I am definitely not a runner, never have been, it makes me puffed out, hot and bothered, but as many of you may know I've always had a half/marathon itch that I feel the need to scratch! So I have signed up for the Pendine half marathon on the 6th April and am currently training hard (and even enjoying it from time to time!). I chose this event as this year Clic Sargent is their nomimated charity so all sponsorship goes to them. Clic Sargent have done so much for us and the wonderful families we've met since Romesh became poorly that it is an absolute pleasure to fundraiser for them. 

Most of you will know a lot of this but for those of you who don't.....

On the 10th August 2012 my gorgeous eldest son was taken into hospital. He'd been off colour for a few weeks and after several visits to the doctor we were eventually sent by our gp to our local hospital for a blood test. That was the day when everything changed, our whole lives were turned upside down and we received the devastating news that Romesh had leukaemia. In the room with us when we were told the news was the local clic Sargent nurse who explained some basic practicalities (for example, they asked if we wanted to tell Romesh or should they?....i said we wanted to tell him but said I had no idea how to go about it, so she helped us with that.)

The next day we were taken up by ambulance to Bristol where Romesh began his treatment and we spent the next month or so. Only one parent could stay with Romesh in the hospital but Clic Sargent provide 'home from homes' at many of the main paediatric oncology centres around the country. Clic house was a fabulous place and gave us a real haven from the clinical, sterile and down right scariness of the hospital world that we'd been plunged into. Some days when Romesh was well enough we were all allowed to go up to clic house for a few hours where he would play in the playroom or when he got tired would lie and fall asleep on the sofa whilst watching tv. After a couple of weeks Romesh was allowed to move up to clic house as well and just go to the hospital each day as a day case. The staff were kind and wonderful and some of the other families we met there were some of the loveliest people I've ever met despite the fact that they were all going through hell seeing their children suffering and so poorly. We had space at clic house to play, bake, have visitors, sit in the garden and have some peace and quiet....all things that are really not very easy in a hospital and this was provided for the WHOLE family so Romesh and his younger brothers had time to be able to be together.

Since leaving Bristol, most of Romesh's care has been at the wonderful Exeter hospital (where we absolutely adore the entire oncology team) but Clic Sargent have remained with us throughout. At Exeter there is a dedicated Clic Sargent social worker who is there to help families with all sorts of things from assisting with benefit applications to coming to meetings with schools or applying for help with travel expenses.

In September 2013, we went on holiday to the Malcolm Sargent House in Scotland which offers fully catered holidays free of charge to all families of children with cancer. We had a truly wonderful time and had so much fun together as a family, I look back on that holiday with so many fabulous memories, seeing my boys so happy together and hope that we can go again sometime soon. This is just another of the amazing things that Clic Sargent offers.

Now that Romesh has started the maintenance part of his treatment he is in hospital less but still needs a weekly blood test which then goes on to dictate the doses of the chemotherapy he has on a daily basis. Jenny, our wonderful wonderful clic nurse (who was there on the day of diagnosis) comes out to our house to take bloods, so that instead of it taking the best part of an afternoon going into hospital etc, it takes about 10 minutes. Jenny does so much more than just take bloods though and is probably one of the main factors in us remaining (at least a little bit)sane throughout this whole journey. She always answers her phone or texts immediately, no matter how big or little our concern/query may be and regardless of what time of day or night it is and to have that level of support is incredible.

I know I have waffled on here but just wanted to share with you all just why I believe so strongly in the fabulous work that Clic Sargent do. We are so grateful that they have been able to support us and so many other families that we have met a long the way and hope that you will sponsor me (no amount is too small) so that they can continue their amazing work.

Thank you x 

 

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