condition has stabilised. Having initially needed some oxygen support when she came home, The PDA and PFO in her heart have almost closed up and she no longer requires this support. Her overall development appears to be gradually progressing in the right direction.
We know we have been incredibly fortunate and many other parents do not have the outcome we've had. Hopefully by increasing their funding by doing this, more parents will be able to enjoy better outcomes.
We owe a huge debt to the Rosie Hospital, the NHS, and all the amazing staff who cared for Olivia. Words do not really do them justice, they are quite simply Super Heroes!!
Please, if you can, donate to this amazing facility so that others can benefit the way we have!
THANK YOU!!
I will be doing my walk on Saturday 3rd April 2021,
Walking approx 47 miles from the Rosie Hospital (Addenbrooke's, Cambridge) to home in Great Totham, Essex.
UPDATE!!
WALK COMPLETED!!! - 16hrs & 5mins!
I started at 4am! The first 30 miles were ok, the next 10 were tough, the last 7 were horrible!! Nearly 96,000 steps completed! Finished at 8.10pm!
Thank you to my Brother-in-Law Will, and good friend Jon for being my support team for the day! Without their help I won't have been able to complete this!
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